The Perfect Day - Concluding Part

Continued fron Part I

11:43 a.m. - Buddy wrapped up his shopping frenzy. Hundreds of Barbie dolls and an equal amount of superhero action figures made their way toward the register. Buddy purchased every stuffed animal, yoyo and sled in the store. Pyramids of board games, sporting goods and baby dolls were stacked inside one of the dozen carriages being pushed in the generous man's wake. In record time, Buddy personally selected a mountain of toys. Each time he threw something that beeped, whistled or cried into a carriage, he felt the spirit of giving illuminate his soul. His face beamed. It was already the best Christmas he could remember. Seamus Muldoon must have shared the same truth. From the first aisle to the last, he giggled like a young schoolgirl.

Buddy threw the goods on his gold card, while Seamus headed out the door to pull the car around back. As Buddy tiptoed out the back, the first rolling camera made its way through the front door. Turning back, he couldn't help but smile. Bradford Tibbs was being swarmed upon by a pack of hungry mediapersons. "He can have it," Buddy whispered and ducked into the limo. Seamus was still giggling.

"Where to?" Seamus Muldoon managed through his glee.

"I don't know about you, Seamus, but all that shopping has made me a bit hungry." There was a thoughtful pause. "I think we should get some lunch. How does The Four Oaks sound?"

Seamus pointed the car west, but couldn't find the words to answer his boss. It almost sounded as if he were being invited to lunch. After a few awkward seconds, he nodded and grumbled something incoherent. Buddy Evans could take the answer any way he wished.

12:41 p.m. - The limo pulled into the front of The Four Oaks. Buddy belonged to the private club for years. Though he disliked most of the arrogant and pompous asses that frequented the place, The Four Oaks grilled the best swordfish he'd ever tasted. No one was going to take that from him.

Buddy jumped out of the back and nearly brought Seamus to cardiac arrest when he opened the driver's side door. "Why don't we valet the car today?" Seamus couldn't speak. He merely slid out of the seat, threw the keys to the valet attendant and followed his boss into the dark mysterious den like a sheep being led to its slaughter.

In the foyer, a paunch middle-aged man quickly approached. He was smoking a cigar half the size of his face. "Buddy, we've missed you at the racquetball club lately." He waited for a reply that did not come. "The offer still stands. Double or nothing?"

"I've been busy, Charles. Why don't we call the wager at even?"

The man strutted away with a smile that filled his bloated face. Buddy turned to Seamus and whispered, "It was like taking candy from a baby, anyway. Old Charles doesn't have an athletic bone in his body, but for as long as I can remember, he's been driven to beat me at…"

"Your regular table, Mr. Evans?" the maitre d'hotel interrupted. His face showed blatant signs of disapproval and each one was directed at Seamus.

"The regular," Buddy countered, "and since it's Christmas, why don't you spoil us and send over a bottle of Dom." The man nodded robotically, shot one more bad look at Seamus and scurried off.

2:10 p.m. - Buddy Evans and Seamus Muldoon finished their swordfish, a bottle of bubbly, four warm brandies and two fine cigars. Seamus had finally located heaven and Buddy sat amazed at how little he'd known of the man prior to their lunch. Life got in the way of all the important things and Buddy filed the thought away, vowing never to let it happen again.

"Well, hello Buddy Evans. Isn't it fancy seeing you here?" purred a woman so beautiful that even her soft shapely body couldn't distract a man from her angelic face. Without being offered one, she took a seat. She actually smelled like cotton candy.

Buddy grinned wide. Seamus swallowed hard. "Hello Claire Barrows," Buddy started, "It has been some time, hasn't it my sweet?" Buddy had a way with the ladies, even those who appeared unapproachable. If his looks couldn't reel them in, then his charm blew them completely out of the water. This petite goddess was no different. She was nearly drooling. "I hear that you're still modeling that beautiful face for the world?" he said with a wink.

"It pays the bills for now," she kidded, "at least until you marry me and make me an honest woman." Her smile could have melted the butter dish itself.

Buddy stood, grabbed her hand and kissed it softly. "Tragically enough, I don't think my schedule would permit a wedding right now, but I'll give you a call soon, O.K.?"

She stood, smiled brilliantly and walked away. Her eyes, however, never left his until the foyer swallowed her whole.

"Women…" Buddy chuckled, "the greatest test of a man's will!"

Seamus ran the cloth napkin across his mouth and to Buddy's surprise, answered firmly, "Then you are a very strong man, Mr. Evans." With that, he was off to retrieve the car and settle back into his own reality.

2:35 p.m. - Buddy jumped into the rear of the limo and checked his Rolex. "Since I won't get a chance to enjoy the city for Christmas, Seamus, why don't we take a drive around before heading to the airport."

Seamus nodded and pulled away from the curb. Buddy turned up the volume on the stereo. He always loved listening to Mozart around the holidays.

