Christmas Angel

Chapter 5 : Eight Maids-a-milking

***Scene: Kringle Street

Carol is sitting at one of the public benches outside the "Nieve's Jewelry Store"

Eight pretty young promo girls carrying boxes of milk chocolate are walking on up and down the street to offer samples and sell the chocolate.

Promo girl: Ma'am, would you care to have a sample? This is the finest Belgian milk chocolate.

Carol: (looking at the chocolate, she gulps) No, thank you.

***

Scene: Inside the jewelry store.

Chris is walking around the store, looking at the different rings on display.

The three salesladies are watching him closely but they pretend to ignore him. He looks out of place in this fancy-schmancy store.

Chris: Can I see this ring, please? (pointing to a ring on display)

Silence. The three salesladies, Faith, Hope and Charity are ignoring him.

Chris: Excuse me, can I see this ring please?

Faith: (big sigh) "Sir", you mean this three carat, pear cut, diamond ring with two trapezoid cut diamonds, in a 18 karat gold setting?

Chris: Yes, that's what I wanted to see.

Faith: Not to be rude, but I don't think that's the ring for you.

Chris: Of course, it's not for me. It's for my girlfriend. I'm going to propose to her.

Faith: Well, I do admire your taste. You picked one of the most expensive rings in this store.

Chris: How much is it?

Hope: (who is in another part of the store says loud enough for them to hear) Well, if you have to ask, maybe you can't afford it. Ha ha ha.

Chris: (starting to get mad) What the hell do you know about me? How do you know I can't afford it?

Charity: Ladies, be nice. Just show him the ring.

Faith: Pogi, I think you are in the wrong part of town, and in the wrong store. Why don't you go to Quiapo and buy your ring there. There's nothing in this store that you can afford.

Chris gets angry. He picks up an expensive knick knack from the open display case, shocking the salesladies, and starts to throw it when he felt someone hold his arm back. It was Carol.

Carol: C'mon Chris. Let's go.

She manages to calm him down and pull him away from the store.

***

Scene: Kringle Street

Chris and Carol are sitting on one of the benches. Chris is still fuming.

Chris: Those judgmental bitches. What do they know about me?

Carol: That's how the world works. People judge other people all the time.

Chris: (angrily)You knew exactly what was gonna happen, didn't you!

Carol: I had a guess. But don't get angry at me. Chris, the sooner you accept certain things about our society, the easier your life will be.

Chris still looks unconvinced.

Carol: Don't you want Noelle's parents to like you?

Chris: Okay, okay. You win. I'll do it.

Carol: Ask me nicely. That's your first lesson.