A Night for Miracles
Foley's Saloon was pratically glowing with magic that night as everyone on Avenue A danced and drank punch, filling up on delectable goodies. Nora was chatting with her friends, looking every so often to the door. She crossed over to a group of gentlemen who were all standing around someone. That someone turned out to be Katie dressed in that gorgeous red dress. And she looked stunning in it.
"Is Erik here yet?" Katie asked her sister. Nora sighed sadly,
"Not yet." Running a hand through her sister's hair, Katie said,
"You know...Mr. Foley said after Christmas, you can work here sweepin' the floors. Then we'd spend some time together. How's that sound?" Nora gave her a small smile,
"Sounds grand." Hugging her, Katie watched as a young man came up and asked Nora,
"May I have this dance?" Nora blushed and looked up at her sister who nodded and watched warmly as her sister was escorted to the floor. Looking out, Katie saw Sadie dancing with Marcello, Mary dancing with some fella, that Vicompt and Christine was here, even Mrs. Lowenstein was dancing with the very widowed Officer Doyle. Katie sighed going up the stairs to the second floor where she found a balcony to look out. Avenue A was below her, the buildings of New York a little over her head and the stars were above. Pulling the thin red net shawl around her head and shoulders, Katie whispered out to the cold night,
"Where are you Erik?"
Erik was downtown at the bank where one Mr. Thompkins smiled widely,
"There you are Mousieur! You are now an official customer of the Thompkins, Loweman and Smithe Bank...are...are you quite sure about your decision to move out west? We don't have a branch there!" Erik said tucking his bank book in his pocket,
"Just keep an eye on my holdings until I write you asking for a transfer."
"Forgive me Mousieur...it's just...five million dollars in cash is nothing to sneeze at! I'd hate to lose a customer I've gain just today!" Mr. Thompkins said as they stood.
"I understand. But this is the way it must be done." Erik said walking out the door into the cold December wind. Standing at the door, Mr. Thompkins said,
"Very well Mousieur...if you insist. Merry Christmas." As the man locked up for the evening, Erik whispered,
"For some maybe..." Erik heard the trolley car bells and decided to risk seeing Katie's father rather than walk in the cold. Once he caught up, Erik was relived to find a different driver and that only an elderly couple was on board. Paying his fare and sitting down, Erik sighed as the trolley car jumbled and swayed along the streets. Taking out of his coat the locket he had bought earlier, Erik thought to himself,
"I must never get emotionally attached again. I just need to stay away from people that's all...just stay as far away from people as I possibly..."
"Excuse me!" Erik looked up to see the older couple siting down next to him. The wife, a still beautiful woman with white hair with streaks of blonde and dressed in a fine blue and red plaid traveling dress asked him,
"Tell me dear, do you possibly have the time? My husband Nicky has forgotton his watch and we must be home by seven thirty for Christmas Eve!" The husband, a tall, portly gentleman with long white whiskers, and dressed in a smart green suit with a red vest added with a laugh,
"I didn't forget it, Annie! It fell out of my pocket before we left!" As the woman laughed and rolled her eyes, Erik took out his pocket watch and said with annoyance,
"It's only six forty, Madame." Annie sighed in relief,
"Oh good! Say...is something wrong?" Seeing her general concern, Erik said,
"Just my whole life!"
"What could go wrong on Christmas?" Nicky asked.
"Everything! My past caught up with me and now I have to run." Erik said not believing he was sharing this with total strangers.
"And now you feel as if you'll never get what you came to America to find." Nicky added. Looking at him in disbelief, Erik said in a daze,
"Yes..."
"Friends...a satisfying and creative career...family...love...a home?" Nicky went on.
"Yes!" Erik said.
"Well dear...you already found most of that...Sadie, Mrs. Lowenstien, Nora, Marcello, Katie...they're not only your friends...they've become your family...and they love you. And as long as you're loved Erik...you've found a home." Annie told him touching his masked cheek.
"Your past is in the past son. Christine never had the power to bring you out of the darkness. You had to make the choice and you did." Nick added.
