Chapter Three- The Ghost of Christmas Past

Scrooge sat straight up in bed, staring at the bright lights that surrounded his bed. He warily opened the curtain and looked out. The light died a little to reveal a young tree snake dressed his white with a white crown of flowers on her head. She was floating on air.

"Are you the spirit that has come as foretold?" Scrooge asked.

"I am." The girl said.

"But you're so young." Scrooge protested.

"I can remember almost 1900 years." The girl assured. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."

"What business do you have here?" Scrooge demanded.

"Your welfare." The Ghost (Viper) said.

"Huh?" Scrooge scoffed. "A night of uninterrupted rest might help my welfare."

"Your salvation, then." The Ghost tried. "Take heed. Come." Scrooge got out of bed, and his window suddenly flew open.

Scrooge stared fearfully at the spirit. "Spirit, please, I am but mortal, and likely to fall."

"A touch from me and you shall fly." The Ghost promised. The Ghost extended her tail, and Scrooge took a hold of it. Then, they were off, flying thru the night sky. Scrooge was a bit terrified as they went flying. Then, a bright light shined up ahead.

"Spirit!" Scrooge cried. "What is that? It can't be dawn yet!"

"It is the past." The Ghost of Christmas Past replied.

Scrooge's vision was engulfed with light. When he could see once more, he and the Ghost were in a small, snow covered town. The Ghost of Christmas Past set Scrooge down gently on the ground, and Scrooge knew they had arrived at his childhood. It was the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and Scrooge was conscious of a thousand odors, each connected to a thousand thoughts, joys, and cares, long forgotten.

"This is my old school." Scrooge realized. "I was a boy here. Look! There's Henry! And my best friend, Edmund! Hello boys! Children?"

"These are the shadows of your past." The Ghost told Scrooge. "They can neither see nor hear us. Come, let us go inside."

What a flood of memories that Scrooge remembered as he walked into his old classroom. "I know it so well, Spirit." He said. "I chose my profession in this room."

"And is he, too, familiar?" The Ghost asked.

Scrooge looked, and was astonished to see his younger self, working, as usual. "It's me."

"Come on, Ebenezer!" Scrooge's friend, Edmund, said as he and Henry came passing by. "The last coach is leaving!"

"Come on, Ed." Henry urged. "Ebenezer never goes home for Christmas." The boys left.

"Who cares about dumb old Christmas?" young Ebenezer retorted.

"I was so often alone." Scrooge told The Ghost. "My mother and sister were dead, and my father never cared for me. But, I liked to study and read."

"Let us see another Christmas like this." The Ghost invited.

"Nothing changed." Scrooge said scornfully.

"You changed." The Ghost assured. As Scrooge watched, he suddenly became aware of his younger self getting a bit older. Then, he noticed a pre-middle aged goat come in.

"So, Master Scrooge!" the goat said cheerfully. "Graduation day!"

"That's my old headmaster!" Scrooge said delightfully. "Headmaster Victor. He taught me my most valuable lesson."

"Stand up." Headmaster Victor ordered. He led Ebenezer to the front of the room. "To maintain a good life, work hard! Yes, work hard, work long, and be constructive! Ah, Ebenezer. Life is a golden opportunity! Today you will go off into the real world! I have found an internship for you in business."

"Yes, Headmaster." Ebenezer said.

(A/N: Ebenezer refers to Scrooge's younger self)

"You will love business." Headmaster Victor assured. "Ah, here is your coach, my dear lad."

The Ghost came to Scrooge's side. "Come, there is much to see." Scrooge nodded as there was another flash, and the two of them journeyed some years into the future. A moment later, Scrooge found himself standing in a busy street, looking at a building he had not seen in years.

Scrooge stood in the spot, dumbfounded.

"You recognize this place, Ebenezer Scrooge?" The Ghost asked.

"My first job was here!" Scrooge said. "This is Fezziwig's factory!" So true. And, once again, it was Christmas Eve. Scrooge and The Ghost journeyed inside, where many people were gathered, talking and laughing. Scrooge recognized a single face out of them all.

"There's Fezziwig himself!" he cried.

Fezziwig was there, standing on a platform high above the crowd. He was quite small, being a 30-year-old praying mantis.

"Look lads!" Fezziwig (Mantis) said to himself. "Dusk has fallen, the lamp lighters are at work. It's Christmas Eve for sure!"

"What an employer he was." Scrooge commented. "As hard and ruthless as a rose petal."

"It's time for the party to begin!" Fezziwig announced.

"It's the Fezziwig Christmas Party!" Scrooge exclaimed. As Scrooge looked about, he heard Fezziwig trying unsuccessfully to quiet the crowd down. It wasn't until a large hippo yelled, "QUIET!" that everyone stopped talking.

"Thank you." Fezziwig thanked. "Welcome to the Fezziwig Christmas Party. It is at this time in the proceedings that I give a speech."

