The cookies

It was a warm winter day, in the city of Spyra where the setting of our story takes place. Now my job is to give you a bit of background on the city. It is a rather small spot, where the people are always jolly this time of year, Oh Yes! I forgot to tell you it is December 23^rd just 2 days before Christmas.  Now back to where I was, everyone around here is jolly except for one old fellow, Scrooge. Now, you may think I’m making this up but truly on paper his name is Ebeneezer Scrooge.

          To be fair, and fill you in here I’ll give you some back ground on Scrooge. He’s a very wealthy citizen, the wealthiest in the town. He owns the Coal mill on Mary Street.  You see, he has been alone long before I was born, but rumor has it that his wife had died near Christmas, and ever since he’s spent the holiday alone. There is not a light to be saw on the place when the 25^th rolls around. He does not celebrate Christmas, Honokaa, or New years, and he never buys anything sweet especially on Christmas.

               

          Oh Look! There is Molly and her brother Jacob; they’re the children of Bob and Marry Wallace. Coincidentally Bob works at Scrooge’s Mill, 12 hours a day, 364 1/2 days a year. After begging Scrooge this year for hours on end, Bob finally managed to get half a day off for Christmas. This will be the first day he has had off in 10 years working for Ebenezer.  Let’s go have a talk with little Molly and Jacob.

                “Why Hello children,” I said.

                “Hi sir,” replies Molly.

                “Say what’s that you have there, Jacob” I ask

                “Oh! We’re selling Christmas cookies this year. Would you like to buy some?”

                “Sure, how much are they?”

                “A dollar for ten, sir,” Jacob replies gingerly.

                “Sounds great, here you are my good fellow,” I say handing him a dollar.

                “Golly gee thanks Mr.!” Jacob thanks happily.

“Merry Christmas sir,” Jacob says cheerfully.

                “And a very Merry Christmas it will be, say what did you ask for from St. Nick this year?” I said.

                “Daddy says he thinks Santa is going to bring Jacob and I each a new sled and some toys” Molly replies excitedly.

                “Yeah,  and he said if we can stay up real late we might even be able to see him and his reindeer this year when they come to our house! I know I can stay up, I don’t know about Molly here she’s not feeling too well and it is almost Christmas Eve.” Jacob says excitedly.

                “Oh well Molly I hope you feel better soon, and seems as though you’re quite excited this year. But I've got to get going I have some people to visit. You kids take care, and be sure to zip up your jackets. ” I say warmly.

                “ OK sir, Merry Christmas!” Molly says with a smile.

                “Merry Christmas, have a great holiday.” Jacob says before running off.

                “And a very Merry one to you too, tell your Ma and Pa I said hello.” I say.

                Well, I think that we should use this family to show what kind of a man Scrooge really is. Shall we go over and see the parents? Yes, ok let’s head over now and see Bob at the factory…

                “Merry Christmas,” random pedestrian says.

                “Same to you,” I reply.

                “Oh sorry, I didn’t see you there.” I say excusing myself after bumping into someone.

                “No problem, Merry Christmas to you,” a warm voice replies.

                “As to you too,” I replied.

                My, what a busy time of year huh? So many people, in such a rush to go practically nowhere, oh well tis the season after all. Anyways there’s the mill and it looks as though Bob just got off work. Let’s see what all the fuss is about.

                “But Mr. Scrooge, it gets cold in that room after awhile, I’m sorry for putting an extra piece of coal in there. It was only 5 degrees in there.” Bob says to Scrooge.

                “I don’t care IF IT WAS 50 BELOW! There is only to be two pieces of cola used a day, NO EXCEPTIONS!” Scrooge says angrily.

                “Ok, won’t happen again Sir,” Bill apologizes.

                “All I can say is it had better not, for your sake, Bobby.” Scrooge says calling out, while leaving down the street.

                He seems rather upset about this; we had better leave him alone for now. Hmm  give me a minute; let me think about this…I’ve got it! I believe it is in our best interests to follow Scrooge so that you get an idea to what Scrooge’s manor looks like….Ah, there he is there, and it seems as though he has some Christmas carolers. I wonder how he is going to respond to that, let’s go see.

            “ Ba humbug! Humbug! Humbug! Humbug! I'VE TOLD YOU GET OFF MY PROPERTY!” Scrooge says rudely.

