Of course, when I say that I want a blanket of snow, I mean a light dusting. Just enough to make it look like it's as pretty as a Christmas card or something along those lines. Definitely not a gigantic blizzard that grounds flights and makes it difficult to leave the house. Only an idiot would willingly venture out into weather like that.
Or, Archie Andrews, anyway.
For Day #20, I'm going to be posting a story that is part humour, and part tragedy. And if anything, it might make you wonder why Archie just doesn't choose Betty as his steady instead of Veronica.
This story comes courtesy of the Archie Giant Series book "Archie's Christmas Stocking #15". And the cover art as well as the story inside was illustrated by the incredibly talented Harry Lucey. There was something about the way that Lucey designed the characters that made Archie look even goofier, Jughead even lazier, and Betty and Veronica more beautiful. I think only Dan DeCarlo and Stan Goldberg could have done as great or a better job than Lucey. And since I haven't really featured much of his artwork in this advent calendar, I thought no time like the present!
The story is called "The Red, Red Ribbon". And judging by the opening panels of this story, Riverdale is experiencing some really horrible winter weather. Jack Frost has paid Riverdale a visit and has dumped more snow on top of the town than there is on the Matterhorn! Fred Andrews asks his son if he has plans tonight, and Archie insists that the weather outside is frightful, and the fire is so delightful. And since he has nowhere to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
But before Archie can sit down by the fire and drink a nice hot cup of cocoa, the telephone rings. It's Veronica on the other end. She's spending the evening wrapping Christmas gifts, but needs a box to finish her gift. And she essentially puts on her pouty face and bats her eyes and practically manipulates Archie into bringing her a box for the gift. So, because Archie is so enamored with Veronica that he practically melts at the very sight of her, Archie stupidly decides to grab a box and walk through the blustery winds and blinding snow to Veronica's mansion. True love really is blind.
So, here's where strike one against Veronica takes place. Archie clearly has a difficult time trudging through the snow (which judging by the panels on page three is at least two feet deep), but somehow he manages to get to Veronica's front door out of breath and looking like a frozen icicle. And all Veronica can say is "what kept you"? How about YOU step outside and see what it's like you rich snob?
I think Veronica almost redeems herself when Archie passes out from the cold and falls into the foyer, but all Veronica can seem to do is care more about the welfare of the inanimate box over the condition of her boyfriend who may or may not have a pulse. Strike two.
And when Veronica finally gets the box, she says that the box is just right, thanks him, and slams the door right in his face! Well, at the very least, she did thank him for the box. I just wish she kind of would do the decent thing and maybe invite him in to thaw out. But then if she did that, we wouldn't be treated to another montage of Archie crawling through the bitter cold and the millions of snowflakes falling around him. You can't help but feel for the guy.
Especially when Archie arrives back home and his father announces that Veronica has called while he was out and has requested that he bring her a spool of red ribbon! Okay, so let me get this straight. Veronica doesn't even wait until Archie comes home to tell him to bring her some ribbon for a gift? You mean to tell me in all 47 rooms or so that are inside the Lodge Mansion that not one of them has red ribbon in them? And if Veronica needed the red ribbon, why didn't she ask that Archie bring it with him the first time? My head is just as confused as Archie's weird facial expression.
So once again, Archie braves the nasty weather armed with the red ribbon and perhaps a couple of screws loose in his head. By this point, the snow has fallen even more, and it is now up to Archie's waist. At this point, I wonder if he had to crawl out a window to even get out of his home! Seriously, all this madness because Veronica needs ribbon for a present. He must REALLY love her. Or REALLY hate himself. And just like the last time, Veronica takes the ribbon, and closes the door in Archie's face. Wow...just wow. At this point, I'd settle for Santa Claus coming and dropping a boulder of coal down Veronica's chimney. Or on Veronica. Whatever.
The next morning, Veronica wakes up from a good night's sleep and wonders just how much snow has fallen. But her gaze out into her front yard is blocked by a sudden snowman that someone has built right in front of her door.
Oh, wait. That's not a snowman. That's Archie. Apparently Archie was so exhausted after his last trip to Veronica's that he decided to stay. It's a miracle he's still alive, let alone has all of his toes and fingers. And why hasn't the Andrews family started to put Archie's face on the side of a milk carton? Were they not concerned when he didn't come home last night?
Well, clearly Veronica doesn't seem to have any concern. She really wants to give Archie his Christmas present. And wouldn't you know it? Archie's gift just happens to be wrapped up in the same ribbon that he just delivered to Veronica about twelve hours ago!
Not only that...but it happens to also be packaged in the same exact box that Archie delivered to her too! And before Archie can process what happened, Veronica says what I think could be the most thoughtless thing she could ever say.
Why does Archie want Veronica so badly anyway?
While we ponder that one, I'll tell you to stay tuned for Day #21. I have already decided that it will be a Sabrina story. I just haven't chosen which one I want to do yet. But I can tell you that if you want to check out the story for Day #20, it was reprinted in "Archie Digest #3". I can't recall if it has appeared anywhere else, but given that in the last panel Archie wants to kill Veronica, I can't see a reprint coming up soon!
Because she is rich !
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