December 6th: Booming Business
"How much are the snow globes?"
"Oh, I love these bumper stickers! They'll be perfect for my cousin, Nick. He loves bumper stickers."
"Excuse me! Do these T-shirts come in bigger sizes?"
Lizzie really had her tyres full. Radiator Springs had become much busier in the past couple of months, but she had forgotten just how hectic the Christmas rush could get.
"Excuse me! I was in line before you!" a BMW shouted at a human man.
"Please? I'm kind of in a hurry."
"So am I. Move."
"I was in line before both of you!" a female Ford Focus complained.
"Excuse me! Could I please speak to someone in charge?!"
The poor elderly Model T was feeling very overwhelmed. If only there were someone to help her out.
Her wish was granted a second later when Red entered the store.
"Need a wheel?" he offered.
"Oh, Red!" Lizzie sighed with relief. "You're a lifesaver!"
Within a minute, Red had resolved the feud between the BMW, the human and the Ford Focus and answered a customer's query about the snow globes. Meanwhile, Lizzie was able to ring up the waiting customers' purchases.
"Oh, Red! Thank you so much!" Lizzie exclaimed once the rush had calmed down a little bit. "I don't know what I would've done without you.'
"If you ever need help, just let me know", Red told her.
"Thank you Red; I certainly appreciate that, but what about the toy drive?"
"People have been donating stuff nonstop. All I have to do is go through it all and write down what we have every night", the fire truck explained. "Besides, Sheriff's helping me,"
Lizzie looked out her window to find everyone else in town having similar trouble. Over at Luigi's, two customers were arguing over the last set of a particular brand of snow tyres. Ramone was surrounded by cars, determined to get Christmas paint jobs or gift vouchers. They practically had pitch forks and torches out! The line to get a spot at Flo's stretched all the way to Sarge's. Sheriff was trying and failing to keep the peace. Each time he rushed to break up one fight, another one would start up immediately.
Okay, so the travellers weren't exactly in the holiday spirit. It wasn't Christmas without a little stress beforehand. Lizzie knew that it would all be worth it in nineteen days.
The holidays can get a little stressful, so I tried to reflect that here.
Oh, and the cousin Nick is a background character in Cars, who is apparently, obsessed with bumper stickers.