Ebenezer's Last Christmas

Ebenezer Scrooge put the key into the lock and couldn't help looking at the door knocker as he did so. He remembered the time twenty years previous, when that door knocker turned into his old friend Jacob Marley and how it all led to him being visited by three ghosts.

In those days he was known as a tight fisted skinflint, but a lot had changed since then. He opened the door to find his cook waiting for him, with her usual dish and spoon for Ebenezer to test from.

"Mmm...Mrs. Riley another triumph for the taste buds," he said, making her laugh.

It pleased her to know that she served someone who could appreciate the culinary arts, and just lately she'd had to make several fine dinners for all the guests Mr. Scrooge would invite to his humble abode.

This night was to be special though, as Mr. Scrooge's nephew and his charming wife were coming for dinner on this brisk Christmas Eve. Ebenezer sat in his most comfortable chair in the lounge, and looked around. He remembered back when things were bleak and this room was never used; now it had carpeting and a sparkling chandelier with a good sized open log fire to keep it warm.

When he heard the knock on the door, he sprang to his feet and immediately wished he hadn't. He wasn't getting any younger, and he knew he was in the final years of his life. He rubbed his back ache and opened the front door. It was his nephew and wife baring gifts and a bottle of wine.

"Come in my boy come in," he said, opening the door wider.

"Merry Christmas Ebenezer," they both said together.

"Merry Christmas to you both," he replied, taking their coats.

Before long they were enjoying a sumptuous meal, and laughing about things in general. Ebenezer so looked forward to these occasions now, and knew that he'd lost out on a lot of years, years that he could never get back again. He toasted the happy couple and all too soon the evening came to an end, but he reminded him self that tomorrow was Christmas day, a day that was so full of meaning that no one and nothing could ruin for him.

When he went to bed that night he was content, but just as he was about to blow out the candle sitting next to his bed a familiar sound could be heard. It was the rattling of a chain coming up the stairs, only this time Ebenezer wasn't scared in fact he got out of his bed and opened the door. There near the top of his stairs was Jacob Marley, a ghost from the past in more ways than one.

"Ebenezer Scrooge I come with a warning, you will be visited by three ghosts tonight. The first will appear at twelve o'clock, the second at one o'clock, and the third at three o clock, I mean two o'clock," said the ghostly apparition.

"But why Jacob, haven't I changed my ways sufficiently?" replied Ebenezer.

"It's not for me to question the whys, I just deliver the messages," replied Jacob.

Ebenezer opened his door fully, inviting his old friend to come in.

"What news old friend, anything new happening since we last talked?" said Ebenezer, in an attempt to gauge his mood?

"Nothing will ever change for me Ebenezer; I didn't get the second chance that you got. Perhaps I didn't deserve it enough, or perhaps I'm worse than you were. Whatever the reason for my time in Hell, I'm sure I deserve it," replied Jacob.

"I don't agree, you were a good man even if you did love money over all else, and like you said I had a second chance and I think you should have been given one too," said Ebenezer, feeling sorry for the wretch before him.

"I must go now Ebenezer, a Merry Christmas to you and I'm sure we'll be seeing one another real soon," replied Jacob, with a wry grin.

Ebenezer watched his friend walk through the door, and suddenly he was gone. He then prepared for bed, before climbing into the nice warm sheets and going to sleep.

He awoke when his alarm clock struck twelve, and a bright light shone at the foot of his bed.

"You're the ghost of Christmas past?" he said, recognizing her immediately.

"Yes, but more specifically your past Ebenezer Scrooge. I gather you've been warned of my appearance?"

"Yes, I was told. Is there no way to avoid this?" he said.

"Not if you wish to see what changes your altered life has brought you. Be prepared Ebenezer, we are going to the Christmas of five years ago," she said, and suddenly pulled her cloak over them both.

For a few seconds Ebenezer couldn't see anything, and then the cloak was removed and he found himself inside his own warehouse. People were busy everywhere preparing for something special, and Ebenezer suddenly realized what it was.

"This was the Christmas we celebrated Tiny Tim's coming of age and announcing his engagement. Although it has to be said, he wasn't tiny anymore, he'd grown into a fine strapping young man," said Ebenezer, excitedly.

