Twelve Trees of Christmas Page #5

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of losing this place has

kind of got me thinking.

It's got us all racing

around, senseless.

It's funny, you know, I came to New York

years ago to follow my dream.

What's your dream?

Well, don't laugh...

To be a chef.

Why would I laugh at that?

Well, I started out as a dishwasher,

which led to another

job as a dishwasher,

which eventually led to the

washer of a whole building.

And just like that...

Twenty years passed me by.

I'm so sorry.

Nah, it's good.

This place has been good to me.

Maybe the threat of losing it

is the kick in the pants I need.

Are you thinking about

going back to school?

No.

I'm thinking of a food truck.

A sandwich truck to be more specific.

During the holidays I could serve

cranberry and turkey Paninis,

and for the vegetarians out there,

mashed potato and gravy sandwiches.

Mashed potato and gravy sandwiches?

I think you're onto something here.

It could be the Christmas dinner truck.

Christmas dinner all year 'round!

I love it.

Um...

Thank you.

I've got it!

I thought I had it.

We could use light as a

raw expression of hope.

And of creation and of Christmas.

What are you talking about?

Light! Sunlight!

Without the sun we'd have nothing.

I mean, everything would just be...

It's science leading to technology.

This is what you wanted all along.

I just really thought that

the lights looked cool.

Sorry.

Was that...

Are we, uh...

I think we're stuck.

We're stuck.

Yeah.

Yes, hello, uh, hi.

We appear to be stuck in the elevator.

Yes, yes, that's the address.

No, no, no, we're fine.

We're all fine in here

just please send someone immediately.

Yes, immediately.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's not a big deal.

What?

No, I know.

It's, yeah, it's fine.

We're gonna be fine.

It's got all sorts of automatic locks

and breaks, we're not gonna fall.

Yeah, I know.

I was involved in refurbishing

the building, so...

I hired the elevator installer and, uh,

he seemed like he

knew what he was doing.

Seemed like a guy who passed

all the tests and stuff, so...

I think it's, uh... it's gonna be...

Are you claustrophobic?

Is it hot in here?

I just, I feel like...

Hey, hey, hey...

What?

Just relax.

I'm fine.

You okay?

- Yeah.

Just keep breathing.

Yup. Yeah.

On a scale of one to ten,

how much anxiety are

you feeling right now?

Uh... it's about a...

Yeah, it's about a ten.

Okay.

Hey, follow my fingers

with your eyes, okay?

Okay,

Yup, mmhmm.

Just focus on the movement.

Yeah.

Keep breathing.

Okay, I, uh... Okay, okay, okay.

Okay, where are you now?

Uh, amazingly, um, about a three.

Look at that...

Thanks!

Um, hey, that was, uh...

that was great, thank you.

For doing that. Whatever...

Whatever that was.

EMDR.

Eye movement desensitization

and reprocessing.

The movement helps to break you

from the traumatic experience.

It helps with anxiety.

Interesting.

Where'd you learn that?

Wait, don't tell me.

The library.

Not all of us can afford

a world-class education.

Yeah, well, I paid

my way through college

doing construction

work every summer, so...

Really?

Yeah.

'Cause I've got some shelves upstairs

that I need to put up.

You've got shelves. Well... sure.

Consider it done.

You're going to come up to my apartment

and put up shelves?

Yeah.

Lucky me.

Lucky you.

I'm gonna take the stairs, so...

Oh. Right.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Everything in each one

of these units is going

to be completely state of the art.

We're putting washer-dryers

in each one of them.

Sounds wonderful!

You think so?

Mmhmm.

It's amazing how things have changed.

My first apartment,

everybody on the floor

had to use the same bathroom.

Really?

Yeah.

Not in these.

Each of these is going to have at least

two full bathrooms, and

they're going to be beautiful.

They're going to be beautiful.

You remind me so much

of your grandfather.

Hey...

You don't think he'd be upset

that I'm tearing down

the library, do you?

I haven't been back to

the library since he died.

I was afraid it would be too painful.

He'd be so proud of you.

You think so?

Oh, yes, because you're

going after what you want.

He'd appreciate that.

Yes, he loved you very much.

But, so did your father.

I know, I know you don't

like talking about him.

There's nothing to talk about.

He left.

I barely remember him.

You see, your grandfather

was a great man.

And he was determined that his children,

and his children's children

would not live in poverty.

Yes.

I mean, he had a great work ethic

and he passed it onto his family.

Do you remember him

spending time with you?

Well...

He worked hard for his family.

Tony, if you're running from the past

and looking to the future,

it doesn't leave much

room for the present.

Your father, he was a

sweet, wonderful, loving man.

Who could not stand

up to your grandfather.

Ted dominated him.

He forced him into the business,

pushed him into achieving

what he had achieved,

and then when your mother died,

it was just too much for him.

He shouldn't have left me.

Hey.

Hi.

Got a couple more trees up.

I'm starting to feel

like a real forest ranger.

Uh...

Join me.

Thanks.

Oh.

Hans Christian Andersen.

Research for my tree.

But his stories are wonderful.

Did you know he visited

Dickens in London?

No.

He was supposed to stay for three days.

He ends up staying for six weeks.

In the end, the family would

wake up at dawn everyday,

escape out the back door so they

wouldn't have to entertain him.

Where did you hear this?

It was in some Dickens biography I read.

Do you read a lot of biographies?

I read whatever I can get my hands on.

It's one of the perks of working here.

I get to see all the new stuff

as it comes out and

I grab it right away.

Would you know anything about fantasy?

Well, it's not really my

strong suit, but some, yeah.

Maybe you could give me a hand.

Really?

Yeah.

You look exhausted.

Yeah, I'm having the worst day.

Where's Emily?

Oh, she's studying with Cheri.

It's a program where

good readers pair up

with kids who need help.

Is she reading Emily Sky

World Adventures again?

Is there any other book?

Ok, what are we going to do about

this whole Christmas

tree decoration contest?

I mean, do you think we should withdraw?

We haven't even started yet.

You don't have time, I don't have time.

I mean, we don't even have a theme.

I definitely don't have time.

You're right.

We should probably back out.

Hey, Mack.

Hey.

What are you doing here so late?

Oh, it's better than staying at home

in the apartment alone, you know?

What about you? Late night?

Still looking for inspiration.

Oh.

Still no theme, huh?

Nope.

I was going stir-crazy

sitting in my apartment.

I thought maybe a change

of scene might help.

Well, the library's

hardly a change of scenery.

You practically live here.

why don't you go home,

get some rest, get a good night's sleep

and something will come

to you before you know it.

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