Part 2
"Phew what an unpleasant fella", Quaxo said and looked at me and then Munk. Munk nodded.
"He was a tightfisted hand at the grindstone Scroo…" He trailed off when he saw how dirty the windows to Bustopher's office were. Munk rolled his eyes and dragged a finger on the windowsill.
"Oi this really is a dirty city", he said and started to look around.
"Huh you tell me", Quaxo remarked and looked around too.
"Come here", Munk said and grabbed his tail. He then used Quaxo's tail to clean the window.
"Thank you for making me a part of this", Quaxo said and Munk let go of his tail without a word. Quaxo pulled it closed and glared at the larger silver tabby while he tried to clean his tail. Munk ignored him completely and turned to me again.
"He was a tightfisted hand at the grindstone Scrooge. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, greedy old sinner."
I peeked into the window and saw Bustopher walk up to Skimble sitting on a chair looking sacred.
"Alonzo Cratchit", Bustopher said.
"Yes Mister Scrooge", Alonzo said looking up from his big book.
"Who is this?" Bustopher pointed at Skimble with his cane.
"Mister Skimbleshanks sir", Alonzo said and turned away. "He's here to speak to you about his… mortgage."
"Please Mister Scrooge", Skimble said. "I know you're very angry about this but I didn't mean to fall behind with the payments. EC knows it being Christmas and all, please don't shout at me Sir. And of course there's little Vicky her lounges' not right and the doctor takes his share doesn't he? I mean you can yell and scream and you're right but it won't be doing no good." By no Bustopher had taken off his coat and hung it up and now went back and grabbed Skimble by the neck.
"Because I'm the stone you can't squeeze blood from", Skimble went on as Bustopher forced him to the door. "and that's the truuuuuth." Bustopher pushed him out of the office and down the stairs. Alonzo and his book keepers could hear he tumble down the stairs and just before Bustopher closed the door they heard:
"Thank you for not shouting at me!"
When the door slammed shut they all jumped and started working as fast as they could Bustopher walked right past them and into his office before calling out to Alonzo with a cold hard voice:
"Let us deal with the eviction notices of tomorrow Mister Cratchit."
"Um", Alonzo said and climbed down from the high stool he'd been sitting on. "Tomorrow is Christmas sir…"
"Very well you may gift-wrap them." Bustopher said and handed a huge pile of eviction notices to his head book keeper.
"Let us help with that Mister Cratchit", one of the book keepers, all of them rats, said.
"My there are certainly a lot today", Alonzo mumbled as he handed the huge pile, as tall as the rats, to a few of the book keepers.
"I got it I got it!" they kept calling but soon fell to the side dropping them all anyway. Alonzo covered his head waiting for a scream from Mister Scrooge but nothing came. Bustopher Scrooge only walked up to his desk, sat down and started to work.
"Christmas is a very busy time for us Mister Cratchit", he said calmly. "People preparing feasts, parties… spending the mortgage money on trivialities. One might say that December", he looked up at Alonzo grinning almost evilly. "Is harvest time for the moneylenders."
Alonzo swallowed a few times and tried to say something. The other book keepers ran up to him.
"Go on go on ask him", they whispered. "Tell him come on come on. Let's do it now."
"Um if you please Mister Scrooge it's gotten colder", Alonzo said in a timid way.
"Yeah", a rat squeaked.
"And the book keeping staff would like to have an extra shovel full of coal for the fire."
The rats where shaking and shivering.
"W-w-wee c-can't do the book keeping", one stuttered in cold.
"Yeah my pen has turned into an icicle", another supplied.
"Our assets are frozen", another said before they all shivered and whimpered. I felt so sorry for them and saw Quaxo looked at Munk… err Mister Dickens looking quite upset about this.
"How would the book keepers like to suddenly be unemployed!" Bustopher roared and I rubbed my eyes in shock because suddenly the book keepers, save Alonzo, were dressed in Hawaiian straw skirts and things like that.
"Yippe! Arriba!" They started.
This is my island in the sun
They sang happily while dancing away from Bustopher's doorway. Alonzo looked at them somewhat sadly.
"I-I think you convinced them once again Mister Scrooge", Alonzo said and timidly walked back to his own spot. Bustopher just smirked and then Munk turned to me.
"At that moment", he said. "Who shall arrive at the door but Scrooge's nephew Misto."