"Wait...how did you know about Christine...and my friends from Avenue A...and how did you know my name?" Erik asked as the trolley pulled to a stop.
"Thrity-fourth street!" yelled the driver. The couple stood and Nick told Erik,
"Go home son!" Annie hugged Erik around the neck,
"And Merry Christmas!" Erik only watched in awe as they walked off. Then he snapped out of it and ran to catch the couple,
"Wait!" But they were gone. Not even their footprints where in the snow.
"Getting off sir?" the driver asked Erik. Looking out at the nearly vacant street, Erik said,
"No..." He sat back down and thought long and hard almost missing his stop when the driver yelled,
"Avenue A!" Erik got off and was forced to make a decision. Left to Delancy Stables or right to Foley's Saloon. Turning left, Erik ignored the soft laughter and music and went inside the barn seeing Cupid look up at him in his stall.
"Don't look at me like that! We have to leave!" Erik told Cupid who shook his mane in reply. Stroking Cupid's nose, Erik said, "It's too dangerous...best leave now before someone gets hurt..."
"A wise decision, Mr. North..." Erik spun on his heel to see Mr. Tavish smiling at him wickedly, "Or should I say...Mousieur Fantome de L'Opera?"
Katie sighed when her ears picked up the nose of heavy boots on the newly fallen snow. Seeing a figure below, Katie called out,
"Erik?" Officer Doyle stepped into the light in his Santa Claus outfit and pulled down his beard,
"Only me! Officer Doyle, Miss Katie! What are you doing all out in the cold all by yourself." Katie shrugged,
"Oh...just looking for a star..." Nodding in understanding, Doyle said,
"He'll come. Don't worry. Goodnight to you now. And Merry Christmas!" He went inside to the cheers of happy children while Katie looked up to see a shooting star. She smiled and said to herself softly,
"Everytime a star is fallin'... someone that you love...is...callin'...
He...needs me. Yes, he...needs me! Don't ev-en...ask me how...I know!
I know when he...calls me...my heart...hears him!
And tells...me that it's time for me...to go!
He's...my world...and I...am his...
He's...my world...and journey's end...is where he is!
And...his...laughter! Is my...laughter! A
And tells...me...what I'm living for!
And so if...he...needs me...I'll go!
'Cause I...need him...much...more!" Katie smiled and picked up her skirts going inside as another star fell from the sky. Sadie and Marcello met her the the foot of the stairs.
"Katie! I'm starting to get worried. Where's Erik?" asked Sadie. Mrs. Lowenstein came up and told them,
"He'll be here, Sadie!"
"He sure will! And I'm goin' to go get him. He needs me...I love him! I love him and I have to be the one to get him!" said Katie as the smile on her face spread to her friends. Marcello pushed her towards the door,
"Go! Ia think you can convince Erik to come back!" Going out the saloon, Katie raised her voice to the heavens,
"He's...my world...and I...am his...
He's...my world...and journey's end...is where he is!
And...his...laughter! Is my...laughter! A
And tells...me...what I'm living for!
And so if...he...needs me...I'll go!
'Cause I...need him...much...more!" Remembering Cupid in his stall, Katie went over to the stables but stopped at the door once she heard Erik's deep powerful voice growl at someone,
"How did you know?" She heard Mr.Tavish's voice reply in a most self-assured manner,
"A certain Prima Diva told me everything! Hiding in the opera house...terrorizing the players...demanded money from the management...stalking and kidnapping Mlle.Daae...killing two men...my...my...you certainly have a colorful past haven't you?"
"What do you want Tavish?" Erik asked.
"I've already taken the steps for my revenge...however...I could agree to some of that tainted money you have to protect your whereabouts." Tavish replied.
"Are you trying to blackmail me?" Erik demanded.
"Oh don't get so high and mighty with me, Mousieur Phantom. After all, a monster like you has done far worse less we forget." Tavish said. And that was the last straw for Katie. She burst in the stables and got into Tavish's face,
"You horrible little twit! You can't hold all this over Erik's head! His friends already know 'bout his past and we will all stick by him and protect him! He ain't the man he was! And if anyone's the monster here it's you!" Erik pulled her back by the shoulders,
"Katie!"
