Candy felt her heart shatter. The toy factory had eighty workers...and right here at Christmas. “I thought for sure Mr. Vance would sell the toy factory to someone who would keep the toys alive. I mean...we produce toys that have been in production for—”
“Ever since Bob's parents built the toy factory in 1932,” Betty finished for Candy. “Both of Bob's parents were very young...but oh, Candy, they were terrific people. They cared about the toys and treated anyone who worked here at the toy factory with so much love. Those were...good years. When Bob took over, the years changed him. That's all I can say.”
“What will happen to all the toys?” Candy could barely speak. Tears began falling from her eyes.
“Bob is going to sell the rights to the toys to the highest bidder,” Betty explained in a miserable voice. “He's going to make the official announcement after Thanksgiving. He expects one of the major toy companies to buy the rights. He's in no rush to make an announcement. When November arrives, he likes to spend most of his time hunting. He left for Canada this morning after our...fight.”
“Betty, how much would it cost to buy the rights to the toys?” Candy dared to ask through her tears.
“Dear, you're buying the name...a name the world loves,” Betty explained as she struggled to stop crying.Pine Snow Toysare famous around the world. Our toys are sold everywhere, Candy. Our toys are used in movies and songs. We're a household name during the Christmas season.” Betty wiped at her tears. “We give to children’s hospitals and orphanages. A cartoon was made aboutMr. Pine Snow Bearand children love it.”
“How much would it cost to buy the rights?” Candy begged. “We have to do something...save the toy factory.”
“Honey, it would take millions upon millions.” Betty bowed her head. “The toy factory is...going to close. I need you to gather all the workers. Bob told me to keep my mouth closed until he got home...but everyone needs to know. It's the right thing to do. If Bob leaves me, then so be it. I was raised to treat people the way I want to be treated.”
Candy allowed her tears to fall. The idea of losing the toy factory felt like someone was shoving a hot fireplace iron into her heart. “I was so sure...I mean, I've been praying and praying...this can't be happening. This toy factory is my life, Betty. I came to work here straight out of high school, and the toys are my heart. What will happen...to Pine Snow...to all of us? This toy factory is the heartbeat that keeps Pine Snow alive.”
“I'll tell you what will happen,” Fran told Candy as she fought back her own tears. “Some no-good is going to tear down this toy factory and build an ugly recycling plant because Mr. Bob Vance only cares about the almighty dollar!”
“Fran is right.” Betty nodded. “There's nothing I can do. I begged Bob to change his mind...give me time to find a suitable buyer...only...there aren't any suitable buyers. Everyone I have spoken to only wants to buy the rights to the toys, have the toy factory moved to a foreign country, and start outsourcing the jobs. Bob has decided to win a double hand. He will sell the land our toy factory is sitting on to the man who wants to build the recycling plant and then sell off the rights to the toys to the highest bidder.”
“That is horrible,” Fran growled as a tear finally left her eye. Fran loved the toy factory almost as much as Candy and Betty, maybe even more. Thirty years was a long time to call a toy factory home.
“The deal is final. The toy factory will be torn down next year. I saw the papers,” Betty confessed. “You all know the county commissioners have been anxious to tear down this old building. All the elected commissioners are younger, and they don't respect tradition and age. The toy factory sits on over two hundred acres of land, but the factory only takes up a few acres. The county wants to tear down everything and...I...can't even think about it.”
Candy hurried to Betty and hugged the woman with loving arms. “Are you sure the deal is final?”
“The agreement was signed last month. Bob put a knife in all of our backs,” Betty confessed in a weak voice. “The papers I saw are legal and final. I spoke to our attorney.”
“So...the only thing left to do is try to save the toys,” Candy whispered as she closed her tear-filled eyes. “We have to save the toys. Mr. Vance never cared about the toys anyway.”
Betty squeezed Candy. “Honey, there's no way to save the toys. A person would have to win...win the lottery...and would that even be enough?”
“Well, the national lottery is huge,” Fran pointed out, fighting to control the pain in her heart. “The lottery is a little over two hundred million dollars. I think everyone in Pine Snow has at least twenty lottery tickets sitting at home. When the numbers are called tonight, everyone will be glued to their television.”
Candy let go of Betty. “I don't believe in gambling, but the girl at the gas station printed out a lottery ticket by mistake when I paid for my gas. She said everyone was buying lottery tickets and assumed I wanted one. I paid my dollar and took the ticket because I didn't want to get the girl in trouble.” Candy spoke of her lottery ticket just to talk. It was either talk or cry her eyes out.
“Pray over the ticket because maybe you will win.” Betty looked into Candy's eyes. She reached out her hand and softly touched the woman's face. “You were always such a sweet child. I love you so much...always have and always will. I have never seen a woman who loves toys as much as you do. I wish I could do more. You have to be strong and call all the workers together. Everyone deserves to know the truth.”
With those words, Betty wiped at her tears and left the toy room like a defeated teddy bear. Candy felt the same way. “I'llpray because right now unless we receive a miracle, the toys will be lost.”
Fran put her arms around Candy. “Don't expect a miracle,” she said in a voice that offered no hope and then left the toy room.
Candy walked with tear-filled eyes to the long window in the toy room. Outside snow was falling. “Please, dear Lord...please don't let the toys die...please let the snow fall forever.”
Chapter 2
Even though Candy wasn't in the mood to eat, she fixed herself a sandwich. Night had fallen and the hour was growing late. “Well, Snowball,” Candy spoke to her Miniature Pinscher that had some Chihuahua mixed in with it, “it looks like the end has come.”
Snowball was sitting at Candy's feet munching on some of the sandwich that Candy had ripped up into little pieces. He sure loved Candy. Candy was his heart. It’s a shame dogs couldn't speak to humans. All Snowball could do was eat. Sure, he knew Candy felt bad, but what could he do? It always made Candy happy to see Snowball eat.
Candy sighed and then looked around the small but cozy kitchen. After her divorce, she bought a small cottage in town because remaining in the lonely two-story home that sat way out in the country no longer appealed to Candy. However, living in town meant a longer drive to the toy factory, but that was okay. Candy loved the street she lived on and all the wonderful little cottages. She especially loved Mrs. Tate, her next-door neighbor. Sadly, Mrs. Tate was away visiting family. No matter. Candyfelt like being alone anyway. “My kitchen looks like a beautiful Toyland, Snowball...but soon...the toys will be all gone.”
Snowball finished eating and then laid down across her white teddy bear slippers. What else could he do? He was a small dog that didn't exactly scare off the bad guys. Love, friendship, and comfort were the three main gifts Snowball could offer Candy. Snowball wanted to tell Candy he understood her sorrow...but yeah, dogs couldn't talk to humans. Too bad.
Candy picked up a coffee cup, took a sip, and then listened to the cold wind howl outside the kitchen window. “Before Dave and I divorced five years back...shortly before I found you...life wasn't so good then, either. Dave and I were only married for two years...and that was long enough. He was a horrible man. After we got married, he changed. He started to drink, turned mean, and demanded I quit working at the toy factory. Needless to say, after two years, I gave him the boot. I praise God we didn't have any children together...although,” Candy sighed, “being a mother would be nice. I'm too old to have children now.”
After eating her dinner, Candy retired to her comfortable living room, decorated to look like the living room Mrs. Claus would have in her home. An old-fashioned artificial Christmas tree from the 1970s stood in the corner of the living room, covered with vintage Christmas lights and decorations. Candy adored the olden days and hated the time she lived in. She fought hard to make her home feel and look like a special Christmas day that never ended. Why? Christmas was the only time of year Candy ever felt peace.
