“I need to know for legal purposes. Please answer my question.”
Ralphie rolled his eyes. “So, maybe I got arrested when I was sixteen for driving a stolen car. Maybe my cousins set me up to have a good laugh. I was driving the car to pick up some food when the fuzz pulled me over. My granny beat my cousins black and blue and made them spill the beans to the fuzz after I was arrested. Too bad she can't remember who I am anymore. Botta-bing...I said what I said.”
“Any other...uh...criminal activity?” Candy dared to ask.
“So, maybe I got kicked out of my first day at college for telling some teacher he looked dumber than my granny trying to peel a potato with her fingernail clippers. Let's just say I ain't welcome in any colleges in my local area.”
Candy rolled her eyes. “Anything else?”
“So, maybe the FBI asked me a few questions about a bank robbery. One of my cousins decided to help some guys rob a bank. I had nothing to do with it. I—”
“Said what I said...yes, I know.” Candy rubbed the bridge of her nose with a tired hand. “I think—”
“Look, the deal is I'm sick of Brooklyn. I started going to church and…I started to pray and all that. Well, a few days ago when I was praying, I thought I heard God tell me to leave Brooklyn. I wasn't sure if I had lost my marbles or what. Then I came across your ad online...so, here I am. I need a job...I ain't dangerous...I ain't crazy...I just need to get away from all the bad.”
Something in Ralphie's voice caused Candy to stop rubbing the bridge of her nose. She heard...or maybe sensed...desperation in Ralphie's voice. Then, before Candy could speak, she began to feel a strange feeling in her heart rather than her gut. It was as if an angel was telling her to hire the strange mafia guy from Brooklyn. The feeling appeared like a sudden wave washing up on a beach. “Well, it's wonderful to hear that you are praying. I...well, sometimes God convinces a person to leave one location and go to another—”
“Ayo, like Moses leaving Egypt, right?” Ralphie asked.
“Well, yes, in a way.” The feeling in Candy's heart became more intense. Was God telling her to help Ralphie? Possibly. No. Not possibly. Ralphie needed help. That much was clear. “I think maybe God wants you to come to Christmas Toy Island. When can you arrive?”
Ralphie nearly dropped his cellphone. “Ayo, does this mean I got the job?”
“You'll make teddy bears and do other jobs like taking care of the supply and storage buildings and helping the groundskeeper.”
“Ayo, I can do that!” Excitement flooded into Ralphie's voice.
Candy felt a tender smile touch her lips. Whoever Ralphie was, he was certainly going to be an interesting addition to the island. “The job pays well. You'll live on the island. Lodging and food will be provided. You'll get health insurance and college assistance as well.”
“Ayo, health insurance I can take...college...I tried to take that road. No thanks.”
“Well, the offer will always be on the table.” Candy checked the time. “When can you arrive in Pine Snow?”
“I'll have to take a bus. I can leave today.” Ralphie glanced around the rundown pizza parlor he worked in. The sooner he left, the better. “I get paid today from my boss. The pay ain't much, but it'll cover my bus ticket.”
“Is there a Western Union close by?” Candy asked. “I'll send you the bus money you need along with traveling money. I...uh, it's my responsibility to cover traveling expenses.” Candy knew she wasn't responsible to pay anyone's way to Pine Snow, but it was clear Ralphie didn't have a lot of money.
“Ayo, there's one right down the street,” Ralphie announced. Excitement shot through his veins. “How much are you going to send me?”
“How does a thousand dollars sound?” Candy asked. “That should cover your bus ticket and food.”
Ralphie froze. A grand? A whole grand? Wow. “Does that dough come out of my paycheck?”
“No...it's like I just mentioned, it's my duty to cover traveling expenses,” Candy answered.
“Ayo, what if I don't spend the whole grand? Do I give you back what's left over?”
“Uh...no, you keep the money you don't spend,” Candy assured Ralphie. A wave of pity touched her heart. It was clear Ralphie wasn't used to being treated with a tender hand. The young man was suspicious of everything and everyone.
“There's got to be a catch.”
“No catch,” Candy promised. “As a matter of fact, I just paid for a young lady to fly to Pine Snow from California. I paid for her plane ticket and sent her one thousand dollars. I'll do the same for anyone I hire.” Candy had a feeling she was going to pay for anyone God put in her path to travel to Pine Snow. “When you reach Pine Snow, I'll meet you and drive you to the island.”
“Well...” Ralphie couldn't deny he felt excited. But he had felt excited in the past. Before he could try to squash the good feeling in his heart, he felt the touch of a warm wind touch his face. He froze. Where did the wind come from? The front door was closed and locked. The wind felt pure and loving...like the wind a pair of angel wings might create when passing by.
“Are you still there?” Candy asked.
“I'm here...I...sure, I'll take the deal,” Ralphie spoke in a quick voice.