"How touching! By it won't do you any good my dear. For as we speak, La Carlotta is at Foley's Saloon telling the cheif of police the truth of Avenue A's most upstanding citizen, Erik North. They'll be a warrent for your arrest before the night is out." Tavish told them. Erik sneered,
"If you actually think La Carlotta can show up on time for anything you are sadly mistaken. She likes to be fashionally late!" Tavish twirled his cane and smiled,
"No matter! The point is she will tell the police and you will once again be a wanted man. Now if you'll excuse me...I must go the factory and break open a bottle of champange I've been saving!" As Erik struggled to hold Katie back, Tavish added snidely,
"Have a Merry Christmas...while you can! Mmm hmm! Mmm HA HA HA HA HA!" He exited the stable and Katie shook loose of Erik and shouted out the door,
"Oh yeah! Well...your spats look stupid!" When she turned, Erik finally took notice of her in her gown. Desire swelled as his eyes raked over her form and the plunging neckline. His eyes took on a sad look and his gently smiled,
"Oh Katherine...you look like a Christmas angel!" Katie came forward and told him,
"He doesn't hold any sway with the powers that be anymore! Not now that his business is in trouble! We'll figure somethin' out!" Erik rubbed her shoulders and told her sadly,
"But a celebrity like La Carlotta does, my darling." Katie stopped,
"Erik...did you just call me darlin'?" Erik smiled,
"I suppose there's no denying it. Katie...I'm in love with you...I adore you...you may not feel the same way but..." Taking his hands in hers Katie told him,
"Erik! That's what I need to tell you! Why I came to find you! I love you Erik North! I love you! Down to the depths of my soul!" Tearing up, Erik grinned,
"You do?" Katie grinned pulling him close by the neck,
"What does this tell ya?" Erik recieved a kiss that curled his toes and sent shivers of pleasure down his spine. When they broke the kiss, Erik embraced her whispering,
"You don't know how long I've waited for you!" Katie laughed and pulled back wiping the happy tears from her cheeks,
"So what are we goin' to do about that Scrooge Tavish?" Erik furrowed his brow in thought,
"Scrooge?" Then a slow, wicked smile spread on his face as he took Katie by the hand and led her out and continued,
"Come on."
"Where we goin', Erik darlin'?" asked Katie.
"To scare the Dickens out of Augustus P. Tavish!" Erik answered.
Mr. Tavish was drinking his glass of champange all alone in his office when he heard a noise come from the floor. He put his glass down and took up a poker from his fireplace. Stepping out of the office, he descended the stairs calling out,
"Hullo? Who's there? I'll call the police!" Stepping out on the floor, Tavish saw a faint shadow pass on his right. He swung the poker around and hit only air. A dark laugh reverberated off the walls.
"Show yourself you coward!" Tavish yelled. Then a voice that came from nowhere and everywhere,
"A coward am I? Then you must be even sadder than I first thought."
"What the devil are you talking about?" Tavish demanded.
"If I am a coward for hiding my form from you, then what do you call a man who toasts himself alone in a deserted factory? Champayne is meant to be shared with friends? Where are your friends, Tavish?" the Voice asked.
"Who are you?" Tavish asked suspiciously.
"A ghost."
"Bah!" sneered Tavish.
"Don't believe me hmm? Fine. I'll be happy to prove it to you." said the Ghost before a teddy bear flew across the room on it's on power. Then a train moved down a table by itself, followed by a toy cannon popping their corks out. Dropping his poker and sweating profusily, Tavish nervously asked while spinning around,
"Spirit! What do you want of me?"
