Stave Four.
Right next door.
"Come on, it's time for us to take a break." said Nicolas to Monica.
"He'll get mad. We can't leave just like that."
"So what? We deserve some rest too. It's almost 2 o'clock." replied Nicolas.
"Let's go then. We better be here before he wakes up." said Monica.
"Forget about that. I've had enough of him."
"Tell me about it." said Monica getting in a black van.
"Let's go get Peter."
Back in the apartment, a sweet smell was coming from underneath the door. It was a mixture of baked cookies with pumpkin and ginger bread. You could hear crystal glasses smashing into one another. The time was 1:56am and everything was quite. Too quite...
DING!!! The bell rang again. Grant had gotten used to the bell, so this time he didn't wake up frightened. He was looking around the place to see if there was anything suspicious. But it was the smell that made him stand up and go to the door.
"It's 2 o'clock now. I have never smelled something like this. Now this, is suspicious. Maybe..." He opened the door and a strong wind made him fall. He couldn't open his eyes. His hair and his clothes seemed to be alive. After 20 seconds, the wind passed away and when he got up, he saw a big woman about 25 years standing in front of him with tall black boots and a little cart full of food. The woman had curly brown hair, light brown eyes and had dimples on her cheeks. She had a round face and was wearing a rare belt that said "Don't be scared, I'm a good person" in red sparkling letters. Grant gave her a dirty look and move backwards.
"Hello Grant." said the woman giving him her hand.
"I suppose you're the second ghost." said Grant ignoring her hand.
"Ghost of Christmas Present to be exact."
"Marvelous." he said sarcastally.
"Here Grant, I heard you were arguing over the phone with the cater of this place, so I brought you exactly what you wanted. You haven't eaten anything since you arrived here."
"I'm not hungry." said Grant.
"Oh, well..."
"How did you heard me over the phone? Have you been spying on me?" said Grant somehow angrily.
"Well, not exactly. Just today."
"Great!"
"Do you want some bubbling?"
"NO!"
"Ok, ok don't get mad. We have to go soon."
"Why why? Why me? There are so many people out there worst than me. Why don't you all leave me alone?"
"Did you forget what Kevin said?"
"No. How could I? You guys keep on reminding me."
"Come on. We have no time to lose."
"Where are we going?"
"Are you sure you don't want anything?" said the ghost with a huge smile.
"No... thanks..." said Grant without feeling like it.
"Al right then. Let's go. Open the door." she told Grant.
When Grant opened the door, he was right in front of Marius and his wife. They were together with Lourdes who was holding her bear. The three of them were sitting in some sort of swing outside their apartment. They were hugging each other.
"Marius..." said Grant.
"Do you remember what he asked you over the phone?" said the ghost.
"Yes."
"Do you see that little girl over there? Her name is Lourdes."
"He told me she was sick."
"Very sick. Her heart is too big for her. They need a heart transplant soon or she will die."
"He asked me for money, but I..."
"You told him you were gonna think about it. That's not right, it's someone's life that's in game."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"You are sorry?"
"Yes. Very."
"That's a good start."
"How much time does she have?"
"That's something I cannot say. I don't even know that. But the sooner you call him, the sooner she'll get better."
"What if... what if I give him the money and something gets complicated and she dies anyways?" said Grant looking at the ghost.
"You got to have faith. At least for once. Come on, let's give a little visit to your assistants. Let's hear what they think."
"My assistants?"
"Yes sure. Come on, you got to open doors."
The ghost lead Grant to the entrance of the hotel where Marius and his wife were staying.
"Open the door."
"I don't think my assistants are here."
"Of course they are. Just open the door."
So did Grant. When he opened it, he saw another place, a restaurant. Nicolas, Monica and Peter were there eating burgers and french fries. They were ordering sodas at the moment when the ghost told Grant to keep on walking. Strangely the waitress passed through Grant's body without noticing.
"What was that?" asked Grant.
"Well, no one's suppose to know you're here."
"Ahh, yes the old ghost told me the same thing, or something like that. What have I done to my assistants?"
"I'm not sure. But they do have many things they would like to tell you." said the ghost.
"What kind of things?"
"Shh, just listen." said the ghost.
"I thought we were going to rest for real." said Peter.
"I said rest but I was not sleepy. I just wanted to get the hell out of there." said Nicolas.
"It's all better far from Mr. Hollywood." said Monica while eating one of her french fries.
"Mr. Hollywood? That's a new one?" laughed Peter.
"That one is better than the last one." said Nicolas.
"I think the guy has a problem." said Monica.
"A problem? What do you mean?" asked Peter.
"Yeah I think he does too. I can see it in his eyes." said Nicolas.