Quaxo started to look around.
"His only living relative", Munk went on.
"Nephew Misto", Quaxo snorted. "I don't see him."
"Trust me." Munk said and looks at the door. I follow his gaze and can see a black cat, black from his ears to the tip of his tail with a top hat, a black jacket and a red scarf walk up to the door. Quaxo is looking through the window again so he can't see him. The cat knocks hard on the door and frightens Quaxo so bad he falls down into a big pile full of snow.
"Hello uncle", Nephew Misto calls.
I manage to get a quick look inside the office and saw Bustopher look up, not looking so happy. Misto grins widely and enters. Now Munk realized Quaxo is stuck in the snow.
"Quaxo", he says.
"You're very good at that Mister Dickens", Quaxo says kicking with his legs. Misto enters the office with a huge grin on his face. I can't help but smile myself.
"A Merry Christmas uncle Scrooge EC bless you", he says happily.
"Merry Christmas?" Bustopher asks. "Bah! Humbug!"
Quaxo has managed to climb out of the snow and walks up to Munk.
"Quick it will be warmer in there", he says and they hurry inside. The others and I stay outside, we do not want to be detected… wait others? I looked around and realized… aw crap it was only me there! Oh well. I shrug and look in through the window again. I notice that Munk and Quaxo manage to get inside just before the door closes.
"Christmas humbug Uncle", Misto asks and I am surprised that no one and I repeat no one except me has noticed that Munk and Quaxo are in there.
"Oh you don't mean that surely", Misto continues and walks into his Uncle's desk, taking of his hat as he goes.
I stifle a laugh as I hear Quaxo say:
"Burr actually it's colder in here."
"A merry Christmas you say", Bustopher says dully to Misto. "What right have you to be merry you're poor enough?"
"What right have you to be dismal you're rich enough", Misto retorts and I see Quaxo giggle and turn to Munk.
"He's got him there", Quaxo said rooting for Misto. "The old boy's speechless!"
"If I could work my will", Bustopher said looking up from his work and straight at his nephew. "Every idiot that walks around with a merry Christmas on his lips would be cooked with his own turkey." I'm horrified as is Alonzo who looks up from his work to watch his boss with huge frightened eyes. But that is not stopping Bustopher as he goes on with:
"And buried with a stake of iron through his heart."
"Not quite speechless", Quaxo remarks to Munk and watches the old cat behind the desk again.
"Oh Uncle", Misto laughs.
"Nephew", Bustopher says sharply. "You keep Christmas in your way and let me keep it in mine."
"Christmas", Misto says sharply. "Is a loving honest", I notice Alonzo look up again, a soft smile playing at his lips. "And sharable time and though it's never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket I believe Christmas has done me good and will do me good and I say EC bless it!"
"Yeah", the book keepers, save Alonzo, cheers.
"How does one celebrate Christmas in the unemployment line?" Bustopher yells and they all start to work quickly again. Oh I just want to take that mean old goat and kick him all the way back to where he came from.
"Now in these times it was customary on Christmas Eve for well-meaning gentlemen to walk around to the businesses to collect donations for the poor and homeless", Munk told… uh somebody because he was not looking at me or anyone else. He was also using Quaxo to light the fire. No he didn't use him as a match he forced Quaxo to blew on the fire. The door to the office opens and two cats I think they're names are Coricopat and Tantomile entered.
"Mister Scrooge I presume", Coricopat said while Tantomile just followed him.
"Who are you", Bustopher asks looking past Misto at them.
"We are from the order of Bast's charity foundation", Cori explains. "We would like to speak with you about a donation."
Tantomile nodded quickly to show she agreed with her brother.
"Ah! Welcome", Misto says happily and walks out of the office to great them. "This jolly old gentleman here is Mister Scrooge he is very generous to charity." The smile on his lips made him look like the Cheshire Cat and I doubt that Bustopher would actually give anyone a penny if he couldn't get it back again.
"My dear nephew", Bustopher growled.
"As the season of the year Mister Scrooge many of us think that we must take care of our poor and homeless", Cori explains while he and his sister walks into the office.
"Are there no prisons no poorhouses", Bustopher asks with a 'kind' voice.
"Oh plenty of those sir", Cori laughs.
"Oh excellent", Bustopher says happily. "For a moment I was worried."