            “But sir, we’re just spreading some Christmas cheer,” an unknown voice replies.

            “I don’t care leave now or I’ll call the authorities,” Scrooge says coldly.

            “Ok sir, Merry Christmas to you too,” a voice replies hastily.

            “Humbug,” says Scrooge angrily while the crowd begins to leave.

            See, I told you didn’t I what kind of a man Scrooge is. Horrible isn’t it? Cooped up in that big empty house with nothing but his money; the nerve of such a man to be so mean and cruel. Tisk Tisk. Oh my, there comes Molly and Jacob again, and they’re walking up to Scrooge’s door. Oh I Can’t watch, no  please don’t make them cry….

            “Who is it,” a voice demands from inside as the doorbell echoes.

            “It’s Jacob and Molly Wallace sir,” they reply together.

            “Whatever it I you’re selling, I don’t want any,” Scrooge replies.

            “We’re not selling anything sir, we’d just like to talk to you for a minute, please,” Molly says.

            “Oh fine if it will get you to shut up,” Scrooge says sharply as he emerges from the dreary house.

            “Here sir, my brother and I would like to give you this plate of cookies, we thought you may want some. They’re really good,” Jacob says merrily.

            “Oh, well you shouldn't have, I mean ummm…” Scrooge says.

            “Just take them, no questions, just take.” Molly says hurriedly.

            “If you insist,” Scrooge says while taking the plate.

            “ OK, we've got to get going momma wants us back before dark and it’s almost sunset,” Jacob replies as he and Molly hurry off.

            “Well, what am I to do with all of these?” Scrooge says aloud.

            Did you see that?! That’s the first time in years that man has taken a kind gesture. Well, well, well maybe there is hope for him after all. Let’s go peep in his window and see what he’s doing.  Ok here step up on here on this snow drift. Shhh, listen… I can hear him talking to himself.

            “Well what should I make of this? I have done nothing for them, why would they do such a thing for me? Could this be what they call “Christmas spirit”? I thought “Christmas spirit” was nothing more than the need to spend valuable money. Perhaps I was wrong about Christmas for all these year, could I have been? Oh my, I had better start making it up to all the years I've missed out on. A man my age hasn't got many years to spare. I had better hurry, I have people to see and money to spend!”

            Shh! Get down, he’s coming outside… OK  he didn't see us, he’s walking down the street let’s follow him, and see if this means what I think it means.

            “Hello Mr. Scrooge,” a man calls out.

            “Merry Christmas Sir,” Scrooge replies.

            “What, I mean excuse me?” The man asks stopping dead in his tracks, looking rather confused.

            “I said Merry Christmas John,” Scrooge replies with a smile.

            “hahahahaha! Merry Christmas!” The man replies laughing.

            “And merry it shall be,” Scrooge says gingerly.

            “ I've got no time to talk and explain, let’s just say things changed,” Scrooge says hurrying off to the Wallace house around the corner.

            “Hello, just a minute I’ll be right out,” Bob replies form inside.

            “Hello Mr. Scrooge, listen if this is about the coal today, I’m terribly sorry,” Bob says quickly while opening the door.

            “No not at all Bobby, in fact use the whole box if you’d like tomorrow,” Scrooge says happily.

            “I’m sorry sir,” Bob says while lowering his head.

            “No, no Bobby, I was not being sarcastic, I came to tell you that you can take a week off after Christmas if you’d like. Oh and you will be getting a holiday bonus tomorrow at work.” Scrooge says merrily.

            “Sir?” Bob asks questioning him.

            “Well, you see Bobby, your children had really shown me what the Christmas spirit is all about. They did something for me when they didn't have to, which is what Christmas is all about, correct? Scrooge says/asks.

            “Why yes sir, that’s the idea of it,” Bobby says warmly.

            “Then it’s settled Bobby, you now have doubled salary, a vacation and one week of sick days, more if needed of course.” Scrooge says grinning.

            “Oh my Merry Christmas!” Bobby exclaims.

            “And a Merry one it shall be,” Scrooge says warmly.

And so, things changed around the city of Spyra. Scrooge was grinning, going Christmas caroling, and so on. The whole town was in shock for quite some time, until it seemed as though it was the way it had always been. Merry Christmas to you all.

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