"He's alone. That's what making him so damn grumpy." said Monica.
"Doesn't he have a nephew?"
"Matthew? Don't talk to him about him. He doesn't care. Every Christmas Eve the poor man comes to ask him to go over to his house and he says no." answered Nicolas to Peter.
"That's rude." said Peter.
"It sure is. But what can we do about it?" said Monica.
"Nothing." replied Nicolas.
A waitress came over to table 4.
"Here you go." she handed three glasses filled with soda.
"Thank you." said Nicolas.
"I can't believe he didn't let us visit our families. I haven't see them for months." said Monica.
"I did all I could, but he said no." said Nicolas.
"I know. But that's just not right. For God's sakes, it's Christmas!"
"I'm aware of that. But this is work. He doesn't care about Christmas. That man will die alone and sad."
"I wish he were different. I think he's life would be better." said Monica.
"You read my mind dear." said Nicolas.
Grant couldn't hear them anymore. He asked the ghost to leave the place but she denied it.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" asked the ghost.
"I can't say nothing now. I... I..." said Grant looking at the floor.
"Come on. Let's go someplace interesting."
With these words the ghost and Grant went out of the restaurant. They arrived in a street where at least two man were trying to give themselves warm from the cold. One of them was the same man Grant saw at the window two days ago.
"There are a lot of needy people out here, don't you think?" said the ghost.
"I don't know. I'm not looking after them. Why should I?"
"Sometimes we need to accept people the way they are Grant, and help them. This is just a minority. Out there, are many people who would give anything to help these people. But they can't. So, what is it that you got to lose from yourself to help them? Your selfishness? That's good I think."
"I did want to help him."
"But you didn't. What kept you from doing it?"
"My pride." he sighed.
"Don't worry about it. You're gonna have lots of time to think about it. Shall we?" said the ghost.
"Sure."
The ghost touched Grant on his shoulders. They moved forward to a place where there was no door. "We need some sort of door." said the ghost.
The place only had a gate made completely out of wire.
"Do you think that'll work?" asked Grant.
"Yes, I think it will."
Grant pushed open the gate. They entered a place where many young people were standing still.
"Why are these people frozen?" asked Grant.
"We haven't close the gate." said the ghost.
After Grant closed it back everything started moving. Then he saw his nephew entering a house at the corner of the street. There was some kind of party over there.
"What time is it?" asked Grant.
"2:48am." answered the ghost.
"I guess I'm not the only one who couldn't sleep." he smiled.
"I guess not." said the ghost.
"What are they having? A party?"
"Let's find out." said the ghost moving quickly to Matthew's door.
"I've never been here."
"You have lost a lot of opportunities."
"I guess I have." said Grant a bit sadly.
"Finally! We were waiting for you!" said Neve, Matthew's wife.
"Sorry honey, traffic!" Matthew laughed.
"And the ice?"
"Here. I'm gonna go look where to put it."
"The refrigarator is full. Nothing else can be put in there."
"Oh alright."
Matthew lived in Miami, just like his uncle. And believe it or not, Grant didn't know that.
"Where are we?" asked Grant.
"Miami." answered the ghost.
"He lives here?"
"He sure does."
"That's... great!" he said kinda happy.
"Well, gather around everyone!" said Neve to her family and friends.
"Where's Matthew?"
"Coming!" said Matthew bringing a big plate with a turkey in it.
"That's a big chicken!" said a little boy next to Neve. Everyone laughed.
"It is, isn't it?" said Neve with a smile.
"Well, everything's set." said Matthew.
"Well, today besides from celebrating Christmas, we also have big news for you." said Neve excited. "Mom, dad? You're gonna be grandparents!!!"
"Oh my God!!" cried Neve's mother. "That's wonderful news!"
"Congratulations!" said his father standing up and giving her a hug.
Everyone hugged Matthew and Neve. No one could swipe off their smile. Grant fell left behind, but had a face of impression and happiness at the same time.
"I shouldn't have said no to him when he invited me." said Grant.
"There's always another Christmas. Come on, let's get going."
"No wait. Let me be here for a few more minutes." begged Grant.
"Alright, but not much." answered the ghost.
"Thank you."
Ten minutes passed...
"Come on. Let's go." said the ghost.
"Where are we going now?" asked Grant.
"Back to your house."
"I'm not staying in my house."
"Apartment then. Go on open the door."
Grant opened the door. "Ok, are you...?" When he turned back the ghost was gone.
He was now standing in front of his bed. Everything was just the way it was when he left. Even the food that the spirit brought him was there. Strangely it was still hot.
"2:59." said Grant. The bell didn't rang this time. But his alarm did. Everything went dark and Grant knew immediately that this was the work of the third ghost.
