((A/N: An attempt to turn my hand to Dickens. This has pushed back my other fic in the works (Which, at the risk of advertising my own work, any Zelda fans in the audience should check out) but for me, this is worth it.
See, this may not be my best work. It may be downright terrible. But I really don't care. This is a piece that I wrote for myself, that I feel like sharing. After some of this story actually happened to me, I figured I'd give Ol' Fezziwig's party the spot in literature it deserves. Please note that while I insert myself into the story, this is no crossover. Rather, this is my own memory of a happier time that I wish I could have lived, and a mix of both true and fictional events. Prudence is based off a real girl that I met at an event much like the one I describe therein.))
He was big. That was the first thing that came to mind when somebody mentioned Fezziwig. And I don't mean fat when I say that, he was big in every way. He had a large belly, true, but he was also amazingly tall. His large hands were always working, he had a large and carrying voice, his coffers were large enough to provide for us apprentices-Me, Dick, and Ebenezer. But the largest thing of all was his spirit. He had a hearty laugh that came bubbling up from him and he used it often. He was the kindest soul you could imagine, and yet he never spoiled us. He knew what was best for us, he did. Apparently, what was best for us right now was a proper Christmas party.
"Yo ho, there! Ebenezer! Jeremy! Dick!"
That was Fezziwig, the old fellow. He was more than twice my age, he was, but he was still a child at heart. He was looking forward to this party as much as we were. My partners in crime, Ebenezer and Dick, were already at his side when I approached, and Fezziwig beamed at me.
"Yo ho, my boys!" he said heartily, "No more work tonight! Christmas Eve, Dick! Christmas, Ebenezer! A time of gaiety, Jeremy! Let's have the shutters up," said he, clapping his hands sharply, "Before you can say Jack Robinson!"
I was off in a trice, my hands scrambling at the shutters. I could sense Dick and Ebenezer working beside me, just as hard as I was. Before half a minute was up, we had done it. We ran back to Fezziwig, beaming, and he beamed back.
"Hilli-ho!" he bellowed, striding around his desk, "Clear away, my lads, and let's have lots of room here! Hilli-ho, Dick! Yo ho, Jeremy! Chirrup, Ebenezer!"
Dick and Ebenezer, firmest of friends, were gone before he had finished. But me, I had something to say. So I kind of made myself small and faded into the background. It's a trick I have, everyone's eyes kind of slide off of you. I could hear bangs from the other room-Apparently, Dick had knocked over a ladder.
Fezziwig finally noticed me, just standing there. "Well, lad, what is it? Speak!"
My palm opened. In it was a small bag. "Mr. Fezziwig, sir, I-I'd like you to have this."
Fezziwig weighed the package and poured the coins out onto his hand. "You're the apprentice here, Jeremy," he said. "I'm supposed to be giving you gold, not the other way around! What's this for? Where did you get it?"
Where I'd gotten it was from the pocket of an old, sour businessman in town, the kind Dick, Eb, and I had sworn to never become when we grew old. So I avoided that question tactfully.
"It's Christmas, Sir!" I said, smiling in a fair imitation of his own grin. "I happen to know you've hired a fiddler for tonight!"
Mr. Fezziwig pinched my nose affectionately. "Why you little... That was supposed to be a surprise! Been listening at doors, have you?"
I didn't confirm or deny the charges, instead saying "A fiddler is great and all, but it's Christmas! Let's have something real, something everyone will remember!"
Fezziwig's eyes widened as I painted the picture of my ideal party. "With this coin, we can hire out Bangers and Mash! You know, the musical company that's staying at the inn! Invite the fiddler too, the more music, the better! Hang some mistletoe up there in the middle, you can shove unsuspecting partners under it!" I was gesturing with wide, sweeping motions now. "Refreshments! We can get some port, maybe get a steer to roast in that fireplace yonder! Then, the invitations! This won't be some apprentice's party, let's invite half the town! Space isn't an issue, we'll spill out into the street! People will be talking about it for miles around and for years to come! 'Remember old Fezziwig's party?' one'll say, and the other one will say 'Oh, yes, that was the best Christmas ever.'"
My unspoken wish for the party somehow managed to make itself clear as Fezziwig chewed thoughtfully on his lip. I think that was what convinced him in the end, for it was with a knowing twinkle in his eye that he said "Well then! That's a fine idea! Run down to the inn at once and fetch Bangers and Mash! There's more work to be done than I thought... I'll telegram the baker's, bring that steer you mentioned." He counted the coins I'd given him and smiled. "You're a good man, Jeremy."
I bounced with joy at the praise as I turned to rush out the door. "I learned it all from you, Sir," I said as I began to turn the knob.
"Wait, Jeremy, before you go...," said Fezziwig, with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Yes sir?" I asked, eager to find the inn and alert the company of musicians.
"When you mentioned mistletoe, you did that with one specific person in mind, didn't you?" he said, laughing suddenly.
My cheeks flushed. I muttered something unintelligible, then ran for the inn, letting his laugh cover my escape. With any luck, he wouldn't remember asking me a question by the time I got back.
See, I'd never really known for sure if old man Fezziwig had known about my infatuation with his eldest daughter, Prudence. But now, I think, there was no question of it.
