Christmas Angel

Chapter 9 : Four Calling Birds

Grandpa Melchor is showing the invitation for the Pascual's Annual Christmas party to Chris. On the invitation is a beautiful artwork of four red birds with their beaks open and musical notes are coming out of them.

Chris: Umm, Lolo, do you want to watch this movie with me?

Melchor: (surprised, looks at the TV) Ah, "Miracle on 34th Street", my favorite. I used to watch this with your mom every Christmas.

Chris: Really? Watching this movie was our Christmas tradition too.

Melchor: Chris, I've been meaning to tell you how happy I am about the changes in you. I knew Miss Baltazar would be a good influence on you.

Chris: She told me we should have a talk

Melchor: We do? About what?

***

Scene: Outside Carol's apartment

Carol is walking out and she sees Chris waiting for her outside. She pauses but walks the other way.

Chris: Carol! Carol! C'mon, (following her) I know you can hear me. You can't avoid me forever.

Carol stops and turn around.

Carol: I'm very busy today. I don't have time for this.

Chris: It's Saturday and you don't have appointments with clients, right?

Carol: No, but I have things to do.

Chris: I have an invitation for the Christmas party for you.

Carol: You didn't have to hand deliver it.

Chris: I promise I'll behave. Please, I have a lot to tell you.

Carol: Chris, you don't have to tell me anything.

Chris: I won't leave you alone until you talk to me. I'll tag along with you wherever you are going.

Carol: This is a bad idea.

Chris: Please... I'm going to follow you whether you want to or not.

***

Scene: Street close to Carol's neighborhood. They are just leaving the grocery store.

Chris: So....Lolo and I had a talk.

Carol: That's fantastic! How did it go?

Chris: Good, good.. I'm very glad that we did.

Carol: What did you talk about?

Chris: We talked about my mom....how I grew up...he told me some stories about my mom. I told him some stories about our life in the States. There's some things that happened that I can't talk about yet but maybe one day I will. I really think my grandpa and I understand each other better now.

Carol: I'm so glad to hear that, Chris. That's what we call a breakthrough.

Chris: I owe it to you.

Carol: Everything is not going to be magically better. You will still need to manage your temper...

Chris: Yes, Ms Carol. (smiling)

Carol: Don't mock me.

Chris: I'm just glad to see my Ms Carol back.

Carol can't think of a comeback to that.

***

Scene: Back at Carol's apartment.

Chris: (serious) I broke up with Noelle.