Right next door.
"Come on, it's time for us to take a break." said Nicolas to Monica.
"He'll get mad. We can't leave just like that."
"So what? We deserve some rest too. It's almost 2 o'clock." replied Nicolas.
"Let's go then. We better be here before he wakes up." said Monica.
"Forget about that. I've had enough of him."
"Tell me about it." said Monica getting in a black van.
"Let's go get Peter."
Back in the apartment, a sweet smell was coming from underneath the door. It was a mixture of baked cookies with pumpkin and ginger bread. You could hear crystal glasses smashing into one another. The time was 1:56am and everything was quite. Too quite...
DING!!! The bell rang again. Grant had gotten used to the bell, so this time he didn't wake up frightened. He was looking around the place to see if there was anything suspicious. But it was the smell that made him stand up and go to the door.
"It's 2 o'clock now. I have never smelled something like this. Now this, is suspicious. Maybe..." He opened the door and a strong wind made him fall. He couldn't open his eyes. His hair and his clothes seemed to be alive. After 20 seconds, the wind passed away and when he got up, he saw a big woman about 25 years standing in front of him with tall black boots and a little cart full of food. The woman had curly brown hair, light brown eyes and had dimples on her cheeks. She had a round face and was wearing a rare belt that said "Don't be scared, I'm a good person" in red sparkling letters. Grant gave her a dirty look and move backwards.
"Hello Grant." said the woman giving him her hand.
"I suppose you're the second ghost." said Grant ignoring her hand.
"Ghost of Christmas Present to be exact."
"Marvelous." he said sarcastally.
"Here Grant, I heard you were arguing over the phone with the cater of this place, so I brought you exactly what you wanted. You haven't eaten anything since you arrived here."
"I'm not hungry." said Grant.
"Oh, well..."
"How did you heard me over the phone? Have you been spying on me?" said Grant somehow angrily.
"Well, not exactly. Just today."
"Great!"
"Do you want some bubbling?"
"NO!"
"Ok, ok don't get mad. We have to go soon."
"Why why? Why me? There are so many people out there worst than me. Why don't you all leave me alone?"
"Did you forget what Kevin said?"
"No. How could I? You guys keep on reminding me."
"Come on. We have no time to lose."
"Where are we going?"
"Are you sure you don't want anything?" said the ghost with a huge smile.
"No... thanks..." said Grant without feeling like it.
"Al right then. Let's go. Open the door." she told Grant.
When Grant opened the door, he was right in front of Marius and his wife. They were together with Lourdes who was holding her bear. The three of them were sitting in some sort of swing outside their apartment. They were hugging each other.
"Marius..." said Grant.
"Do you remember what he asked you over the phone?" said the ghost.
"Yes."
"Do you see that little girl over there? Her name is Lourdes."
"He told me she was sick."
"Very sick. Her heart is too big for her. They need a heart transplant soon or she will die."
"He asked me for money, but I..."
"You told him you were gonna think about it. That's not right, it's someone's life that's in game."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"You are sorry?"
"Yes. Very."
"That's a good start."
"How much time does she have?"
"That's something I cannot say. I don't even know that. But the sooner you call him, the sooner she'll get better."
"What if... what if I give him the money and something gets complicated and she dies anyways?" said Grant looking at the ghost.
"You got to have faith. At least for once. Come on, let's give a little visit to your assistants. Let's hear what they think."
"My assistants?"
"Yes sure. Come on, you got to open doors."
The ghost lead Grant to the entrance of the hotel where Marius and his wife were staying.
"Open the door."
"I don't think my assistants are here."
"Of course they are. Just open the door."
So did Grant. When he opened it, he saw another place, a restaurant. Nicolas, Monica and Peter were there eating burgers and french fries. They were ordering sodas at the moment when the ghost told Grant to keep on walking. Strangely the waitress passed through Grant's body without noticing.
"What was that?" asked Grant.
"Well, no one's suppose to know you're here."
"Ahh, yes the old ghost told me the same thing, or something like that. What have I done to my assistants?"
"I'm not sure. But they do have many things they would like to tell you." said the ghost.
"What kind of things?"
"Shh, just listen." said the ghost.
"I thought we were going to rest for real." said Peter.
"I said rest but I was not sleepy. I just wanted to get the hell out of there." said Nicolas.
"It's all better far from Mr. Hollywood." said Monica while eating one of her french fries.
"Mr. Hollywood? That's a new one?" laughed Peter.
"That one is better than the last one." said Nicolas.
"I think the guy has a problem." said Monica.
"A problem? What do you mean?" asked Peter.
"Yeah I think he does too. I can see it in his eyes." said Nicolas.
