Chapter 8: Tiny Tim

This ghost was not friendly like the other ghosts, and this made Scrooge feel very nervous.

"Are you the Ghost of Christmas Future?"

The ghost in the black robe did not answer.

"I know that you are here to show me things which will help me. I am ready to see them."

Scrooge felt pain for the things he saw in his past, and he felt sadness and joy for the people he saw in the present, but now he just wanted to get rid of this ghost and be left alone. Scrooge did not really understand that he could change and become a better person.

The dark ghost pointed to show Scrooge where they were going, and they both went into the black night. Slowly,night became day on a future Christmas morning.

They went through the city and arrived at the poor house of Bob Cratchit. They went inside. Mrs Cratchit, her oldest son, Peter, and her two younger children were waiting for Bob Cratchit to come home.

"I know what's going to happen now. Bob will come home with Tiny Tim on his shoulders and then the family will have dinner."

The ghost did not answer. Scrooge looked at the Cratchits. Something was different. They were not as happy as when he saw them with the Ghost of Christmas Present. Mrs Cratchit spoke first.

"Your father is late today."

"He walks much more slowly these days, Mother. There was a time when he would walk twice as fast with Tiny Tim on his shoulders."

Everyone was quiet after Peter spoke of Tim. And then Bob Cratchit opened the door. He was not much older, but his face was different. There were dark circles under his eyes because he was not sleeping well. He smiled but there was no light in his eyes.

"I saw Mr Scrooge's nephew on the street today. He said that if there was anything he could do for us, he would be happy to help. He gave me his card. I thought he might be able to get Peter a job. What a good man! He really meant what he said."

One of the children was excited for a moment.

"Oh, Daddy, it would be so nice to see Peter working in an office like you."

Mrs Cratchit did not hide her feelings.

"But with a different employer! I can't believe such a mean old man can have such a kind nephew."

Bob was too tired to say anything. He went upstairs and Scrooge and the ghost followed him. There, in the children's room, was Tiny Tim's small crutch lying on his bed. The bed was empty and did not look like anyone slept in it anymore. Bob Cratchit sat beside it and hid his face in his hands.

"What does this mean, Ghost? Where is Tiny Tim? Don't tell me he is ... Was it because of his leg?"

The ghost said nothing, but Scrooge knew the answer to his questions. He didn't give the Cratchits help when they needed it. Tears came to his eyes.

"Let us go, Ghost. I cannot look at this scene any longer."

Scrooge and the ghost left this poor house and went into another part of London. Scrooge did not care where he was. His mind was full of sad and painful thoughts.

Chapter 9: It Can't End This Way

Scrooge was still thinking when he realised they were near his office. He looked up and saw two men standing on the corner. They were talking about someone, but he did not know who.

"Did you hear who died?"

"Yes, and there weren't many tears for him."

"Did you go to the funeral?"

"No, did you?"

"I don't think many people did. I wonder who he left his money to."

"He probably tried to take it with him."

They both laughed. Scrooge was confused by their conversation, but he wasn't very interested. He was close to his office, and he wanted to have a look inside. But it was closed and no one was there.

"Of course it's closed! It's Christmas! I don't know why I thought I might find myself inside."

The ghost and Scrooge continued and they were soon in another poor part of London, which Scrooge did not know. They went into a very old building. Inside, there was a woman and three men sitting at a table with a bag of old clothes on it. The woman had long grey hair and a red face. Scrooge knew her.

"She cleans my house! We never spoke much. I suppose this is where she lives."

But it was not her house. One of the men at the table was smoking a small pipe. He used this place to buy stolen goods.

"All right then, let's see what you've got."

The old woman emptied the bag onto the table. Scrooge saw clothes and silver knives and forks, and even some bed curtains. The man with the pipe looked at everything carefully. Scrooge was shocked.

"Those curtains are mine! She's a thief! I'm glad I know this now; wait till I see her again!"

"Did you take his bed curtains, too? Tell me, was he still in the bed?"

"What does he care? He doesn't need 'em anymore. He doesn't need anything anymore."

"And this shirt?"

"They wanted to dress him in that for the funeral, but it's too good for that. I changed it for an old torn one."

Suddenly, Scrooge understood what they were doing with his things.

"She took those things, after I ... after I ... And those men on the corner! They were talking about me, weren't they? Is this how it's going to end? People laughing at me and selling my clothes?"

The ghost, of course, did not answer him, but Scrooge felt sure that he was right.

"No! It can't be!"

Scrooge ran out of the house crying,

"No, no! I won't let it happen!"

Scrooge did not know where he was going but soon there were no more buildings around him. It was dark. The Ghost of Christmas Future was still beside him and now they were in a cemetery. For the first time that night, Scrooge felt cold.

There was a light mist all around and everything was covered in snow. The only things that could be seen were the gravestones. Some were large and some were small. Each gravestone had the name and the dates of when the person buried there lived and died. Some had flowers on them and some were cleaner than others. Scrooge walked, as if in a dream, and the Ghost of Christmas Future was always close beside him.

When they came to a small gravestone, which looked like it was about to fall over, the ghost stopped and pointed. There was so much dirt on that gravestone that Scrooge could not read the name of the person buried there. Scrooge got down on his knees to clean off the stone, and slowly, the letters appeared.

"E - b - e - n ..."

Scrooge's heart beat faster as he cleaned off the rest of the letters. He saw that it was his own name on the gravestone. He covered his face with his hands.

"Oh, no! Tell me it's not going to end this way! What did I do to deserve this?"

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1220