"Uh..." Scrooge murmured as he opened his eyes.

His gaze pointed up to the wooden ceiling above him and as he turned his head downward he saw that he was in a bed.

"Oh your finally awake." The doctor said turning his attention from the paperwork on his desk, which was nearby.

"Doc." Scrooge responded in a groggy voice.

"Sir, you had a stroke." The doc replied as he got a thermometer and placed it underneath Scrooge's tongue.

After a moment he took the thermometer out and checked it. Not announcing his current temperature, he wrote it down in his medical notebook he then set it on his desk and returned to Scrooge's bedside.

"Now, do you remember your name?" The doctor asked.

"Ebenezer Scrooge." Scrooge answered.

"Good, what do you remember Mr. Scrooge?" The doctor asked.

Scrooge looked up at the wooden ceiling again. The memories started to return.

"I can't remember much, at first I was feeling dizzy than I collapsed. The next thing I remember is waking up here." Scrooge said.

"Well, it seems like your memory is doing fine." The doctor said.

***2 Hours Later****

A Mailman walked down the street from the doctor's office, looking forward he saw a brand new green sign saying "Scrooge and Cratchit's"

He walked up to the door and knocked. After a few moments the door opened and Tiny Tim appeared in the doorway.

"Hello." Tim greeted.

"Hello." The Mailman greeted him, holding a sack full of letters.

The Mailman handed a bunch of letters to Tim.

"Oh, make sure you give this one to your father." The mail man said giving him a brown envelope.

"Thank you sir." Tim answered as he closed the door.

Tim then wandered into the back room where his father was working.

"Daddy, mail is here!" Tim said.

"Good, bring it here." Bob answered.

Tim handed the letters to his father who was sitting in Scrooge's chair.

"Oh, the mail man told me this was for you." Tim said pointing toward the brown envelope.

"Thank you son, now go watch the office and call me if anyone comes in." Bob instructed.

"Okay dad." Tim answered as he left the room.

Bob looked at the brown envelope, it was from the doctor's office.

He tore it open and took out its content.

Inside was a letter from the doctor updating Bob on Scrooge's condition.

Dear Bob Cratchit,

It is unfortunate to inform you that Ebenezer Scrooge's condition is not good. He suffered a major stroke last evening and he has woken up this morning. He can remember certain things such as his name but he can't remember anything about you or his business. It is my responsibility to inform you that he may not last much longer.

I have enclosed in this envelope the living will concerning his assets. In the event of his passing, the city will seize whatever property he owns and it will become public domain. Since I cannot find anyone in his immediate family to sign this document, I will entrust the responsibility of deciding how those assets will be handled to you. Please contact anyone in his immediate family to handle these arrangements if possible.

Sincerely,

Dr. Probert

Bob looked up at the clock on the mantle above the fire place. It was noon. He took out the rest of the letters and studied the papers carefully.

After a quick review of the papers he folded them and put them into a folder in a filing cabinet beside the desk. He then got his coat along with Tim's on the stand near the doorway.

He opened the door and walked out of the office.

"Tim," Bob said as he jingled the keys in his pocket.

"Yes, dad." Tim said looking up from the newspaper he was reading from the desk he usually worked at.

"It's time for lunch." Bob said.

"Oh goody." Tim said with excitement.

Tim bounded off the high chair and ran across the room to his father. Bob handed Tim his coat as he put his on.

Tim eagerly took hold of his coat and put it on.

Bob took out the keys in his pocket and found the one for the office.

They walked out of the building and Bob locked the door behind him. He tested the door knob to make sure that it was locked.

"OK, lets go." Bob said as he put the keys back into his pocket. He then held out his hand and Tim took it.

"Remember what I said, when we're outside, I am the leader." Bob emphasized gripping his son's hand tightly.

"Yes, sir." Tim replied.

"Good, now hold my hand and stay close." Bob said loosening his grip.

They walked down the street passed the bank and into town square.