"I'd be content if you thought of others than yourself every once in a while. But you shall be far happier if you try to give back to your fellow man, help him in his hour of need...all through the year but especially at Christmas. Look at you! You don't have a friend in the world! And there's a whole street out there filled with good, caring people that you could spend the lonely hours with. But here you are in your souless factory where you will more than likely die alone slumped over your desk." The Voice told him. Tavish got on his knees and begged,
"No! No! Spirit! I'll change! I'll honor Christmas! I'll honor every human being with kindness and generosity! Please say it is not to late! Please!"
"It's never too late." the Voice echoed fadding away as Tavish broke down into sobs.
Outside, Katie shivered a little when someone touched her elbow.
"Oh!" she cried upon spinning around to face the chowled figure. Erik pushed back the hood and chuckled,
"It's only me darling!" Katie sighed nodding towards the factory,
"Was that whole business necessary?" Erik smirked while taking her hand,
"No...but it was fun." They walked over to Foley's Saloon where everyone began to applaud and slap Erik's back, rushing forward to shake his hand. Christine and Raoul stepped forward. Erik paused, then smiled and allowed Christine to hug him, recieving a handshake from Raoul. No words were needed to understand that all was forgiven.
"Erik!" cried Mrs. Lowenstein breaking through the crowd and embracing Erik.
"Oof! Merry Christmas to you too, Madame!" Erik grunted out with a smile. Sadie went to the landing of the stairs and tapped on a glass of punch with a butter knife getting everyone's attention,
"Attention everyone! I know this may seem unusual. A Jewish girl making a Christmas toast. But...as most of you know I have the biggest mouth on Avenue A!" Everyone laughed with Marcello smiling and protesting,
"Oh no!"
"I just wish to thank someone who's only been with us for a little while. But who has in that time made such an difference, especially for the children. Erik you've done so much for us! Come to think of it what you've really been is our own very only angel." Sadie said.
"A Christmas Angel!" Nora added. Sadie laughed lifting her glass,
"Right! Here's to Avenue A's very own Christmas Angel!" Erik was fighting back grateful tears. He finally had friends. And with Mrs. Lowenstein as a mother, Sadie and Nora like sisters, Marcello for a brother and Katie as expectantly his future bride, Erik finally knew. He was home.
"Zere he iz!" snapped a shrill voice through the crowd. Upon the crowd parting, they saw La Carlotta come forward followed by the chief of police. She jabbed a finger in Erik's face and screeched,
"Zere! My lover's killer!" Everyone began to gasp and murmur and the police cheif said,
"Madame...you must be mistaken." Officer Doyle said pulling off his beard saying,
"Mr. North's a right fine member of our community, Ma'am!"
"Ia don't care! Ia know zat face! Hey! He'll tell you! He'll believe me!" Carlotta said pointing to a figure that came forward. Erik gulped when Tavish asked the police chief,
"Is something wrong officer?"
"Tell him! Tell him how you believe me!" Carlotta commanded. Tavish smiled and told the police cheif,
"I apoligize Sir, but I only humored La Carlotta when she mistook my new business partner in a moment of grief for her love's murderer."
"Business partner?" asked Katie. Tavish smiled a genuine smile,
"Well I recently realized as a result of my recent business failures that I need a brilliant man who treats toymaking like an artform. If Mr.North will agree, I believe we can build a lucritive and quality filled factory."
"You traitor! Ia don't care if you like him now! Ze phantom was horribly deformed on one side of his face! Why do you zink he's wearing a mask, huh? Go on! Make him take off hiz mask and show you! Zen you can arrest him!" Carlotta demanded. The police cheif sighed,
"Alright Doyle. Have Mr. North take off his mask." Christine tensed. It was the night of Don Juan all over again!
"He doesn't have to show you anythin' you cow!" Katie snapped.
"Kathrine!" Erik hushed her. Officer Doyle looked Erik in the eye,
"Come on Lad. Off with it now." Erik gulped and took one last look around the faces of his friends. Then he reached up and slowly pulled off his mask. There was a collective gasp and people began to murmur with Mrs. Lowenstein asking Sadie,
"That's what he was hiding? What's the big deal?"
