A New Job
"The red balloons...may-stain...your ceilings...
and the fire-engines...paint...is peeling
But my heart...just...squeals...with...joy...
I've just made a Tavish toy!
It only has to last till Christmas!" said a tall well dress man in spats walking around the cold dingy factory inspecting toys as the children workers made each one.
"A few tight smiles...I'm always...cautious"
cause those dimpled faces...make me...nauseous
so to each...sweet...girl...and...boy...
You deserve a Tavish toy!" he said waking up one sleeping and exhausted boy.
"So when you're blue...
and when you're down...
Remember kids!" He called out lifting the chin on one downcast girl.
"Because of you!" Propping one of his spats on the table and making one poor girl shine his shoes, he went on,
"I'm in the town...of House and Chelsea."
"The ted-dy bear...has popped...its stitches...
and the cow-boy doll...has lost...ah!...it's britches!
but to all...in...my...employ...
be proud you made a Tavish toy! Sing kids!"
"We're proud we made a Tavish toy!" chorused the kids.
"And..." said Tavish leading the kids.
"A one of a kind!" sang one girl standing.
"Top of the line!" sang a boy.
"Fully insured!" sang another.
"Rather unusual..." said one older boy before Tavish knocked the boxes out of his arms. All the children stood up and sang with hats off in respect,
"Tavish Toy!"
"It only has to last till Christmas!" said Tavish twirling his cane around. Erik came down the stairs from the office with his coat off allowing only his pristine white shirt and vest being seen. He grabbed an apron and put it on, suddenly noticing how cold the main floor of the factory was compared to the office he had just come from. Tavish interrupted his musings by pulling him forward and tapping his cane,
"Ah! He is he now! Workers, allow me to present Mr. North! Your new supervisor! Welcome, welcome to the wonderful world of Tavish toys! We're so lucky to have found someone with Mr. North's experience and on such short notice!" Looking around at the miserable faces of the children and the dark gloom, Erik was reminded of his own childhood. But he chalked up the poor conditions to a lack of supervision as he said clearing his throat,
"Yes Monsieur...well it would appear I may have to roll up my sleeves a bit."
"Well, I'll just leave you to your own devices. Just keep in mind...time is of the essence...tick-tock!"
"Yes Monsieur." Erik nodded trying not to be affected by how the children were staring at him. Tavish turned to the stairs saying with a warning tone,
"Outstanding! Now my little elves I don't want a repeat of what happened to the last supervisor! Hmm?" At this Erik's eyes widened and he could detect some of the children glaring at him with a plot in their eyes. Tavish left to go to his office while Erik was trying to figure out how to do this new job. He noticed a small boy sweeping the sawdust and paint chips around the floor and he walked over saying,
"Hullo...you're a bit small to be carrying such a large broom!" The boy looked up at him and then returned to his chore. Nora spoke up,
"That's Emilio...he don't talk..."
"He's new in America!" said one older girl in braids and a sarcastic tone. Erik gave the boy and gentle smile patting him on the shoulder,
"I know exactly how he feels. Now...if I might ask...what happened to your last supervisor...I was told he was taken quite ill." The oldest boy with a bowler hat on his crown walked up to Erik and said with a cocky attitude,
"Yeah he tripped over something..."
"Yeah...your foot!" replied one black boy. The children laughed while Erik turned up the corner of his mouth, especially at the oldest boy who was tipping his hat. That attitude would be the first to go.
"Hey! Erik's alright! He's my friend!" Nora said standing with a warning tone. The girl with braids from earlier spoke up,
"If he's your friend tell him to get us some heat!" As the children mumbled in agreement, Erik rubbed his hands together,
"Yes it is cold in here isn't it? There must be a malfunction with the stove."
"Yeah, it don't function until Tavish puts some coal in it!" Nora told him. Walking around the shop, Erik told them,
"Well I'll just have to speak with Mr. Tavish about that."
"You ever work in a factory before Mister?" the girl said.
"Tell him Fritzy, tell him!" called one girl as the other children laughed.
