Farewell Mr. Kringle Page #4

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lawyer named mark Stafford.

Represented one of my friend's

ex-husbands.

There used to be.

No. No!

- You're that mark Stafford?

- I was that mark Stafford.

I heard he was a real shark.

And now you're

a handyman in mistletoe?

Yeah, well, I'm not

exactly a handyman.

It's... more my hobby.

I work pro Bono exclusively

for the holly inn.

And sometimes

for my neighbor mabel.

She's got

some plumbing issues.

And why do you do this?

I bought the inn

a couple months back.

Ah! So you're the guy...

Hey, listen, you mind

if I ask you

a couple questions

while you're here?

No. Shoot.

Mark Stafford,

erstwhile divorce lawyer.

Do you have any...

Fond childhood memories

of kris kringle?

Let's see...

I remember the first time

I crawled up on Santa's lap.

I was terrified.

And then he spotted me.

And the first time

he said my name,

it was like...

I already knew who he was.

Like I'd always known

who he was.

I don't even remember

what he said to me.

Just that he made me feel...

Safe.

Kris has this rare gift.

He can make anyone believe

they're the most important

person in the entire world.

Okay. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Should I... tip you or...

I don't think so.

Question... what does

one do around here

after hours?

- Well...

- Funny you should ask that.

We wish you

a merry Christmas

we wish you

a merry Christmas

we wish you

a merry Christmas

and a happy new year

good tidings we bring

to you and your kin

we wish you

a merry Christmas

and a happy new year

so bring us a figgy pudding

so bring us

a figgy pudding

Hi, Anna!

- Hey!

- Want some hot chocolate?

- It is on the house.

- Sure. Thank you.

- And a yummy cookie?

- No cookies.

- No!

- You're watchin' your figure.

So you made it.

Yeah. I have to admit,

it got a little lonely

back at the inn.

- Well, how's the story coming?

- Good. Good.

Just... waiting for

the pulitzer people to call.

This is nice.

A family gathering.

What about you?

- Wife and kids?

- No. Not married.

Uh, to Santa claus?

Okay.

- You believe in Santa claus?

- Well, I believe in kris.

You think that's good for him,

enabling his delusion?

Oh, it's not a delusion

to him.

See the blazing

yule before us

- You, uh, care to sing?

- Uh...

No. There won't be

any singing.

- Trust me!

- Really?

- Mm-hmm.

- Well, then...

I'm afraid I'm gonna

have to ask you to leave.

- Really?

- Fat chance.

Fa LA LA LA LA LA

LA LA LA:

while I tell

of yuletide treasure

My family spent Christmas

in airports, mostly.

Always traveling somewhere...

London, Paris,

Tahiti one year.

My dad loved flying

on Christmas

'cause he said

it was never crowded.

- Mm.

- When I was four...

This is great...

My mom told me,

"Santa claus is a myth

created to stimulate

retail sales."

Well, there must have been

one Christmas gift

that stood out...

The easy-bake oven, the tea set.

When I was seven,

I begged them for a puppy.

I wanted a dog more than

anything in the world.

What I ended up with that year

was a little stuffed schnauzer

that they picked up

at an airport gift shop.

We won't go

until we get some

we won't go

until we get some

so bring it right here

so did you ever get

the dog?

- No.

- Why not?

Never got around to it.

So what about you?

Why would you leave all that

divorce money for... this?

Ha ha. You wouldn't

believe me if I told you.

Oh, try me.

I, uh, had this

really big case.

It was a nasty divorce.

Two parties.

Couldn't agree on what

time it was

much less

anything that mattered.

It was the last day of court.

I had just finished

what I thought

was a brilliant

closing argument.

I was getting a coffee

at the vending machine

feeling really good

about myself

when I started to have

this feeling

that I was being watched.

Watched?

Turned around,

and there was this little girl

just... staring at me.

I assume that she wants

something out of the machine,

so I ask her,

"what would you like?

It's on me."

And she didn't say anything.

She just kept...

Staring at me with these

penetrating green eyes.

Finally, she says,

"mister, why are you

tearing apart my family?"

Ow. That's intense.

What did you say?

- Nothing. I was...

- Floored.

Didn't have an answer

for her.

Hotshot lawyer

with a silver tongue

rendered speechless

by a ten-year-old.

Then, I had this...

Wave of nausea come over me.

I knew I had to get

out of here,

so I walked out of

the courthouse

and got in my car

and just... drove.

Had no idea

where I was going.

I ended up here.

My hometown.

The place

I thought I had outgrown.

Hmm.

- And you never went back?

- Nope.

I was fined.

My license suspended.

My partners bought

my shares out of the firm

and asked me for my key

to the executive washroom.

That's quite a story.

- Yeah. Funny part is...

- I didn't care.

I knew at that moment

my old life was over.

I was no longer a lawyer.

I was just some guy stumped by

a little girl's question.

So... here I am back home

in a town

formerly known as summerville.

My family's all gone,

so there's no real reason

for me to stay here.

It just... feels right.

And now you're

remodeling your inn.

I like staying busy.

What about the answer

to the little girl's question?

Still workin' on it.

Oh, well...

Good night.

Good night, Anna.

Hello again, and welcome

back to mistletoe,

faithful bloggers.

So far, it's been a most

interesting week

trailing after Mr. kringle.

Tuesday, I won a $17 pot

at mistletoe retirement home

bingo night.

B-10!

Oh, bingo!

Bingo! Whoo!

Don't worry, bloggers.

I put it all back

in the kitty.

Ho ho ho ho!

It'll soon be Christmas!

Here's some goodies

for the tree.

Here we go!

Wednesday found me at

the local children's hospital.

Ah... all right.

Thanks.

Hey, harley.

Hey, mark.

- Hey.

- Hi.

- Sit?

- Sure.

I'll eat over here, Zelda.

Got it, Mr. staff.

Hey, you do know...

Phil told me

about the special menu.

I wouldn't believe

everything Phil tells you.

- Thanks for the tip.

- He also said you're a nice guy.

Well, you can believe

some of the things Phil says.

Mistletoe gotten

under your skin yet?

You mean that in a good way?

- Yeah.

- This town has a way of...

Growing on people.

Well, not this people.

- City girl.

- Oh, here you go, darlin'.

That was fast!

- Well, they know my...

- Routine.

- He's a growing boy.

- Nice!

So... I saw your blog

yesterday.

You're a good writer.

Thank you.

Any, uh...

Novels in the works?

Close. Unfinished play.

It's probably

gonna stay that way.

Really? Why don't you

finish it?

Oh, hit a wall.

Maybe I will...

Someday.

- Good.

- I'd like to read it.

Hey, Anna.

- Oh, hi!

- Hi.

Mark, I am really

looking forward to

your party tonight

at the inn.

- Oh, great, Nora.

- I'll see you there.

- Okay.

- Take care.

Bye.

Party?

Actually, I was just about

ready to invite you.

Sure, you were.

It's my annual

Christmas party.

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