A Christmas Wish Page #5

going anywhere.

Why is that ?

Oh, no.

Mama, what is it ?

( groaning )

Oil pan, looks like.

Is that expensive ?

Could be

a couple hundred.

Dollars ?

I don't have

a couple hundred dollars.

I could have it towed.

Where ?

I can't

afford that either.

Well, you can't

leave it here.

There's something else

that we should talk about.

What ?

I got a call

from the state today.

There's a construction crew

coming in.

I'm gonna

need all my rooms.

All of them ?

Yeah, the state pays full rate

a month in advance.

I can't pass that up.

Sorry.

You're kicking us out

the day after Christmas ?

Ehh...

Relocating.

Get the car moved.

( tires screeching )

( sighing )

( bells jingling )

Watch stop ?

I'm sorry,

I had car trouble.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Oh.

I know, I'm sorry,

but I gotta pay taxes.

What can you do ?

Thank you, I'm grateful.

I do want you to

stay after your shift today

and help Lola.

We're gonna do a deep clean

of the kitchen,

countertops, everything.

Sure.

But it's overtime.

Oh, great, okay.

( Lola )

Did she tell you ?

Yeah.

Ooh, you look a little rough

and we haven't

even started yet.

Car trouble.

Tried to overhaul it

yourself ?

I wish.

Ready for

the annual cleanup ?

I guess.

Order's up.

Les' hamburger.

He really likes his burger,

doesn't he ?

He is a hamburger.

Like meat loaf.

With hair.

Ew.

That's pretty nasty.

Uh-huh.

There you go.

Is it cooked okay ?

That's not medium-well.

Well, I can

take it back.

No...

So how you liking it

around here ?

Um...

fine.

Oh.

Is that all ?

Well, I haven't had

time to explore.

Kids liking it ?

Well, my daughter does,

but my-- my boy,

he's having some trouble.

Pushing him around

a little ?

Yeah, something like that.

How come ?

Well, he's a little small

for his age

and he wears

glasses and...

Stutters, huh ?

Yeah, how did you know ?

Probably that Park kid.

My grandson had

the same problem.

But I straightened him out.

Bring your boy around

here sometime.

I'll help him.

Well, I don't

want him fighting.

Oh, he won't be.

I think I saw

your car parked up

the interstate turnoff there.

Um, are you

sure it was mine ?

Well, there are not too many

old blue caddies around here.

I had some car trouble.

You ought to move it.

I-- I can't right now.

I can't afford to.

Ahh.

Well, that's your choice.

Get back to my...

burger.

Hey, guys, that's looking

pretty good.

It's from your story.

No.

This one's better

than my tree.

How do you know ?

Because it was my story.

What happened

to your eye ?

I ran into something.

Yeah, Danny Park's fist.

Is he bothering you ?

No, but I seem

to be bothering him.

You should

tell your mom.

At least someone cares.

What are you drawing ?

The couch.

( bells jingling )

Oh, hi.

What can I get you ?

Does Lola have

any of that chili ?

I'll see.

( Lola )

Have it up in a jiffy !

She is better than

my dashboard radar.

And louder.

You know, when I was a kid,

The Root Beer was

the place to hang out.

Yeah, Friday, Saturday night,

you couldn't even find

a parking spot.

Really ?

Yeah.

Really great carhop stand.

Oh, I always

wanted to do that.

Carhops ?

Yeah.

I'm too old now, though.

Not from where

I'm sitting.

It was--

it was a magical place.

Yeah, how so ?

Well, if-- if you needed

help in something

or you wanted to meet

that special somebody,

you just came to The Root Beer

and made a wish

and it would come true.

Oh.

Mel would

love that story.

Mel ?

My daughter.

Mary Ellen,

short for Mary Ellen.

But she loves stories with

magical stuff in it.

Um, so did you

ever make a wish ?

Yeah, yeah, once.

Well, and...

She didn't work out.

Oh.

Well, being

single's not so bad.

I'm not single,

I'm romantically challenged.

That's funny.

( laughing )

You have a great laugh.

Thank you.

Just my laugh ?

The rest isn't bad either.

Oh, I'm sorry,

I didn't mean--

No, no, no, no.

I mean, we both have

baggage, right ?

Yeah, I guess so.

Here you go,

tall, dark and available.

( chuckling )

Thank you, Lola.

Oh, are you okay ?

It's hot.

Oh, I'm sorry,

have some of that.

Thank you.

I'm so sorry.

It's good, it's--

it's good.

Hey, do you wanna go see

a movie sometime

or get some dinner ?

With you ?

Yeah, yeah,

that's the general idea.

I don't-- no, that was--

that was dumb.

I don't know

why I was--

Yeah, no, thank you.

Have a good night.

Oh, Martha.

Oh, you are so stupid.

"With you ?"

Oh, you're so stupid.

Uh-huh.

I don't need your help.

He's a stud !

I couldn't !

I thought you said he

ran off with a beautician !

He did,

but I'm not divorced.

Uh, no, you're divorced,

you just haven't

gone to court yet.

Which means

I'm still married.

Do you know why most women

would rather have

beauty than brains ?

Why ?

Because most men can see

better than they can think.

But Joe Hopkins is

the whole package.

Wall-to-wall handsome,

soft-spoken--

very important--

honest to a fault and single !

And you said no.

'Cause I made a vow,

Lola.

So did he.

Well, I'm keeping mine.

Besides, I know

what people think.

Oh, don't worry about

what people think.

They don't do it very often.

Hey, how come

he never got married ?

Almost did, she left him

the day before the wedding.

That's awful.

I don't think he's ever

really gotten over it.

I can imagine.

He's never forgiven women

or himself since.

In fact,

you are the first person

I've seen him even take

an interest in.

The destitute

mother of three ?

Yeah, go figure.

Hmm.

( Mel )

Mom, we're ready.

Okay, good, I've got

your lunch right here.

That one's for you,

that's for you.

Wait, what is this ?

I didn't say nothing.

Don't make a big deal.

Oh, my gosh, how can

I not make a big deal ?

I'll handle this.

Please.

I have a possible 10-87.

I'm gonna need a tow

on the corner of State Street

and Mapleton Boulevard.

Hey, Miles.

What are you

doing home so early ?

I didn't-- I didn't

think it would matter

this close to Christmas.

Whoa, hey,

that's pretty good.

It's not as bad as I thought

it'd be.

Yeah, I know.

You wanna help her ?

Finish the tree ?

It'll be our surprise.

Needs something

for the flowers.

You know what ?

I think I have

the right thing.

How about that ?

Cool.

Very cool.

Yeah.

It does feel you--

make you feel like Christmas,

doesn't it ?

Yeah, it does.

It's beautiful !

You helped ?

I did the crib

and the baby stuff.

Really ?

Yeah.

Lilee was my model.

This will be the best

Christmas ever.

( Jeanie )

Knock-knock.

Hey, my mom sent me.

Lola's sick and can't

make it in

and Trudy's visiting

her sister in Blanding.

Okay.

Um, well, could you

watch Mel and Lilee ?

Miles can help.

I can ?

Well, can't you ?

Sure.

Yeah, okay, come on.

Look what he did.

Okay.

All right, come with me.

Who started the coffee ?

I needed

something to drink.

Oh, thanks, Les.

Listen,

we need a cook.

Do you know anyone ?

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