"What would you like?" Bob asked as he viewed the various restaurants.

"Well,...that looks good." Tim said pointing toward the sit down restaurant down the block.

"Very good choice....Tony's." Bob said.

"What do they serve there dad?" Tim asked.

"Well....something called Pizza." Bob explained.

"What's a pizza?" Tim asked.

"Oh, well at one time I couldn't afford to have one, but since Mr. Scrooge made me his partner I've gotten a lot more money for you and your siblings." Bob explained as he picked up Tim in his arms.

Bob shuttered under his weight but he could still pick Tim up.

"Boy you are getting heavy." Bob remarked as he and Tim walked down to Tony's.

****A little while later****

"Dad that was amazing!" Tim commented as he and his father exited Tony's.

"Well, I think next time we'll bring the whole family down here." Bob said as he held out his hand.

"That would be great." Tim replied as he took it.

They then headed back to the office.

When they arrived Bob unlocked the door and they went inside.

"Catch up on your reading. Practice your skills because you're going to school this September." Bob said to Tim as they walked in.

"Really?" Tim asked as he took off his coat and handed it to his father.

"Yes, your mother and I finally got enough money to send you to school just like Freddie and Susan." Bob explained.



"Well, I better get started!" Tim said as he jumped back up into the high chair and began reading the newspaper.

Bob chuckled to himself as he walked back into Scrooge's office.

It was true that the Cratchits had at one time been so poor that they could not send their own children to school. It wasn't until Bob had gotten to work for Scrooge that they could financially support the endeavor. They had been able to provide adequate health care and education to Freddie and Susan, but Tim was left behind until six months ago. Before Scrooge had a change of heart, they were considering making some tough decisions concerning Tim's health and how it would affect the rest of the family's budget in the long run.

"That boy has some catching up to do." Bob thought to himself as he hung up their coats and walked back to Scrooge's desk.

Bob took out the doctor's papers again and looked over them more carefully.

He took a pen out of one of the desk cups and signed his name on the will. It was going to be up to him to divide up Scrooge's assets.

****Back at the Doctor's office*****

"So...doctor give it to me straight." Scrooge demanded.

"Well, you say you feel physically fine right now." Dr. Probert replied.

"Yes, I feel fine." Scrooge answered.

"Yet you realize you just had a major stroke, and I can't allow you to leave." Dr. Probert said.

"Why not? I just told you I feel fine." Scrooge persisted.

"Can you remember where you live?" Dr. Probert asked.

Scrooge thought for a moment.

"I don't remember...." Scrooge replied.

****Back at Scrooge & Cratchit's*****

Bob took out a pen and began to scribble on a piece of blank paper.

Dear Fred,

I have to inform you about your Uncle Scrooge. He has had a stroke and is currently at Dr. Probert's office on Memory Lane. From the Doctor's diagnosis, your Uncle has lost some of his memory concerning me and his business. Please stop by and see your Uncle when you have time and see me when you get the chance.

Best Hopes

Bob Cratchit.

After signing his name he folded the letter and put it into an envelope and licked it shut. Addressing it to Fred's house, he then put a stamp on it. He then got up out of the chair and grabbed his coat. He looked over at the clock on the wall.

"6:00 PM." Bob thought.

He opened the door and walked out into the front office.

"Come on Tim, let's go home." Bob said.

"Alright dad." Tim said getting up from his father's desk and closing a book entitled "Little Women" which he was reading.

Bob grabbed his son's coat from the closet and opened it up for Tim.

Tim wiggled into his coat, zipped it up and took his father's hand as they walked out the door. Bob closed the door and fumbling with the keys, found the one to lock up the office. After he had locked the door, he turned his attention to Tim.

"Wanna go for a ride?" Bob asked.

"Yeah!" Tim replied.

Bob knelt down and Tim lifted his arms to be picked up. Bob put his arms around his 6 year old son and lifted him up.

With his son in his arms, Bob walked down the street, toward their house.