Twelve Trees of Christmas Page #4

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It's my favorite kind of story.

I figure I can make a couple

dozen of these by Christmas.

So much detail.

Yeah...

Would it be cheating if I asked some

of our patrons to help me?

No, not at all.

I mean, we're not really

part of the competition.

Great.

Put me down for one fantasy tree.

Okay.

Oh, you haven't figured

out your theme yet.

No. Not yet.

I'm still searching.

Do you see the irony in this?

I'll get it.

I just need to be inspired by something.

I have a feeling the library will help.

How are the others doing?

Mack, our janitor and wannabe chef

is doing a Christmas foods tree.

He's researching vintage recipes...

Paul, can I ask you a question?

Sure, Mack.

You ever had calves foot jelly?

What's that?

You take a couple of calves feet,

boil them down

- jelly.

No, I've never had calves foot jelly.

What on earth are you reading?

Victorian cookbook for the holidays.

Thinking of trying out

a couple of recipes.

How do brains balls sound to you?

It sounds like Hannibal

Lector is your mentor.

Broiled kidneys... Pigeon compote.

Okay, stop... Please.

All right.

How about some bubble and squeak?

Jelly bouillion and mutton sausage.

Come on!

You know what, maybe

stick with desserts.

Yeah...

I guess Victorians

had stronger stomachs.

See ya.

Would you look at that...

Candied duck foot web.

Huh.

Kind of like potato chips.

Deirdre and Artie, they have

the technology, but no theme.

But it's state of the art technology.

Technology can only help us

express the theme we choose.

It is not a theme in itself.

The lights are cool.

Yeah, but what does it mean?

I mean, behind every great

creation is a purpose.

Last year I put up a tree in here

using all light-emitting diodes.

I didn't even use a real tree at all.

We have to use a tree.

It's one of the rules.

I'm just saying it's superfluous.

I could do it without one.

Not the point.

The tree is the palate for our vision.

So, no lights?

Lights are in, but we need a theme.

Oh, man...

What did you learn at the library?

Electronics and computer science.

And we're back at square one...

How about you?

Hmmm... People.

I mean, I'm new to the city,

so volunteering at the library

helped me to meet new friends.

Really? Someone like you, eh?

I can't believe you'd have any problem.

I think people would fall

over themselves to meet you.

Well, I wanted to meet...

People who care about things.

And people who are curious enough

about the world around

them that they'll spend time

getting off their butts

and learning stuff.

And have you met the

right kind of people there?

Yes.

I've met all sorts of

wonderful people there.

The Martinsons don't

have a theme listed.

No, I know.

I was surprised they even signed up.

I feel like every time you

see them they're all busy

and stressed out and

rushing off somewhere.

Courier knives.

Too old fashioned.

Star Wars!

What does that have

to do with the library?

Come on.

We borrowed the DVDs from the library.

Then what does that have

to do with Christmas?

The theme is what the

library means to us?

Okay, we take movies out all the time,

so movie themes are a possibility.

All right, romance,

suger plums and mistletoe.

A vampire Christmas!

Yeah, a fresh blanket of snow.

Werewolves in garlands.

And those little twinkle lights.

A blood red moon.

Once again, you're not listening to me.

Could you please take this seriously?

The only reason I agreed

to read the Twilight series

with you is because we

got the book for free.

No werewolves, no vampires.

Well, you come up with some ideas.

Courier knives have been

around for more than a century.

It's a classic.

Well, it's also boring.

We need something

new, something fresh...

Oh, like vampires and werewolves.

Come on!

Well, at least it's popular.

Well, tell me your ideas then.

Yeah, I'm gonna think of something!

Where are you going?

Somewhere quiet.

What?

I'm trying to read.

Okay...

That's your temper.

That's you.

What's his royal highness' theme?

Ok, everybody loves what

you did with my loft.

This time, I want you

to do the same thing,

except with the tree.

Okay, wait.

I need to know what you

want this tree to say.

What I want it to say, I want it to say,

"hey, look at me! I

just won first prize!"

Is there a theme?

Sure.

Listen, this whole

contest was dreamed up

by this children's librarian,

in order to get my grandmother

to be more emotional about the library.

We need to make her

equally as emotional,

but keep her on our side.

We need to show her that

we respect her values,

but that the world's changing

and we need to keep up with it.

The same librarian you had

the shouting match with?

Yes.

She's very... passionate.

Hmm...

So you want old with new.

That sounds great.

Maybe antique ornaments

combined with contemporary effects.

I love it.

Let's brainstorm over dinner.

Just make this the most

amazing Christmas tree

in the history of

Christmas trees. All right?

This should be enough to get started.

You let me know if you need any more.

This is going to be quite the tree.

Do you have a judge?

No.

But I have an idea.

I think maybe it's just

gonna be Artie's tree.

What's wrong?

Oh... well... we keep disagreeing.

I want one thing, he wants another.

You're gonna work it out.

We're pretty far apart.

Hey, take a deep breath.

Start over.

Christmas is about

bringing people together.

Not driving them apart.

I guess.

Believe me, I'm right.

I'm tempted.

We would be so honored

if you would judge.

It's difficult for me

to get around anymore.

We could make it super-easy for you.

We would pick you up and drop you off,

and it'll only take an hour.

It would mean so much to everyone.

I mean, you're the first

lady of this neighborhood.

Your neighbors would

love the opportunity

to spend your last Christmas

in New York with you.

Well, it would be a wonderful send-off.

So, you'll do it?

Oh, dear.

I know to you the library's the future.

I'm so sorry that I

dragged you into the middle

of this battle between me and Tony.

But, I am not giving up.

What's that you're playing with?

Oh, it's St. Anthony.

My father gave it to me.

He's the patron saint of lost things.

I guess my dad assumed

one day I'd lose my mind.

He's also the patron saint of miracles.

Well, I sure could use

a miracle right now.

Well, you know, maybe all

things are not lost to time.

Well, you really got

my Tony all sparked up.

You know, I've never seen

another lady do that to him before.

It reminds me of Teddy

and I in our early days.

Well, Tony and I aren't

exactly a love story.

It's more like Stephen King novel.

I had the same gumption that you have.

That's how I got Teddy

to fall in love with me.

I'll do it.

You will?

Mmhmm.

Thank you!

It's going to be perfect.

Oh, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Mack, hi.

Hey.

Um, you got a second?

Of course.

Yeah, sit down.

You know, uh, the whole threat

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