Chapter Two

"I understand," the woman said, "but that's not how this works. You can't just demand love and family. You have to create it. You have to be open to it. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and take a chance." Andrew looked down at his hands again, his mind whirling. "But what if I fail?" he whispered. "What if I try and it doesn't work?"

Andrew stood up straight . His best business face upfront. "I don't have to work for it. I'm a billionaire. I can just buy it... " He smiled. " I'll buy myself a family for Christmas."

" You can't do that Andrew. You know it in your heart that you can't do that."

" Wanna old woman? I'm Andrew Bennett I've never lost anything in life so I'm not going to start now. I'll find a family for myself and I will love them with my heart and soul. You'll see."

The old woman chuckled. "Really?" She sighed, " I want to see this happen. So I'll take you up on that wager young Andrew. Let's see who's wiser shall we."

"Let's see" Andrew said in a smug tone. "I should have thought of this a long time ago! I can buy a family! It's so easy!"

"Okay. Let's say you do this how will you keep them? You're saying you're gonna love them but what about them? Will they love you back?"

"You sound confident."

"I am. " Andrew smugly smiled.

"Well." The old woman straightened herself. "How interesting. I didn't think this would come to this. But this does sound fun. So let's do it."

"Do what?" Andrew had his eyebrow raised in confusion.

"The wager dear boy!" The old woman screamed jolly. "I give you thirty days. To find this family... Buy them as you say and make sure that they love you by Christmas day."

"Thirty days? But Christmas is tomorrow. How is that even possible?"

"Oh dear boy this is Christmas Town! We have magic. And I'll give you a do over shal I say. Thirty days before Christmas. And by Christmas have a family that loves you. That you didn't work for, that you didn't build, that you just bought as if they were cattle from a farm."

"And when I win what will I get?" Andrew asked making the old grey woman smirk.

" What more would you want dear Andrew? If you win you would have gotten your family. Your biggest wish."

Andrew nodded. He really did not need anything but love of family. He had everything else.

"And what of you dear old woman? What would you get if I were to lose this wager?"

"Well the satisfaction of you losing of course!" The old women giggled merry with glee.

Andrew was now not so smug anymore. The old woman's face had turned serious.

" Oh. And you will forfeit something dear boy. You will forfeit what you want the most. The thing you're always looking for." The old woman said this with a mischievous smile.

"I will not lose!" Andrew said determined.

"We'll see dear boy."

And with that Andrew felt a sudden change in the place he was in. Again he saw everything disappear and when he looked again he wasn't back to where he was standing before he was transported to the world unknown. But he was in bedroom staring at the mirror. At himself in the mirror.

With a bit of fear and amazement he slapped himself. Trying to see if he had been asleep all this while. But he hadn't been.

It was all real.

Now he just needed a family for Christmas.

And that was where the hard work came in. The clock was ticking and he had thirty days to do the impossible. No one had ever just bought a family. How was he supposed to find a family that would love him? He'd have to be careful who he approached. Maybe he could pay someone to pretend to be a family? But that would feel like cheating. What would the old woman think of that?

What he knew though is that now he had a chance. And he'd take it. "I want a family". He pointed at himself on the mirror. " You're going to get a family."

Andrew nodded at his reflection in the mirror. He was determined to win this bet. But how? He looked around his apartment. Maybe he could start with small acts of kindness. Helping people in need. Maybe if he helped people they'd be more inclined to help him back. He started small by cleaning his apartment. He needed to clear his thoughts and this was the first step.