Part 6 (1/2)
”Yes,” Lauren said. ”He is.”
”Hey, look at that!” Scott said. He pointed at the security monitor. ”It's a Wonderful Life.
My favorite movie!” On the monitor Jimmy Stewart was running through the snow, shouting, ”Merry Christmas!”
”Scott,” Lauren said, ”I can't go to the party with you.”
”Just a minute, okay?” Scott said, staring at the screen. ”This is my favorite part.” He set the shopping bags down on the receptionist's desk and leaned his elbows on it. ”This is the part where Jimmy Stewart finds out what a wonderful life he's had.”
”You have to take me home,” Lauren said.
There was a gust of cold air and snow. Lauren turned around.
”You forgot your cheese puffs,” Fred said, holding out the foil-covered plate to Lauren.
”There's such a thing as being too self-sacrificing, you know,” Lauren said.
He held the plate out to her. ”That's what the spirit said.”
”He came back?” She shot a glance at the shopping bags.
”Yeah. Right after you left. Don't worry about the presents.
He said he thought the staplers were a great idea. He also said not to worry about getting a Christmas present for your sister.”
”My sister!” Lauren said, clapping her hand to her mouth. ”I completely forgot about her.”
”He said since you didn't like it, he sent her the Yanomamo dress.”
”She'll love it,” Lauren said.
”He also said it was a wonder Jimmy Stewart ever got Donna Reed, he was so busy giving everybody else what they wanted,” he said, looking seriously at her.
”He's right,” Lauren said. ”Did he also tell you Jimmy Stewart was incredibly stupid for wanting to go off to college when Donna Reed was right there in front of him?”
”He mentioned it.”
”What a great movie!” Scott said, turning to Lauren. ”Ready to go up?”
”No,” Lauren said. ”I'm going with Fred to see a movie.” She took the cheese puffs from Fred and handed them to Scott.
”What am I supposed to do with these?”
”Take the foil off,” Fred said, ”and put them in a microwave for two minutes.””But you're my date,” Scott said. ”Who am I supposed to go with?”
There was a gust of cold air and snow. Everyone turned around.
”How do I look?” Evie said, taking off her coat.
”Wow!” Scott said. ”You look terrific!”
Evie spun around, her shoulders bare, the sequins glittering on her black dress. ”Lauren gave it to me for Christmas,” she said happily. ”I love Christmas, don't you?”
”I love that dress,” Scott said.
”He also told me,” Fred said, ”that his favorite thing in Miracle on 34th Street was Santa Claus's being in disguise-”
”He wasn't in disguise,” Lauren said. ”Edmund Gwenn told everybody he was Santa Claus.”
Fred held up a correcting finger. ”He told everyone his name was Kris Kringle.”
”Chris,” Lauren said.
”Oh, I love this part,” Evie said.
Lauren looked at her. She was standing next to Scott, watching Jimmy Stewart standing next to Donna Reed and singing ”Auld Lang Syne.”
”He makes all sorts of trouble for everyone,” Fred said. ”He turns Christmas upside down-”
”Completely disrupts Maureen O'Hara's life,” Lauren said.
”But by the end, everything's worked out, the doctor has his X-ray machine, Natalie Wood has her house-”
”Maureen O'Hara has Fred-”
”And no one's quite sure how he did it, or if he did anything.”
”Or if he had the whole thing planned from the beginning.” She looked seriously at Fred.
”He told me I only thought I knew what I wanted for Christmas.”
Fred moved toward her. ”He told me just because something seems impossible doesn't mean a miracle can't happen.”
”What a great ending!” Evie said, sniffling. ”It's a Wonderful Life is my favorite movie.”
”Mine, too,” Scott said. ”Do you know how to heat up cheese puffs?” He turned to Lauren and Fred. ”Cut that out, you two, we'll be late for the party.”
”We're not going,” Fred said, putting his arm around Lauren. They started for the door.
”Miracle's on at eight.”
”But you can't leave,” Scott said. ”What about all these presents? Who's going to pa.s.s them out?”
There was a gust of cold air and snow. ”Ho ho ho,” Santa Claus said.
”Isn't that your costume, Fred?” Lauren said.
”Yes. It has to be back at the rental place by Monday morning,” he said to Santa Claus. ”And no changing it into rainforest by-products.”