A Christmas Carol, Fractured Fairy Tail #7

Once upon a time, there lived a greedy old man named Ebenezer Scrooge

The only thing Scrooge loved in the world was money

He loved it so much, he could almost taste it 

A poor man worked for Scrooge by the name of Bob Cratchett.

Cratchett begged Scrooge to let him put more coal on the fire, it was freezing cold in their office, and Cratchett couldn’t scribe numbers because his hands were shaking because of the miserable temperature 

Scrooge exclaimed that it was warm enough and told Cratchett to stop complaining

Cratchett, understanding what a lonely old man Scrooge was,

kindly invited him to his house for Christmas dinner, meager though it might be.

Scrooge burst out with his true feeling for the holiday,

and quickly went back to his favorite activity

counting his money!

~~~~~~~~~~ 

Scrooge went to sleep on Christmas Eve, with no plans 
for the festivities on the morrow,

but was rudely startled awake by a noise 

and slowly opened his eyes.

Scrooge quailed with shock, because there wavering before him 

was….a GHOST!

Scrooge cowered in fright and disbelief as this beautiful shade 
grabbed his hand, and led him away .

She began to speak to him ,

“Behold, Ebenezer Scrooge,” the spirit said, “I am the Ghost of Christmas Past, 
and I’m here to show you all that you have forsaken.” 

“Look!” the ghost intoned ,

"Look at the life you could have enjoyed!"

"You once had a sweet and lovely woman in love with you.”

“But you know what you loved above all, Ebenezer?” the spirit inquired. 

“MONEY! You have always loved it more so than any human!"

"Now I will give you to the Ghost of Christmas Present, to 
show what you have caused the season to become."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Scrooge was shocked to see his business partner, Jacob Marley, 
dead these many years, standing before him.

"Jacob!" Scrooge exclaimed, "How can this be!
You will never believe what is happening to me!" 

Marley explained, “I can well believe what is happening to you

for it your actions that have caused all this to come to pass” 

“Look and see how the people who depend on your care are forced to exist!”

“Poor Bob Cratchett and his family are forced to survive on the pittance you pay him.”

“He has a small son who needs medical care 

but the Cratchetts cannot afford to take him to a doctor or dentist.” 

Marley pointed to a small child with a bad leg, bad teeth and bad posture.

“This is Tiny Tim.” 

“If this small child does not get the necessary care, his future is in doubt.”

“Come, there is one more ghost who will visit you tonight…
the Ghost of Christmas Future!”

~~~~~~~~~~

Then appeared a dark cloaked figure, who grasped Scrooge 
with bony fingers and drug him out into the cold .

 

Scrooge shivered, for this was the most frightening of all the spirits, and he stammered,

"Who are you, dread spirit, and what have you to show me?”

“Please tell me that the future will be fine for the poor 
Cratchett family, and that sick little boy!” 

The spirit did not reply, merely pointed a skeletal finger in the direction of a tombstone.

Scrooge shrank back in dismay, it was the grave of Tiny Tim! 

Scrooge cried out in horror 

“NO! That can’t happen to that poor child!” Scrooge hung his head in shame, “Whatever can I do?” he pleaded .

The spirit directed Scrooge’s gaze to another tombstone-it was Scrooge’s OWN! 

Scrooge was overcome with terror at this sign of impending death 

But then he began to ponder, “Ehh, we all have to die someday!”

He came to the sudden realization that he couldn’t take it all with him.

He resolved to himself that he would put that money to good use.

~~~~~~~~

Having just received a huge golden parachute payment from corporate,
Scrooge had one thought… 

"Cancun-Winter Break!”

Soon, Scrooge was basking on a warm tropical beach, 
soaking in the sun and tossing back the Coronas! 

Yes, it was Dogs Gone Wild! This was the life! 

~~~~~~~~

And what of the Cratchetts back in England? 

“Let them eat cake!” Scrooge proclaimed with a wink.

 

THE END!