New York was stunning at Christmas. A dusting of white downy flakes covered everything that didn't move. The streets were littered with the hustle and bustle of shoppers and for many, it was the only time of the year they wore a smile. Buildings were decorated in extravagance. Horse-drawn carriages competed with the fleet of yellow taxis. And the laughter of children actually seemed to drown out the annoying hum of the rat race.

As the limo rounded the corner and approached Rockefeller Center, Buddy leaned forward and tapped on the glass divider. "Seamus, why don't you pull over and find a place to park." He paused, giggled slightly and added, "I haven't been ice skating since I was a kid."

3:40 p.m. - Buddy returned the rented skates, purchased two cups of steaming hot chocolate and returned to the limo. Seamus accepted the cocoa with a smile. At the risk of unemployment, he asked, "Where to now, Mr. Evans? The Theater district?"

In spite of himself, Buddy laughed. "To be honest with you, if time permitted - I honestly would. It's also been years since I've seen the Nutcracker." Buddy gazed at the beautiful Christmas tree that engulfed the square. "No Seamus, we probably should get to the airport. I scheduled the flight for 4:30."

"But sir, if you don't mind me saying…" Seamus' infectious grin, rubbing off on Buddy. "…you do own the plane."

"True, my friend. But - there's nothing more rude than to keep people waiting …even if you are paying them handsomely for their time!"

4:25 p.m. - As Seamus unloaded the luggage, Buddy ascended the stairs into his company's Lear jet. Upon entering the cabin, James Randall greeted him with a smile. "On time, as always," the pilot said.

"Let's just hope you can do the same, James," Buddy kidded, catching the man off guard. Jest was never one of Mr. Evans' strong suits. He was normally so engulfed in the details of his business that he seldom spoke, never mind joked.

"I certainly intend to," the young pilot countered, adding, "Joyce has quite a dinner planned for your trip, Sir."

Buddy's eyebrows danced from curiosity.

"Cracked Alaskan King crab on a bed of…"

"Please James, no more details. You'll ruin the surprise for Joyce." Buddy patted the man on the back, stepped into the plush cabin and removed his coat. One look around brought the biggest smile. The plane's interior was comparable to a five-star hotel room, but that wasn't the reason. Buddy thought about Christine. By the time he got to Hawaii, she would be comfortably numb on Mai Tai's and ready for a long session of love-making. As the whine of the jet's motors screamed out a final farewell to New York, Buddy accepted a stiff drink from Joyce, eased comfortably in his seat and decided to daydream about the naughty things he planned to do to Christine.

4:45 p.m. - Buddy drifted off into sweet oblivion.

Christine was already lying naked on the bed when Buddy arrived at the hotel. She pretended to be asleep and Buddy knew it. He giggled with the excitement of exploration. Within seconds, his clothes were stripped clean from his body. Mounting her, he kissed her neck, stopping long enough at her ears to make her return his giggle. Without opening her eyes, she flicked her tongue across his…

4:47 p.m. - Buddy felt a tap on his shoulder.

With a smile plastered across his face, he opened his eyes expecting to see Joyce - his gracious stewardess.

Buddy jumped and tried to catch his breath. It wasn't Joyce at all. It was Rick Moniz, head janitor for the Fall River School System. Rick yelled, "Hey, you gonna finish mopping the cafeteria sometime this afternoon?"

Buddy's head still felt submerged in the wondrous fog. "Hah?" was his only reply.

"You're too much, Evans," Rick snickered, "your head's always somewhere other than where it should be."

Buddy's wits were returning too quickly and the throbbing pain of a full-blown toothache made him resent the tap Rick placed on his shoulder.

Buddy looked around, then back at his boss. "And this is where my head should be?" he asked - sarcastically.

"Just get back to work!" Rick barked and strutted away to wash the windows.

Buddy nodded, but sat for a while - contemplating his life. Whether a blessing or curse, he was born with the wildest imagination. From the earliest memories, his overworked mind dwelled within one daydream after another. While other children grew out of the days of innocence and their child-like sense of intrigue, Buddy's eyes remained blind to reality. His head floated amongst the stars where kinder, safer and much more exciting places could be found. Stuck in the past or future, the present bored him no end. As a result, he spent little time there. Fantasy proved the only remedy and he overdosed on it. Where else could a man destined to live a menial life discover great treasures, explore strange worlds - change other lives. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts- although he never moved or even left the city, he traveled everywhere. For a middle-aged janitor, real or imaginary made no real difference. As a result, Buddy Evans lived one of the finest, cultured and most enriched lives ever known. He only needed to close his eyes and each journey began….

4:55 p.m. - Buddy stood, stretched out his body and grabbed for his mop. After another look around, he smiled. "Sorry about this, Christine," he whispered, "it would have been fun!" Accompanied by nothing but his own whistle, Buddy returned to the only reality he never chose.