A Candy Candy Miracle on 34th Street
Chapter 2
"Cia meets Terry… and Susanna"
Cia was bored in the apartment with her babysitter. She was used to be being outside and play with her friends in the sun and the beach. She opened the door and when to the hallway and she was playing and running there. The door of the apartment in front of theirs opened. A man came out and looked at her. She was talking to herself, she was cute.
- Hello there! He said smiling
Cia looked at him, he smiled. He had long brown hair and blue-green eyes and was handsome and she felt good looking at him.
He was looking at the little girl and he couldn't believe his eyes. She looked so much like her! Like Candy! Was she really there, or was she the figment of his imagination?
- Hi, she said
- What's your name?
- Cia…
- Cia? That's a lovely name
- What's your name?
- Terrence, you can call me Terry
- Hi Terry!
- What are you doing here?
- I'm bored, so I came here to play
- Don't you have little friends?
- I just arrived in America, my mommy is working and I don't have any friends…
- Sorry to hear that, what are you doing for Thanksgiving? Aren't you cooking a turkey with your mommy
- She's working and what's Thanksgiving?
- You don't know what Thanksgiving is?
- No…I told you I just arrived in America
- Where have you been living?
- In the Pacific Islands…
- Wow…you want me to tell you about Thanksgiving?
- I don't know if I should? You're a stranger after all
- I'm your neighbour, you can tell your nanny where you are… and there's the parade going on
- That's my mommy's idea, to have the parade I mean
- Oh, you're mommy is very clever because it's a wonderful distraction for Thanksgiving Day
- I can't see it from my apartment…
- So the more reason you should come and see it here…
- Let me talk to my nanny…
- I'll come with you…
They both went to the apartment to talk to the nanny.
- Jinny, can I go to Terry's apartment to watch the parade?
Jinny looked and she saw Terrence Grandchester, the King of Broadway, she was intimidated.
- Of course, she said
- My apartment is right across from yours, he said you can come in anytime to get her, all right?
- All right…, said Jinny
Terry took Cia to his apartment. Susanna was in her wheel chair cooking in the kitchen. Cia went to see her to say hello.
- Hi! She said
Susanna almost dropped the plate she had in her hands, when she saw her.
- Oh… hi, she said
- I'm Cia, I live in the apartment across the hall, I came to see the parade
- Oh, really?
- Terry invited me…
- Terry? Said Susanna
- And he's going to explain Thanksgiving for me, since I've never heard of it… I used to live on a pacific Island…
- A Pacific Island? That's why you still have your tan…
- I never realised I had a tan until I came here and realised I looked darker than every other white people…
- Cia! Said Terry, oh there you are! You met Susanna
- Yes, I Susanna
- Hi, said Susanna
- Go to the living room and start watching the parade…
- All right…, said Cia
Terry stayed with Susanna, who was not very happy.
- What is this? Said Susanna
- It's a little girl
- Who looks exactly like Candy…
- And your problem with that is???
- You can't get her out of your head and that little girl… is a reminder I don't need! Tell her to go back home
- She's just a little girl, and I won't send her away
- I don't need a live Candy reminder! Said Susanna angry
- Susanne you're being ridiculous! I'm going to go to the living room and talk to that little girl
- You've known her for 5 seconds and you're already paying more attention to her than to me!!!
- You're jealous of a child?
- Who looks exactly like Candy!!!!
- You're obsessed with Candy! Enough!
Susanna was sulking and Terry went to the living room look at the parade with Cia and he told her the story about Thanksgiving. They looked at the parade and Terry was explaining the different cartoon characters to Cia who had no clue who they were. He was enjoying himself very much, with that little girl who reminded him of Candy, she didn't have the Freckles… but she felt like Candy was there with him, she could've been her daughter… Cia was very cultivated, she didn't know much about kids stuff but she new a lot about actuality and what was going on in the world… When Santa Claus passed, she asked about him too…
- You don't know Santa Claus?
- No, is he a fictional character too?
- Santa Claus brings presents for nice children on Christmas…
- But that's not real, my mommy buys my Christmas presents…
- Your mommy didn't tell you about Santa Claus either?