"And that's the same time that I take a nap!" Jacob Marley (still Monkey) yelled from the rafters. He laughed heartily.

"It's Jacob Marley." Scrooge said. "My old partner as we were lads."

"Just ignore him." Fezziwig chuckled. "And now, my speech." Fezziwig cleared his throat. "'Thank you all, and Merry Christmas!'"

"That was the speech?" Jacob scoffed. "It was lame! It was pointless! It was…..short…." He smiled. "I loved it!" Everyone laughed. And, with that said and done, the music started for some dancing. Scrooge watched as his younger self came up to Fezziwig, a document clutched nervously in his hand.

"Mr. Fezziwig?" Ebenezer excused.

"Yes?" Fezziwig asked.

"I was going over the accounts." Ebenezer said, concern etching his voice. "Do you know how much the firm is spending for this party?"

"Oh, Ebenezer!" Fezziwig laughed. "This party is a tradition that's been in my family for generations! Stop working and go enjoy yourself! This is Christmas!"

"Mr. Fezziwig?"

A young tigress, about 25 years old, approached Fezziwig. She wore an elegant yet simple blue gown and a dainty tiara on her head. A pearl bracelet was on her right wrist and a pearl choker necklace around her neck.

"Ah, Ms. Belle!" Fezziwig greeted. "How are you this evening?"

"Wonderful." Isabelle (Tigress) said.

"Ah, Ebenezer, I'd like you to meet Isabelle, the daughter of a dear friend of mine." Fezziwig told Ebenezer. "Belle, this is Ebenezer Scrooge, the finest financial mind in the city."

"A pleasure to meet you." Isabelle greeted, offering her hand.

"An honor to meet you." Ebenezer replied, kissing her hand.

"Do you remember this meeting?" The Ghost asked.

"Like it was yesterday." Scrooge replied.

"There was another Christmas with this young lady." The Ghost said. "Some years later."

Scrooge looked pained. "Please, do not show me that Christmas."

But the Ghost took him forward to that point in time, when it was "some years later". Scrooge saw his younger self and Jacob Marley, working in the bank Scrooge worked at in the present. Isabelle came in, looking forlorn.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Isabelle!" Jacob said in his old cheery way. "Or, should I say, Mrs. Scrooge!" He laughed heartily.

Ebenezer laughed as well from his desk. "Not yet, Jacob, not yet."

"Then when?" Isabelle demanded.

The room got quiet. "I'm sorry?" Jacob asked.

"Ebenezer has postponed our wedding for yet another year." Isabelle said.

Jacob stared at his partner. "Another year? Hasn't it been long enough?"

"It has." Isabelle scoffed.

"Belle, I can't marry you yet." Ebenezer protested. "There's not enough money for even a decent home. Investments have grown."

"So you said last year." Isabelle protested.

"Business is poor." Ebenezer rallied. "Jacob and I just opened this store a few months ago."

"A gift from Fezziwig himself." Jacob added.

"You have a partner and your own firm!" Isabelle scoffed.

"This is for you." Ebenezer said, standing. "I love you, Belle."

"You did once." Isabelle said sadly. "But what happened to the man I danced with at every Fezziwig Christmas Party since our first meeting?"

"Belle…." Ebenezer started.

"I'm sorry." Isabelle said. "I can't do it." Isabelle took the ruby studded gold ring off her finger and laid it on Ebenezer's desk. "You'll make good money off of it." She said simply before turning and leaving.

"I never saw her again after that." Scrooge said.

Ebenezer picked up the ring. "What will you do with it?" Jacob asked.

"It belongs to either me or Belle." Ebenezer said, pocketing the ring. "No one else."

The Ghost approached Scrooge. "There is but one more shadow to show you."

The scene changed. It was still Christmas Eve, but the date on a small calendar nearby said it was a few years later. Jacob and Ebenezer were hard at work, but Jacob looked pale and sickly. He coughed.

"You alright?" Ebenezer asked.

"Of course!" Jacob retorted. "I'm as healthy as a horse!" He coughed again, more violently this time.

"Marley, go home." Ebenezer ordered. "For two reasons: you're too sick, and I don't want what you've got." The two friends laughed heartily before Jacob closed his book and hopped down from his stool. But he hardly made it to the door before he collapsed.

"Marley?" Ebenezer asked, getting up from his desk. "Jacob!" Ebenezer rushed to his fallen friend, but it was too late.

Scrooge couldn't take it. "Spirit, show me no more. Why do you enjoy torturing me?"

Suddenly, there was a bright flash, and Scrooge found himself in his bed once more. Looking out, he saw the image of the Ghost of Christmas Past illuminated in his bedside candle's flame.

"These are the shadows of what has been." The Ghost said. "They are what they are, do not blame me."

The candle light went out, and The Ghost of Christmas Past disappeared.

A/N: Anytime I say "The Ghost", make sure you know which chapter I'm in, because each ghost of Christmas has their own chapter.