"Yeah...what's some old man know about making toys?" asked the older boy walking past Erik. Erik stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. The boy glared at him while Erik said with a smirk dancing about on his lips,
"Old man? Surely you're not referring to me?" And with that, Erik flicked his fingers by his ear producing a coin out of midair.
"Woah!" cried the black boy from earlier. Erik shifted the coin back and forth over his fingers before placing the coin in his hand and squeezing, only to open his hand a second later showing nothing was there.
"Neat!"
"Look it!"
"See I told ya!" said Nora as she and the other children gathered around Erik trying to find the coin. The older boy stomped away, making a point of bumping into Erik's shoulder. Erik brushed it off by taking one of the girls scarves and bowing,
"Merci Mademoiselle!" He stretched it out between his hands, producing a rose from it a moment later. Handing the rose to Nora, he said,
"Mam'selle!"
"Thank you!" said Nora. Erik performed numerous other slight of hand, much to the delight of his captive audience.
"I hope you're almost finished!" barked the one older boy trying to work. Erik smiled,
"Not a chance, Kiddo!" A few more feats of magic, and Erik wrapped things up by pulling a stuffed rabbit out of the oldest boy's bowler.
"YAAYYY!" cheered the children applauding Tavish came down the stairs with his ledger seeing no one working but the supervisor was still alive so that must be a good thing.
"Happy workers. That's what I like to see. Grateful...happy...workers." he said to which the children gasped and returned to their work. Erik regained his professionalism and approached Mr. Tavish saying,
"But there are problems M. Tavish...The heat for instance..."
"Heat? I don't feel any heat, do you?" Tavish said continuing on. Erik paused realizing Tavish keep the place cold on purpose. He replied tartly,
"No...just the lack of it, Monsieur! And then there's the matter of quality! Mr. Tavish, if you would permit me, I'll be happy to research reputable suppliers and find the proper items we need to make good toys. I'd even take the liberty of designing new toys..."
"What's your point Mr. North?" Tavish asked boredly.
"No child should have these toys...they'll only break! And as an artist, I can't permit such poor and shotty craftsmanship!" Erik told him firmly. Tavish waved him off,
"You worry too much Mr. North! You look at a toy and see it's flaws, I look at the toy and see the...happiness...it brings!"
"But I don't think a defective toy can make any child happy!" Erik protested.
"I was referring to the happiness it brings to me! The more we make, the more we sell...the happier...I AM! Tick-tock, Mr. North! Tick-tock!" explained Tavish. Erik had never been so furious in all his days. And he had killed men! The cold attitude and his cruel behavior was no better than the gypsies that enslaved him years ago. Back then the only comfort Erik had in his dark existence was the meager toys he made himself. Only to have the gypsies destroy them quickly.
"Mr. Tavish! Has you ever seen a child's face when a toy breaks?" Erik asked trying to keep his temper in check.
"Workers! What's our motto?" Tavish asked the floor. The children chorused,
"It only has to last till Christmas!"
"Mr. Tavish! The children's hands are shaking with the cold! Can't anything be done!" Erik barked at him. Smiling, Tavish said,
"Of course something can be done, Mr. North...Mittens!" And with that, Tavish turned and returned to his office.
"But Mr. Tavish!" Erik said running after him having a door slam in his face. Erik stood a few moments trying to collect himself. What he wouldn't give for his magical lasso! Then he could make Tavish disappear...permanently! Shaking off his darker thoughts, Erik turned to the children and ranted out-loud,
"Children the conditions in here are intolerable!"
"So what are you going to do about it?" the oldest boy asked him.
"Yeah..."
"Tell him Izzy!" Erik looked around the room at their expectant faces. He was faced with a decision. Don't get involved, don't get attached and live the rest of his days alone...or get involved and risk rejection and possibly friendship. Erik made his choice.
"I don't know...but when I do...I know we'll have to stick together...what do you say?" Izzy the eldest boy looked around at them all and nodded his approval. The children cheered and formed a circle around Erik placing their hands in the middle and forming a pack.