- No, my mommy tells me real facts, not fictional fact and according to what you're saying, Santa Claus is a fictional character
There was an image of Santa Claus on a magazine, a drawing…
- He's a fictional character right? He can't bring present to children all over the world in one night… that's impossible!
Terry looked at her. This little girl was very sceptical, her mother didn't let her believe in magic…
- If you believe in magic, it's not impossible
- There's no such thing as magic… that's why I don't read fairytales, it's just plain silly! There's no such thing as princess and prince Charming living happily ever after!
- Did your mommy told you that too?
- Yes, she did. She's right…
Terry looked at her. That little girl's mother was very bitter… But he didn't want to interfere with another person's child education. Susanna joined them trying to look nice. She was forcing herself.
- Hello! Said Cia smiling, did you finish cooking?
- Yes, she said
- I'm not too used to your kind of cooking, I mostly grew up eating fruits and vegetables, not much meat or grease…
- That's good…
- Why are you on a wheel chair ? Asked Cia innocently
- I had an accident and they had to cut up my leg…
- Oh, I'm sorry…
- She was saving my life, said Terry a spotlight was going to fall on me and she pushed me away…
- Oh…were you two together then?
- No, said Terry I was with another girl and I had to break up with her…
- Why?
- To take care of Susanna
- Oh… so you're together because you had to take care you?
- Yes, said Terry
Susanna hated that little girl more and more by the minute.
- I had a friend who got her leg eaten by a shark, but they put a prosthesis on her and she can walk…, said Cia, don't they have prosthesis here?
- They do, said Susanna but…
- Don't you want to walk anymore?
Susanna was uncomfortable…
- I do, but…I have to go check on my turkey, said Susanna living the room on her wheel chair
Terry liked that little girl a lot. Susanna had been playing the victim for years. And Terry didn't want to marry her…but she would stay with Terry hoping he would notice her…
- Do you love your girlfriend at the time? She asked Terry
- I loved her a lot, in fact I still do…
- But you're stuck …bummer!
- Didn't your mommy ever told you to mind your own business?
- Yes, she also to me to say what was in my heart, never lie…
- That's right you shouldn't lie…
- Did I make Susanna angry? I'm sorry if I did…
- That's ok…, said Terry happy inside
Maybe hearing that from a little girl will make Susanna change her mind about playing the victim…
Susanna was sulking in the kitchen. She wanted to throw that little girl out of her apartment. But the child only spoke the truth… she didn't want a prosthesis because Terry was going to feel less guilty and he could leave her to go back to his precious Candy!
Candy came back home and she found the nanny alone.
- Where's Cia?
- She at the apartment right across the hall
- What? Why would you let her go there? I don't know these people!
- But she came and ask I thought it would be fine, since I know them…
- Well I don't know them! They could be child molesters for all I know! How could you be so careless?!!
- I'm so sorry madam!
- Right across the hall?
- Yes,… I'll go get her…
- No, I'll go! You've done enough!
Candy took her coat off and she went across the hall to ring the bell. A maid opened the door.
- Yes?
- I'm looking for my little girl… Cia
- Oh yes, she said smiling, come on in, she in the living room watching the parade with the master…
- Oh, right! The parade! Can I come in?
- Of course, please come in and you go straight ahead…
- Thank you, said Candy
She walked into the apartment with a strange familiar feeling…
- Hello? She said entering the living room
Everybody turned around to see who it was.
- Mommy! Said Cia running to her and jumping in her arms
- Baby! Oh…, said Candy I missed you so much!
- I missed you too! I was bored and I met Terry who invited me in to watch the parade… I checked with Jinny first… is that all right
- Cia, you can't just come into apartment of people I don't know…
- Actually you know us, said Terry, don't you Freckles?
- Oh My God! Said Candy surprised, Terry? Susanna?
- Yes, said Terry smiling
- You know each other? Said Cia astonished
- Your mommy and I are old friends, said Terry
- I can't believe this! Said Susanna, I thought she looked too much like you! She had to be yours!
- Hello Susanna,. said Candy, how have you been?
- Peachy! Said Susanna coldly
- Terry, said Candy, thank you for keeping my daughter company
- I watched the parade mommy, and Terry explained to me America's history with the Pilgrim and the Indians and Thanksgiving…
- Thank you Terry, said Candy
- Candy, said Terry, it's good to see you, it's been so long…
They looked at each other. Cia, saw their look and she felt the chemistry. Candy still had her little girl in her arms.