"Mama hush!" Erik furrowed his brow and looked at Katie who had just dropped her jaw in shock. Why was she surprised? She had seen his abomination before. Doyle lifted up the corner of his mouth with relief as he told Carlotta,
"Well there you have it Ma'am. You must have the wrong man." As Erik was trying to figure out what he meant, Marcello added,
"Maybe you should be careful of who you are accusing before you accuse them, no?" A stunned Carlotta said,
"Yes...Ia suppose so...Bye bye now..." She walked out of the Saloon as the cheif of police said,
"Alright folks! Nothing to see here! Get back to your party!" As the music started up again and the small talk resumed, all of Erik's friends including the De Changy's were looking at Erik. Only Mrs. Lowenstein and Nora was smiling, everyone else had their mouth's gaping open in shock. Erik finally snapped,
"Will somebody please explain why no one is screaming at the sight of me?"
"Why would they scream at such a handsome punum?" Mrs. Lowenstein asked.
"Yeah Erik. Why were you wearin' a mask? Did you cut yourself a few weeks ago or somethin'?" Nora asked. Confused Erik asked,
"What?" Marcello turned him around to see the mirror behind the bar,
"Ia believe your "wounds" have healed my friend." Erik froze. The man in the glass was not the man Erik had known as his reflection whenever he dared to look. This man was perfection! Both sides of the face looked the same. And the features were appealing as well. The nose was aristocratic, the cheek high like it's twin, the smooth forehead leading to a raven black hairline. He put a hand to his face to feel the same. Smooth and real. Even the hair was different! It was no longer thin and brown but thick and dark like the night. Raoul asked in disbelief,
"How is this possible?"
"Such a fuss over such a good looking boy! I'm so glad you came back!" said Mrs. Lowenstein patting his right cheek and going through the crowd. Sadie turned to Erik,
"Erik! I caught a glimpse of your face this afternoon! It was still deformed. What happened?"
"Deformed?" asked Nora.
"How should I know?" Erik asked still confused.
"Well what did you do after you left the house?" asked Marcello.
"I went to the bank downtown...then I rode back on the trolley." Erik told them.
"Did you met anyone?" asked Raoul.
"An elderly couple. The woman touched my mask...they knew who I was. And they were trying to convince me to go home." Erik said fingering his cheek.
"Well what did they look like?"
"She was beautiful with white hair...and he had white whiskers..."
"Wait...did he have rosy cheeks?" asked Katie.
"Yes."
"A nose like a cherry?" Christine asked.
"Yes." nodded Erik.
"And a big round belly?" Sadie asked.
"That shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly?" Marcello inquired.
"Yes! Do you know him?" Erik asked.
"Erik! You've just described Santa Claus! And Mrs. Santa Claus!" Nora exclaimed.
"Santa?" asked Erik.
"No...it isn't possible!" exclaimed Raoul shaking his head.
"Well...it is Christmas! Miracles happen!" Katie shrugged as Erik wrapped an arm around her waist. He looked over to see Tavish alone at the corner of the bar nodding politely and nervously to everyone who passed. He left his group saying,
"Excuse me." Walking over to Tavish, Erik asked, "Why did you defend me to La Carlotta?" Tavish smiled,
"After a bit of a fright a few minutes ago, I calmed down and realized I had been visited by an opera ghost and not a ghost of Christmas past!" Erik smiled,
"I must be losing my touch."
"You were convincing enough to make me fearful of dying alone. You were right Mr. North. I need to think of others. And I'll start with adding more coal to the stove daily. And I meant what I said about making you my partner. Next Christmas, Tavish Toys will bring a lot of joy to children. Especially if you design them. So what do you say, North? Partners?" Tavish said extending his hand. Erik shook it smiling,
"Miracles happen in all forms tonight! Come! Let me introduce you. Then you can tell the children of our new partnership!" As he followed Tavish to his loved ones, Erik prayed a little prayer thanking God for sending whoever that jolly old gentleman was.
That jolly old gentleman in question was flying overhead in a sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer. His wife Annie said as she sat by his side,
"Oh Nicky! I'm so glad we could finally give Erik what he always wanted!"