"He's alone. That's what making him so damn grumpy." said Monica.
"Doesn't he have a nephew?"
"Matthew? Don't talk to him about him. He doesn't care. Every Christmas Eve the poor man comes to ask him to go over to his house and he says no." answered Nicolas to Peter.
"That's rude." said Peter.
"It sure is. But what can we do about it?" said Monica.
"Nothing." replied Nicolas.
A waitress came over to table 4.
"Here you go." she handed three glasses filled with soda.
"Thank you." said Nicolas.
"I can't believe he didn't let us visit our families. I haven't see them for months." said Monica.
"I did all I could, but he said no." said Nicolas.
"I know. But that's just not right. For God's sakes, it's Christmas!"
"I'm aware of that. But this is work. He doesn't care about Christmas. That man will die alone and sad."
"I wish he were different. I think he's life would be better." said Monica.
"You read my mind dear." said Nicolas.
Grant couldn't hear them anymore. He asked the ghost to leave the place but she denied it.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" asked the ghost.
"I can't say nothing now. I... I..." said Grant looking at the floor.
"Come on. Let's go someplace interesting."
With these words the ghost and Grant went out of the restaurant. They arrived in a street where at least two man were trying to give themselves warm from the cold. One of them was the same man Grant saw at the window two days ago.
"There are a lot of needy people out here, don't you think?" said the ghost.
"I don't know. I'm not looking after them. Why should I?"
"Sometimes we need to accept people the way they are Grant, and help them. This is just a minority. Out there, are many people who would give anything to help these people. But they can't. So, what is it that you got to lose from yourself to help them? Your selfishness? That's good I think."
"I did want to help him."
"But you didn't. What kept you from doing it?"
"My pride." he sighed.
"Don't worry about it. You're gonna have lots of time to think about it. Shall we?" said the ghost.
"Sure."
The ghost touched Grant on his shoulders. They moved forward to a place where there was no door. "We need some sort of door." said the ghost.
The place only had a gate made completely out of wire.
"Do you think that'll work?" asked Grant.
"Yes, I think it will."
Grant pushed open the gate. They entered a place where many young people were standing still.
"Why are these people frozen?" asked Grant.
"We haven't close the gate." said the ghost.
After Grant closed it back everything started moving. Then he saw his nephew entering a house at the corner of the street. There was some kind of party over there.
"What time is it?" asked Grant.
"2:48am." answered the ghost.
"I guess I'm not the only one who couldn't sleep." he smiled.
"I guess not." said the ghost.
"What are they having? A party?"
"Let's find out." said the ghost moving quickly to Matthew's door.
"I've never been here."
"You have lost a lot of opportunities."
"I guess I have." said Grant a bit sadly.
"Finally! We were waiting for you!" said Neve, Matthew's wife.
"Sorry honey, traffic!" Matthew laughed.
"And the ice?"
"Here. I'm gonna go look where to put it."
"The refrigarator is full. Nothing else can be put in there."
"Oh alright."
Matthew lived in Miami, just like his uncle. And believe it or not, Grant didn't know that.
"Where are we?" asked Grant.
"Miami." answered the ghost.
"He lives here?"
"He sure does."
"That's... great!" he said kinda happy.
"Well, gather around everyone!" said Neve to her family and friends.
"Where's Matthew?"
"Coming!" said Matthew bringing a big plate with a turkey in it.
"That's a big chicken!" said a little boy next to Neve. Everyone laughed.
"It is, isn't it?" said Neve with a smile.
"Well, everything's set." said Matthew.
"Well, today besides from celebrating Christmas, we also have big news for you." said Neve excited. "Mom, dad? You're gonna be grandparents!!!"
"Oh my God!!" cried Neve's mother. "That's wonderful news!"
"Congratulations!" said his father standing up and giving her a hug.
Everyone hugged Matthew and Neve. No one could swipe off their smile. Grant fell left behind, but had a face of impression and happiness at the same time.
"I shouldn't have said no to him when he invited me." said Grant.
"There's always another Christmas. Come on, let's get going."
"No wait. Let me be here for a few more minutes." begged Grant.
"Alright, but not much." answered the ghost.
"Thank you."
Ten minutes passed...
"Come on. Let's go." said the ghost.
"Where are we going now?" asked Grant.
"Back to your house."
"I'm not staying in my house."
"Apartment then. Go on open the door."
Grant opened the door. "Ok, are you...?" When he turned back the ghost was gone.
He was now standing in front of his bed. Everything was just the way it was when he left. Even the food that the spirit brought him was there. Strangely it was still hot.
"2:59." said Grant. The bell didn't rang this time. But his alarm did. Everything went dark and Grant knew immediately that this was the work of the third ghost.