- Yes, indeed, said Candy looking at Terry in the eyes. I…have to go…
- Candy, we have a big turkey and we would like you to share it with us…
Susanna was dying!!!!
- Well, I…, started Candy
- Please mum, I want a Thanksgiving dinner, I've never had one…
- But your gramps Albert is having one too…
- We can come here, it's closer… we won't have to go out in the cold
- You're still not used to cold are you?
- No, I'm not! I want my Pacific sun!
- Soon baby, we'll go back soon…
She looked at Terry and Susanna, she didn't want to disappoint Cia.
- All right, said Candy we'd like to join you...
- That's great, dinner is in an hour…
- Thank you, Terry, Susanna
Candy walked to the door after putting her little girl on the floor. The maid showed them out. When they returned to the apartment, Candy was not very happy, but lately she had been grumpy about everything.
- Cia…
- I shouldn't have gone there…?
- You didn't know him…
- You know him...
- You didn't know that!
- I felt good with him, like I was safe…
"This is not happening!" Said Candy in her head.
- Cia, I don't care how safe you felt, you don't go into a stranger's house without checking with me first!
- I'm sorry I worried you mommy…
- That's ok. You go to your room take your nap and then we'll go have dinner at Terry's and Susanna's
- You know them?
- Yes,
- So you know what happened?
- I do, said Candy hurt
- He doesn't love her, he's with her with that girl he was with years ago… do you know that girl?
- Cia, I told you to go to your room and stop gossiping about the neighbour's love life!
- Ok, said Cia leaving the room for her bedroom
Candy thought she was going to go nuts. She was living right across from Terry's apartment! That couldn't have been a coincidence! She called Albert who was back home.
- Albert! Said Candy, how could you do this to me!?
- What?
- Don't play fool with me! Terry and Susanna are living in the apartment across the hall!
- Oh, that? I thought you'd want closure…
- Closure? Did I ask you for closure???!!!
- Candy
- Seeing the man I love with another woman is not going to give me closure!! I'm so angry at you!!!!
- Candy, you have to deal with the Terry matter…that's life! I want my old Candy back!
- Albert…
- You've become bitter, you need to find the source of that bitterness and deal with it!
- I'm still angry at you. I'm having dinner with Terry and Susanna
- What?
- Cia met him and she wants to have Thanksgiving dinner with them..
- You agreed?
- I couldn't tell Cia the truth about how I know Terry
- Why not?
- Albert! We are not having this conversation anymore!
- Bye Candy! Have fun with Terry!
Candy hung up the phone angry! Albert! How could he do that to her? And Cia liking Terry… how could she not fall for Terry too?
Terry in his apartment was in seventh heaven. Susanna was sulking.
- How could you invite her knowing how I feel about her?!
- Cia wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner!
- Cia, who looks exactly like her mommy! I knew she looked too much like her!
- She could've been anybody's daughter
- But she's the daughter of your beloved!
- Susanna, your jealousy for Candy is pointless… I'm not in love with you, and I never will. I'm in love with Candy, you've known it from the start and you didn't care, thinking I belonged to you… you said you wouldn't let her have me… but she has my heart
- Terry, how could you be so cruel? I love you, I love you! Why isn't that enough for you? All you want is Candy! Candy! Candy! She moved on, she's got a daughter by another man! But somehow, you can't get her out of you mind or her daughter either for that matter!
- I take care of you Susanna, I give you everything you want, but I can't give you what I don't have… my heart… why don't you go get ready for dinner
- You're making me have dinner with the woman you love…
- Who saved your life…you keep forgetting that detail. Without Candy, I wouldn't be here in America at all, I would've been in England married to the society woman my father had picked for me…without Candy you wouldn't have been alive… so directly or indirectly, I'm here with you today, because of Candy!!!!!!!!!
Susanna was sulking some more! Candy, Candy, Candy! She's been like a shade she couldn't get rid of in the middle of their lives! Now she was their new neighbour??? Was life trying to give her a sign of some sort telling her she doesn't belong with Terry? Her life with Terry was nothing like she had imagined, it was the opposite and it was starting to take its toll on her…