"He gave himself what he always wanted, Annie. We just gave him a normal face." Santa said.
"But he did always want it! We just didn't know about him until he had already grown. Besides...he was handsome enough. And he certainly didn't need a perfect face to win Katie's heart!" Annie said.
"Yeah...but it was just an added joy for his life." Santa said.
"And you know what Nick? I can't wait for the day we get a letter from his children!" Annie said.
"HO HO HO! Merry Christmas Annie!"
"Merry Christmas Nicky!" smiled Annie as they began to sing,
"Through a navy blue night,
crowd with shimmering stars."
"To the kids of the world you can bet I'll be making my annual calls..." sang Santa.
"And now...with you sitting...be-sides...me
We'll have the best...Christmas...of all!" sang Annie Claus.
"Flying over the clouds...flying under the moon,
as we watch and we wait for the first house to appear...
And now...with you sitting be-sides...me
We'll have the best...Happy...New Year!"
"Though the winds may be strong...I will never...complain...dear!
I'm happy as long...as there's you...and my reindeer!" sang Santa.
Down below on Avenue A, everyone at the Lowenstein boarding house, including the Ling family, the De Changy's and Mr. Tavish had gathered together to open presents. As Erik gave an excited Katie the gold locket, he sang,
"Through a navy blue night...crowd with shimmering stars..." Looking outside the window, Katie sang fingering her new locket,
"In a moment I know that the first litte snowflake will fall! And now...that you're standing...be-side...me...we'll have the best...Christmas...of all!" They watched as Mrs. Lowenstein pulled out a silver candlestick from her stocking. She teared up upon realizing it was exactly the same as her grandmother's. Katie looked to Erik who had a mischeivious grin on his face. She then knew he had provided the gift. Could she love this man anymore? Then she sadly notice Nora pulling out wads of paper from her stocking. Wasn't Da suppose to fill her stocking this year? Then a knock came on the door. Nora went to answer it and she and Katie both gasped upon seeing the petite red headed woman with brown eyes and two freckles under her eye.
"Mama!" cried Nora.
"Mama!"cried Katie happily as she and Nora went to embrace the woman who cried,
"Nora! Katie!" Erik smiled as Mr. Kilkenny came in holding his sleeping year old son in his arms. They exchanged a look and nodded before Mrs. Kilkenny pulled back and exclaimed,
"Saints declare! You're both so beautiful! And Katie darlin' where did you get such a beautiful gown? And that spot o'gold gracin' your neck is gorgeous!" Katie smiled,
"The gown was created by Mrs. Lowenstein. But the necklace..." She reached for Erik's hand and pulled him close,"...the heart of gold belongs to Erik."
"Enchante Madame." Erik said kissing the back of her hand.
"Well! A right handsome gentleman! A pleasure to meet you Erik!" Mrs. Kilkenny said.
"The pleasure is mine, Madame!" said Erik before Mrs. Lowenstein pulled her aside, taking her things while making introductions. Erik pulled Katie back and looked up to the ceiling,
"Isn't that mistletoe?" Katie smiled a teasing smile,
"Erik North, just because you buy me expensive jewelry that'll you'll still be payin' off by St.Patrick's Day, don't think I'm easy to get!" Erik winced and pulled out his bank book,
"Um...darling...I think you better understand that...I can afford expensive jewelry!" Katie took on a confused expression as Erik passed her the bank book. Then her eyes nearly bugged out of her head when she saw the six figure number.
"Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" she cried upon realizing she had a kind, handsome and insanely wealthy man to call her own. Miracles did happen. Overhead, Santa and Annie Claus sang together,
"When your no longer kids...and have kids of your own...
you'll remember what somebody said to you when you were small...As long...as you love...one an-other...you'll have the best Christmas...of all!"On Avenue A, Katie and Erik sang,
"...As long...as you love...one an-other...you'll have the best Christmas...the best...Christmas...the best...Christmas...of all!" And then Erik kissed Katie under the mistletoe, as the church bells rang the Christmas hour.
The End