Page 39 of Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal
“Mistakes,” I nearly roar but then lower my voice as I lean in. “I can’t imagine how a business that’s been running for over thirty years has been making mistakes. Maybe show a little respect to the establishments that have created this town where you want to do business.”
For the briefest of moments, I see a flash of regret register on her features. It’s brief, but it’s there. Just enough for me to realize that she is in fact not the devil incarnate. Pretty close, but not quite all the way committed to playing the role.
Head held high, she says, “I think I have everything I need anyway.”
“Wonderful. I’ll see you out.”
“Not necessary,” she says as she walks by me.
“Oh, it’s completely necessary.” I follow close behind her.
I see her waver, wanting to go farther into the farm where families are posing in front of one of the many tree murals painted on our buildings. But then she pauses.
I point in the opposite direction. “Exit is that way.”
“Are you kicking me out?”
“I’m asking you never to return.”
She folds her arms and juts out her hip. “Are you really that scared that I might take business from you?”
Yes.
Terrified.
I don’t do well with competition and confrontation put together when it comes to business. Goofy contests, no problem, but when it involves my family’s livelihood, not so much. I’ve had a stomachache since the moment I heard about her. And last night, I could only have one gingerbread cookie instead of two. That’s saying something.
“No,” I answer, trying to play it cool. “But I think it’s awfully rude of you to think that you can replicate an already established business. You might be getting away with it with your coordinates and such, but I will tell you this. There’s something in this town you don’t have, and it’s loyalty. It’s also something your weird uncle doesn’t have either. The minute you start your plans, this town will rally behind us. It will be like the Shop around the Corner meets Fox Books all over again, but in the end, we will prevail.”
“What are you talking about?” she asks, looking confused.
“Uh, fromYou’ve Got Mail.”
“Never seen it.”
“What?” I shout, feeling my eyes pop out. “You’ve never seenYou’ve Got Mail? Well, Jesus.” I scratch the top of my head. “That explains a lot about you. Did you know that it was inspired byThe Shop Around the Corner, a classic Christmas film with James Stewart?”
“Why would I know that?”
“Might be something you want to freshen up on since you’ll be living in a year-round Christmas town, trying to sell Christmas to everyone who stops by your wannabe farm. It’s one thing to create a business. It’s a whole other thing to try to sell an experience, and that’s the difference between a successful business and one that crashes and burns after the first year.”
My words quickly erase the smarmy look on her face, and in its place is an almost... distraught look, like I said something that struck a nerve.
“I... I need to go,” she says, pushing past me.
Unsure of what just happened, I say, “Yeah, uh, that’s right. You have to go. And I better not find you here again. You hear me?”
When she doesn’t look back, my brain wants to tell me that I did it, that I scared her away, but my heart is telling me that this very well might be the beginning.
Chapter Nine
Betty
Narrator: Max doesn’t know just how deep his words cut.
But Betty does.
Instead of going to her cottage, she drives into town to Dwight’s real estate office, where she parks her car, wipes her tears, and gathers herself. She thought she could handle this. With Joyful Ring Farmcouldbe the new direction she needs, but it is also a stark reminder of the darkest moments in her life.
