The television is set to Caspar again. I’m beginning to think that Caspar is Richie’s possessing spirit, and has made all this wealth available in return for his soul. He appears on TV screens just to remind Richie of the bargain he has struck. A bargain from which there is no escape.

But, you say, doesn’t he get his wealth from his father? Perhaps he made the deal to save his father, because he had lost everything. Or his father sold him to Satan, and Caspar is an intermediary who keeps watch on him. Or his father is an illusion conjured up by Caspar.

You just can’t say. But you do know that if the sled hadn't auto-corrected its course it might have killed the kid coming up the slope.

And Dad would have to write another check.