Just North of Whoville Turiskylie, Joyce (smart books to read .TXT) 📖

only skills I have that anyone values.”

“Okay, your boss is an idiot,” Steve offered, “and that place is one anonymous tip to the Better Business Bureau away from shutting down. Call your temp agency.”

“I don’t have an agency. I just answered an ad for a temp. I’ve been in New York for four years and this is the best I can do?”

“I’ve got a job for you.”

I knew it. He wanted something. Everyone in New York wants something.

“Does it pay?” I asked. After four years, I’d learned to be a bit sassy, too.

“It’s an opportunity.”

I audibly sighed. I’d had it up to here with “opportunities”.

“Will you direct my show at The Albatross Theatre?”

The Albatross was at least a halfway decent theatre, so I gave “opportunity” a chance.

“What is it?”

“A stage version of It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“A Christmas show? Oh, just kill me now.”

“Come on,” Steve pleaded as sauce from his gyro dripped down his shirt. “You have to do it.”

“Why?”

“Because…” and then he fessed up. “Everyone else is going home for Christmas.”

“I might be going home.”

“Do you have your ticket?”

“What are you, my mother? It’s only the day after Halloween. And look what they’re doing!” I began to wail as I waved my arms in the general direction of the workmen. “Christmas lights! I swear it starts earlier every year!”

Steve looked confused, but just kept going.

“I’m playing George Bailey.”

“So…it’s an Arab It’s a Wonderful Life?” I teased.

“Oh you’re funny.”

“Look, I don’t know. I’ll think about it. I’m just not in the Christmas Spirit. And you kind of need it for that show.”

“Maybe it will help put you in the Christmas Spirit.”

“Nice try. Although it would give me something to tell Celia tonight. I’m supposed to meet her and her boyfriend Alex for dinner. It’s a free dinner so I can’t turn that down right now. But I feel like I’d rather sit home and eat instant mashed potatoes or something. I just feel like such a failure every time we get together.”

“She’s your friend. She doesn’t care if you’re doing a show on Broadway or in a basement in Brooklyn. She just wants to see you.”

He was right. I still thought he was a self-involved actor, but he was right.

“I know. But every time I see her I’m congratulating her on something. ‘Congratulations on your new account! Congratulations on your write-up in The Times! Congratulations on your new apartment!’ I don’t think her life could get any more perfect.”

That evening, as Celia, Alex and I sat over dinner; he pulled out a huge diamond ring and proposed.

Once again, congratulations were in order.

3

“Yes! Yes!” Celia leaned over the table to kiss Alex as she accepted his proposal. Right on cue, a waiter appeared with a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

“Oh,” Alex looked at me like the third wheel, and then turned to the waiter. “Can you bring another glass? I didn’t know we’d have a guest tonight.”

“Very good, sir,” the waiter shuffled off as Celia admired her new ring.

“Well…I wasn’t expecting this, either,” I said as nicely as I could. “Sorry I’m intruding on…all this.”

“Oh, sweetie, don’t be silly!” Celia beamed. “I’m so happy you’re here! Yay!”

“Yay,” I chimed in. “Well….congratulations!”

And there was some kind of group hug thing going on till Alex’s phone rang.

“Shit. Sorry, ladies,” Alex apologized. “The Japanese market just opened. I gotta take this.” But he let it ring one more time while he kissed her again and spoke from his gut, “God, you’re gorgeous.”

Celia smiled shyly at the floor. Then he picked up the phone and got to business.

“Hey! Sukiyaki George! Yesterday was fucking Hiroshima so please give me some good news…” he began his business call as he stepped outside.

I looked at Celia. She really was happy. Even with all the wonderful things that had happened for her, I’d never seen her glow like this. It was a really special moment in her life. And all my silly little problems just went out the window. Strangely, we’d never been particular friends in school. But over the past two years, we’d practically become sisters. I couldn’t help it; I just started to cry. And then she cried. And then we both laughed that we were crying. During our teary giggles, the waiter showed up with another glass.

“Oh. No…no. I should go,” I smiled. “Tonight is for you guys.”

“Oh, please stay,” she begged. “Have some champagne. Besides, you have to tell Alex about that leak.”

“You just got engaged. A leaky roof isn’t very romantic.”

“Everything’s romantic when you’re engaged,” Celia giggled. “I’m engaged! I’m engaged! I can’t believe I’m engaged!”

She was giddy. It was a sweet, child-like side of Celia she rarely let out. She wiped the tears from her eyes and checked her face in the silver champagne chiller.

“Do I look okay?” she smiled.

I think it was the first time I’d ever heard Celia concerned about her appearance. She always looked effortlessly perfect. Damn her.

“You look beautiful,” I answered. The woman was blessed. You want to hate her, but you just can’t. I guess if you have it all, you have no reason to be mean. Nice came naturally. She wouldn’t know how to be anything else.

“I predict you’re going to be next,” she hinted with a smile.

“No. I don’t think so. A hundred things need to happen in my life before that rolls around.”

“Okay then---Thing Number One. Fix Dorrie’s Roof.”

“Sorry I had to dash away from my lovely lady,” Alex apologized as he sat back down.

“Honey,” Celia sweetly smiled, “Dorrie’s got a leak.”

“In the apartment, I hope,” he laughed.

“Silly! Yes. In the apartment.”

“It’s not that big a deal…” I