Mr. Krabs and Sandy left the school and were now in a busy city where carts and coaches were passing through the streets. Here too was Christmas time in the evening with all the streets lighted up.
Sandy stopped and turned to a familiar warehouse. "Don't suppose you recognize this ol' place, Krabs."
"Recognize it?" Mr. Krabs questioned until he smiled proudly. "I used to apprentice here."
They went inside and saw a man with a black beard wearing pirate clothes, an eyepatch, and a hook for a hand. Mr. Krabs gasped in surprise and excitement.
"Great barrier reef!" Mr. Krabs yelled. "That's old Patchywig! He's alive again!" then he heard a squawk and saw a green parrot flying itself the desk Patchy was sitting at. "And that's his annoying know-it-all bird, Potty."
Potty landed on the desk and said, "Squawk! Patchywig, it's that time again."
Patchywig looked up at the bird, then gasped. He finished one last scrawl, then put away his quill and slammed the book shut. "Ah, yes! I almost forgot! Thanks, Potty!"
"Brawk! You're not welcome." the bird stated.
Standing from his seat, Patchywig cleared his throat to get every worker's attention. "If I may have your attention, crewmates, I'd like to make an important announcement."
Everyone in the room, even a much younger Krabs, looked up.
"For now, leave all work behind." Patchywig stated, "Now, clear things off, 'cuz it's time to celebrate!" Patchywig blew into a noisemaker.
(Pirate Crew film: HOORAY!)
Not a single worker was complaining as they cleared away books, tables, and chairs: anything that wasn't nailed down was cleared away to make a better dance floor. And in no time at all, fiddles were played along with cellos and virtually every stringed instrument known to man...at the time, anyway.
Whilst dancing merrily, old Patchywig looked up and noticed something. Mistletoe...
"A-ha! Now, WHO'S gonna kiss Patchywig?" the pirate asked, as though daring someone to do it.
"I WOULD!"
Patchywig turned around and was met with a VERY grotesque-looking fish-lady. Screaming in fright, Patchywig ran across the dance floor with the woman in hot pursuit, puckering her lips.
"HELP! HELP!" Patchy cried, "I take it back! Just stop chasin' me!"
"BRAWK!" Potty squawked, "Whaddya know, dance AND comedy..." The parrot then took a bite of popcorn, which had seemingly appeared from nowhere.
"Odd feller, ol' Patchywig was, huh?" Sandy asked.
"Whaddya mean, Ghost?" Krabs asked, offended, "He was the best man I worked with!"
"Well, he was happier than a kid on sugar high and he danced like a monkey on hot coals." Sandy pointed out, counting them out on her fingers.
Mr. Krabs stared at the ghost, then gave her a flat look. "Where do you come up with these things?" he asked.
The young Krabs, however, had an eye for...someone else. It was Poppy, Patchywig's daughter. She was a pretty young puffer fish with blonde hair, wearing a short green dress and a hat.
Mr. Krabs went over to her and smiled. "Ahoy, Poppy, fancy seeing you here."
"Of course I'm here." She responded with an odd look. "Patchywig's my father."
Mr. Krabs got a nervous look. "Oh, well…" but then he was interrupted when Poppy gave him a kiss, causing him to turn red (well, redder, anyway) and his eye stalks formed the shape of a heart.
"Mistletoe." She said, pointing up to the one right above them, and then dragged him off where they danced happily.
The real Mr. Krabs watched with Sandy, feeling happy as he watched what was going on.
"Argh, that's Poppy, me old lass. I loved her with all me heart." Then he began scratched his head. "I wonder what made me forget about her anyway."
"Why don't we all find out?" Sandy replied. "After all, my time's growin' short."
Then she and Mr. Krabs showed up at what appeared to be a park, where they a much older Mr. Krabs was seated on a bench, holding a gold coin in his claw as he was smiling and laughing greedily.
Mr. Krabs' expression suddenly turned soft and pained. "No…no…NOT THIS! C'mon, get me outta here, spirit!"
"Sorry. It's in my contract to make sure you see this." Sandy said, looking away and folding her arms.
A minute or so later, Poppy had shown up at the park, dressed in a mourning dress and looking VERY disturbed to see Mr. Krabs. "You've replaced me...haven't you?" she accused.
Mr. Krabs suddenly caught himself in what he was doing, then quickly pocketed the gold coin. "What're ya talkin' about, Poppy? I didn't..."
"Don't lie to me." Mrs. Puff said, voice hinting anger, "I saw you drooling over that coin in your pocket."
"Uh...it was me first one from me dad." Mr. Krabs tried explaining.
"No. I see what's happened now." Poppy said, sadly, "You have given up love for money, business, and your own personal gain. You were a completely different person back then and I would have loved you, but now you've given that life up."
"But Poppy..." Mr. Krabs argued, but Mrs. Puff cut him off.
"Don't 'but Poppy' me." Mrs. Puff said, pointing a finger at him, "You can go to whatever life you've chosen, but I will NOT be a part of it."
And with that Mrs. Puff stormed away, Mr. Krabs just staring after her, not knowing what to do.
The REAL Mr. Krabs stared. Had he REALLY been that stupid? The answer was 'no': he had been much more than stupid.
The old crustacean sniffed. "Me heart can't take much more of this, Spirit. Take me home!" The crab then burst into solid tears.
Sandy shook her head. "My time is up, Ebenezer. But remember that YOU forged these memories yourself."
You'll be in for a pleasant surprise for who the Ghost of Christmas Present is played by...