Later that night, Erik and Nora returned to the boarding house for supper just as Mrs. Lowenstein was placing it one the table.
"Ah! There you two are! Come! Sit! And you Mister! Haven't eaten have you?" she asked Erik. Nora giggled at his nervousness as he replied sheepishly,
"No, Madame."
"Sadie! Katie! Nora and Erik are home!" Mrs. Lowenstein yelled. Sadie and Katie came in the kitchen, with Katie glaring coolly at Erik.
"Aren't the Lings joining us?" asked Erik.
"They only join us for fancy special meals! Besides, they like to eat on the floor and eat noddles with sticks!" said Mrs. Lowenstein.
"Mama, that's their culture." Sadie told her as they all sat down. Erik pushed Mrs. Lowenstein's chair in as she said,
"Thank you...So what's wrong with eating food with forks?" Sadie rolled her eyes as Katie said dishing out some food for Nora,
"So Mr. North...I understand Nora asked you to work as Tavish's supervisor." Erik sat saying,
"That's right."
"Did he ask about your mask?" Katie asked casually. Nora, Sadie and Mrs. Lowenstein froze, just waiting for the damn to break. Erik regarded her coldly but replied evenly,
"At first...but after I told him I was simply born with a face defect and my mother hated me so she sold me to the gypsies, that rather shut him up!" Katie cast her eyes down in guilt as Nora cleared her throat and wisely changed the subject,
"So...Mrs. Lowenstien...what are these anyway?"
"Latkes...for Hanukkah! Tonight's the first night! We shall light the menorah...and maybe later Sadie can teach you how to play Dreidel!" Mrs. Lowenstein said trying to get Nora excited.
"I don't see how if I'm grounded!" said Nora. Looking at Erik and then looking to Nora, Katie replied,
"Well...I did some thinkin'. It would appear Mr. North kept you from trouble this afternoon...and it is Christmastime so...I'll let ye off with a warnin'..." Nora did a double take at her sister then smiled at Erik who gave her a small smile.
"Now...Lat-kes...you say? Hmm...just looks like...fried potatoes to me..." said Katie.
"Well that's what it is!" Mrs. Lowenstein chuckled.
"Oh...you think me bein' Irish I'd know better!" Katie quipped sending Nora into giggles. Later, Sadie brought Nora into the living room to teach her how to play Dreidel, while Mrs. Lowenstein went to the attic to dig up her menorah. Leaving Erik and Katie to the dishes. Katie stood and started clearing plates to which Erik stood and took some saying,
"Here...let me help you..."
"Thank you..." she said avoiding his eye. They worked in silence, until Erik happened to brush Katie's fingers as they were placing dishes in the sink. They locked eyes and Katie blushed. Erik cleared his throat and said,
"I...wish to apologize...for the way I spoke to you Mlle. Kilkenny."
"No...you were right...I don't treat that kid with the respect she deserves...it has been tough on her without havin' her Mama about. So if anythin', I should be apologizin' to you, Mr. North...for being so stubborn with ye..." said Katie. Erik was, in a word, flabbergasted. No one had ever apologized to him before.
"Tell you what...I'll accept your apology...if you accept mine." Erik told her. Katie smiled a brilliant smile at him. Erik never had a woman smile at him that way.
"I'd guess that'd make us even." said Katie.
"Come on Erik! Come play! This is a fun game!" Nora called from the parlor. Erik looked to Katie and she couldn't help but think of a small boy asking his mother permission to play outside. She nodded for him to go on, and he left the kitchen pausing to watch her back as she started to clean the dishes.
He took that smile she gave with him to bed. It kept him from sleeping. He hadn't felt this way in five years...no...not even this way with Christine...there was something more...
He got out of bed trying to tell himself that he couldn't let himself feel such things again. It'd only hurt too much. He did allow himself to marvel at how in less than a day...he had a new home (aboveground) a place to work (even if it was frustrating him to no end) and even a friend in young Nora Kilkenny...possibly even Marcello. He stayed up that night inspired to sketch marvelous things of wonder that only a child could appreciate.