Christmas Lodge Page #6

Your kitchen is worn to

the point of posing hazard.

Now, an awful lot of your windows

are cracked from the storms,

your gutters and some of the

decorative features have dry rot

and some of your floorboards

will have lo be replaced.

Is that all?

Uh... once your repairs are

completed, you're gonna have to

repaint the exterior and refinish

the interior, and that has to be done

in a way that preserves the

historical character of the lodge.

So what's the bottom line?

In drawing up the

estimate, we try to find

the most cost effective solutions.

And...

$1.8 to $2 million.

Ha!!!!!! Wow. I don't

have that kinda money.

Don't worry cuz that's,

that's where I come in.

Now all these documents are necessary

to apply to my company's

board for funding.

Now, my boss and I, we're

gonna have to push hard

to get them to take on a

project outside of the city,

but I really feel like

they will come around

when they realize the

history that's gonna be saved

in renovating Christmas Lodge.

That's a lot of paper.

It is, but don't worry, I'll go through

it with you tomorrow page by page,

while Dad and they boys

work to stabilize the lodge.

So what do you say?

Now, if we do this, is there a chance

that we could be open by Christmas?

Well, where there's a

will there's a way, right?

- Let's do it.

- Great!

Well, I don't know about you kids,

but these old bones need

a rest. Good night, Jack.

- Good night Dad.

- Good night Jack.

Good night Mary.

Good night everyone.

So, what's the plan for today?

Well, I looked over the list of

repairs and circled the problem areas

that are posing an immediate threat

or any damage to the exterior

that's letting the weather in.

I'll make some temporary

fixes to stabilize the lodge

so it won't get any worse

by the time the contractors

you hired get up here.

I appreciate it.

Morning.

- Morning!

- How'd you sleep?

Great!

She kept you up talking, didn't she?

Uh, that's kind of the whole point

of a slumber party, right Charlene?

Yeah.

Well, we'd better get started on the

paperwork, it's gonna take a couple hours.

Yup. Been warming up all morning.

Well we should get at it.

Last one!

My hand is less sore from

swinging an axe all day.

Not bad for $2 million.

No, it's not bad at all.

I can't tell you how great

it was having you all up here.

When you think you're gonna

make it back this way again?

Oh, you know what? I come up

camping all the time in the summer.

I'll be sure to swing by next time.

Oh, can you take me with you?

Charlene!

Of course. If it's okay with your dad.

Oh yeah, it's okay with her dad. With all this

work around here I don't get out on the trail

as much as I'd like to. Yeah,

Charlene probably deserves a break.

Well' all right then. I'll call you.

You don't need to, family

can drop by any time.

Oh, thank you. All

right, you two take care.

You like Mary, don't you?

What? Where do you

come up with this stuff?

Come on! She's likes you too.

What did she tell you?

No, but I can tell. I like

Mary, Dad. I like her a lot.

Bob, hi! So, what did the board say?

They're willing to give us half

the funding, but that's all.

We'll have to find the

other half somewhere else.

I am grateful but it's gonna take

too long to find outside funding.

Too long for what?

For Christmas Lodge, for my grandfather.

Look, time is not on their side.

Can I talk to the chairman?

I'm sorry Mary, but he's

ready to call it a night.

Bob, please.

Thank you.

Excuse me, Thomas.

What is it?

Mary Tobin would like to say a few words

in favor of the Christmas Lodge project.

We just spent a whole day on it-.

Please, I'm sure that Bob did a

superb job on presenting the facts

but I would like to let you know

about the faces behind those facts.

You see, Christmas Lodge is

not just a restoration project,

it's a labor of love. My family...

Mary, we all understand your family

has a long history with the lodge,

and we took it into consideration

when we granted you partial funding.

If we give you any more

funding we'll break the budget.

But half is as good as none.

I mean, Christmas

Lodge is disintegrating,

and it might hit the point of no return

if the roof gives in this winter.

I'm sorry Mary.

Mary...

you did your best.

Yeah, try telling that

to Jack and Charlene...

and my grandfather.

Thanks Bob.

I talked to the chairman,

and after all that work,

all the work you and the boys

did, all that paperwork...

Mary?

Grandpa! Hey.

How's the lodge coming?

Well it's... not as good as I had hoped.

What's wrong?

Oh, Grandpa I don't want to trouble you.

You're not troubling me! I...

I may be stuck in this bed, but

I'm still part of this world.

Well, you know, we have

enough funding for the supplies

but we're still praying

for money for a crew.

Didn't I give a construction

company to a crew

who could get the job

done right and on time?

The boys and I are

booked through New Years.

With what?

- Odds and ends.

- Well cancel them!

We can't! We have a

responsibility to our customers.

There are plenty of crews

looking for work around here,

there are very few contractors

up in the mountains.

You give the odds and ends

to the city contractors

and go and help Jack Rand!

Now Dad, I wish it was that

easy. We all have bills to pay,

who's gonna write us a check

to go work on the lodge?

Me.

You?

You tell me what you need to get the

job done and I'll write the check.

I don't know, Dad. None

of this seems right.

Letting Christmas Lodge

turn to dust doesn't either.

Our family took a lot from

the lodge over the years,

it's time to give back. I...

I want this to be my legacy,

and your inheritance. What do you say?

I'm sorry, but no.

Let me describe it another way.

I remember a tale of a carpenter

that would not turn down this job

regardless of money or convenience.

Who?

He was a man from Galilee, who

saw service to those in need

as his highest calling.

Now, when you consider

helping Jack who has the

greatest need right now

with no help in sight, or

your other responsibilities,

you might well ask yourself,

what would Jesus do?

With his guidance, I really believe

you'll make the right decision.

You know I can't argue with scripture.

Then don't! Do the

right thing, help Jack.

You always get me, don't you?

It's not me.

It's the Lord's lessons I live

by that put us on the right path.

You tell me what you want from me

and the boys, and we'll be there.

Really?

Yeah.

Thank you Dad.

- Oh, thank you, thank you.

- You're welcome.

And thank you, Grandpa.

You never let me down.

That's because you

never let me down, kid.

You know, if they keep up this

pace we might be done by Christmas.

Really, you think so?

It'll go even faster if we help them.

How?

Come on, follow Pete.

All right, so you take the sand block,

watch your fingers, and you wanna

work with the grain of the wood.

- Okay? Look.

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