"Indeed Ebenezer, he went on to marry that secretary of yours and a finer match there never was," replied the ghost, interested as to what the people were doing.

"There's Bob Cratchet and his family, he's a full partner now you know?" said Ebenezer.

"What are they doing Ebenezer?"

"Oh they're putting up the decorations, I insisted that we do that every year and we all get to bring whatever we want. There's me look, welcoming the guests, and there's...oh its Belle I'd forgotten I invited her and her husband," said Ebenezer, remembering the love of his life fondly.

"She's probably the only one here who wasn't influenced by your change of heart Ebenezer, but she is happy for you. She married a good man and had five children, and if it helps any she loved you once," said the ghost, seeing the tear in Ebenezer's eye.

"Yes...she really did love me once but it's the one thing I couldn't fix," he replied.

"Now let's go back to a Christmas where you made a true difference," said the ghost, covering him with her cloak once more.

When she pulled the cloak away, they were in Ebenezer's old school.

"You made a generous donation to this school and now the pupils have central heating with radiators in every room. When you pledged to change your ways Ebenezer you didn't mess around did you," said the ghost.

"I simply wanted the children to be comfortable when learning, and not have to freeze during class. I also gave them a library, and a football field. It's now the most popular school in the area, and even the government could see that the changes made were beneficial to the pupils. Since then they've adapted an education program that helps those under achievers come out on top. So it would be fair to say I'm proud of this one," replied Ebenezer.

"And rightly so Ebenezer, what you did here and so many other places show me that my last visit wasn't a waste of my time. You deserve credit, and I'm sure in time you will get it. My time is now up Ebenezer, so it's back for you," she said throwing the cloak around them both, "and back to bed," she finished, leaving him alone in his bedroom.

Ebenezer sat on the bed heavily, still remembering the one and only love of his life Belle. Just then the clock struck one, and a flash of light lit the underside of his bedroom door.

"Ebenezer Scrooge, come out and find a better man," said a familiar voice.

Ebenezer got off the bed and opened the bedroom door, and then immediately had to cover his eyes as the light was too bright.

"Come in Ebenezer, I'll tame the light down a little," said a booming voice.

"The ghost of Christmas present, I remember liking you more than the others the last time we met. How have you been these last twenty years?" said Ebenezer.

"Well thank you and I see you are a man of your word Ebenezer. You did change, and I must say it suits you," said the ghost of the present.

"Where are we going first?" replied Ebenezer.

"Ha...Ha, so eager to go now aren't we. I thought we'd visit the Cratchet family once again, and see what's been going on in their lives, shall we?" The ghost replied, throwing a mass of silver tinsel in the air and covering them both.

When the tinsel cleared, they were standing in a large beautifully cleaned new kitchen and there around the table sat the Cratchet family, all preparing to tuck into the biggest turkey Ebenezer had ever seen.

"I can almost feel the Christmas spirit in this household Ebenezer, and it's all thanks to you," said the ghost.

"It was the most pleasure I had after your visit ghost, I made sure that Tiny Tim got the best help possible, and that Bob was given a raise. In fact a year after I tripled his wages I made him a full partner, and now he lives in this large house and is a pleasure to work with," replied Ebenezer.

"You under estimate what you did here Scrooge, isn't that Tiny Tim's son sitting next to him?"

"Yes it is, they named him Ebenezer and I see him often," replied Ebenezer.

"It's because of you that Ebenezer is alive today Scrooge, if you hadn't saved Tiny Tim he wouldn't exist," said the ghost.

Ebenezer thought about that for a minute and realized that it was true, he was alive because of what Scrooge had done here and that made him smile.

"You may well smile Scrooge, you are a deserving man and I'm proud to have known you," said the ghost, "now onward, I haven't got all night you know," he added, before throwing that tinsel into the air again.

When it cleared they were amongst a large group of people, all waiting outside Ebenezer's home.

"What are all these people doing here?" said Ebenezer.

"Just wait and see," replied the ghost.

Just then the door opened and Ebenezer of the present stepped out dressed in a Father Christmas outfit.

"Are we all ready to go?" he said to the crowd.

"YES," they shouted together.

Ebenezer could see parcels under each of the people's arms, and they were led by the Scrooge Santa until they arrived outside an orphanage. Santa knocked on the door and stepped back. When it was answered the Orphanage head mistress was shocked to find so many people outside.

"Here ma'am all of these gifts are for the orphans with my compliments," he said, handing the first one over.

The Head Mistress was astonished, and they could see several children behind her jumping up and down with joy.

"Merry Christmas to you all," said the Santa, "now I believe I promised you all a good drink down at the local bar," said Santa Scrooge, turning to his friends.

"YES," they all shouted, and off they went down the road.

"You know Ebenezer, its true what people say one man can make a difference," said the ghost, as they watched the crowd walk away.

Ebenezer was quiet for a moment, his thoughts were of all the fun he'd missed out on for all those years, and he wished he could get them back.

"Well, it's time for me to go Ebenezer. You won't be seeing me again, but before I go I need to shake your hand. You've restored my faith that anyone can change Ebenezer, even the lowest of the low. Goodbye, and remember one man did make a difference," said the ghost, as he shook Ebenezer's hand.

In a flash he was gone, and Ebenezer found himself back in his bedroom. He turned around to look at the clock just as it struck two, and then felt a bitter cold inside the room. He turned to find the ghost of the future standing over him, and stepped back.

"You are the one spirit I dread most of all ghost of the future, but I know you're here to show me what has changed for me so I bare you no ill will. Lead on spirit, lead on," he said, taking up the cloak that the ghost offered.

In a split second the scene had changed and now they stood in a graveyard.

"Surely you don't still intend to show me a bad ending?" said Ebenezer, more than a little nervously.

The ghost just pointed to a grave stone, and Ebenezer knew better than to question further. He slowly walked over to it from behind, and when he reached it he looked back to find the ghost still pointing. Ebenezer stepped around to the front of the head stone, and read the inscription.

"Respected and beloved by all, Ebenezer Scrooge," it read.

Ebenezer could feel the tear running down his cheek, but it was tears of joy. He'd made that difference he'd so longed to make, and knew that when his time did come he would be missed. He turned back to the ghost, only to find they were now standing in the main financial building in London, and people were talking about him.

"Ebenezer Scrooge has put the price of grain down while everyone else has put it up. He'll make such a killing here, I would bet money on it," said one well dressed man.

"Haven't you heard that that was his last wish? The name still stands but it's been taken over by his partner who has honored the man's last will and testament. Apparently he doesn't want the needy to suffer at this time of year, which is all well and good but what about the profits?" replied the odious man next to the first one who spoke.

"To think I used to be that guy?" said Ebenezer, as he turned to the ghost of the future.

The ghost reached out a hand and Ebenezer could see it was just bone, but he held it and suddenly found himself back in his bedroom. It was now Christmas morning, and he had lots to do. He first went out to the store and woke the proprietor up, as he needed a Santa's outfit. Then he rounded up a lot of his friends and went on a shopping spree, before telling them to wait while he got changed. When he came out he was fully dressed as Santa and told them all to follow. The day went on as days do, and with everything he tried to cram into it he felt exhausted by the end. He'd given the gifts to the orphanage, and had Christmas dinner with his nephew as well as supper with the Cratchet family and now all he wanted was a good night's sleep. He lay down feeling content and a sense of well being crossed over him, but as he slept and the hour of midnight struck his mortal body let go.

His spirit rose from the bed, and he looked back at the shell of his former life and still the feeling of contentment was within him. Then he heard a voice behind him and turned to see Jacob Marley dressed in white.

"Jacob what are you doing here, come to show me the way again?" he said.

"It seems that my part in your story was not over looked Ebenezer, had I not volunteered to give you those messages you wouldn't have changed your ways and I'd still be in Hell. As it is I've been given a second chance as well, and I'm to show you the way to Heaven," replied Jacob.

Ebenezer smiled with joy, and placed his arm around his old friend before they both floated up through the bedroom window. Looking back over the city Ebenezer mouthed a few well chosen words.

"Merry Christmas and God bless us everyone."

The End...