"Some of us wants to put up a fond for the poor and homeless", Cori continues. "How much can I put you down for?"
"Nothing." Bustopher continues to work.
"You wish to be named anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone", there was stone cold iron in his voice. "I don't make merry myself on Christmas."
"That certainly is true", Misto remarked from the door.
"I can't afford to give away one penny."
"That is certainly not true", Misto remarks.
"Don't you have other things to do this afternoon my dear nephew", Bustopher asks annoyed.
"Sadly I do uncle", Misto says digging through his pockets. "So I shall make my donation." He hands some coins to Tantomile that smiles shyly to him. "And leave you to make yours."
Yeah right I think he won't give as much as a spit. Misto puts on his hat and walks towards the door and now I notice the big Christmas decoration, those round things you put on doors, in his hands.
"Thank you so very much", Cori calls after him. At the door Misto stops and turns to Bustopher.
"Oh uncle", he exclaims. "Come and have Christmas dinner with me and Jemima tomorrow."
He's still grinning I must say that boy is either hopeless or just trying to keep his head up. One must certainly do that with an uncle like that!
"Why ever did you get married", Bustopher asks dully.
"Why", Misto asks incredulously. "Because I fell in love."
Bustopher laughs.
"Ha ha ha that's the only thing in the world sillier than a merry Christmas!"
"It's no use Uncle I shall keep my Christmas humor to the last a merry Christmas to you", he hangs up the decoration and I think I can trace just a little annoyance in his voice. "And a happy new year." He walks towards the door.
"Merry Christmas Misto", Alonzo almost whispers and Misto turns to him with a huge grin.
"Merry Christmas 'Lonz." Then he leaves.
"Humbug!" Bustopher calls after him before continuing his work. Cori and Tanto are still there and stands there looking at him. After a bit Cori clears his throat and Bustopher slowly looks up.
"Now then sir", Cori says. "about the donation?"
"Well then", Bustopher says and puts down his pen and slowly gets to his feet. "Let's see… I know how to treat the poor." The tone in his voice makes my skin crawl and he walks towards the door. "My taxes goes to pay for the prisons and the poorhouses the homeless must go there." The small hope I saw in the faces of Cori and Tanto vanishes and is exchanged for shock and horror.
"But some would rather die", Cori says.
"If they rather die they better do it", Bustopher snaps. "And decrease the overpopulation."
The twins look at each other in horror and hurriedly leaves the office with:
"Oh dear oh dear oh dear." And some silent curses from Tanto's side, that's what her eyes told me anyway.
"This is the door you may use it", Bustopher says and opens the door for them.
"Alright Tanto come along", Cori says grabbing his sister's arm to drag her out of there. "I think we've taken enough of mister Scrooge's time!"
Bustopher slams the door shut and as he do the book keepers jump and starts working again. Bustopher is furious I can see it on his face and I pray more than ever that he won't see me… like a 1.72 human among cats is hard to miss… But somehow they keep doing just that. Bustopher tears down that pretty looking decoration the darling Misto left… jerk. That's when I notice a little kitten walking up to the door. Oh no oh no oh no I think and prays to somebody that he's not doing what I think he's doing! I recognizes him as the little kitten Pouncival. He clears his throat and starts to sing:
Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about – I notice Bustopher tear the door open and look hatefully at the small kitten. At first Pouncival doesn't notice but soon does…
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the… moon … that night…
I face palm as the kitten trails off and swallows.
"What do you want", Bustopher growls darkly.
"Uhm… a penny for the song governor?" Pouncival asks and Bustopher slams the door shut in his face. I sigh and feel sorry for the little one. But then Bustopher tears up the door again, he's… is he going to give him a penny? My eyes widen when he throws that Christmas decoration at the kitten. I gasp and cover my mouth and pray of not being detected, but Bustopher just slams the door shut and walks calmly and quietly back into his office.
I sigh and rub my hands to keep them warm as the day flies by and Munk and Quaxo are just sitting in a corner in the office. It's getting dark outside and even inside the office it's quiet, no one is writing anything, except for Bustopher and I see the book keepers huddle together near Alonzo. They're talking about something and after a bit Alonzo walks up to the door.
"Um excuse me Mister Scrooge", he says in that soft quiet voice of his. Bustopher looks up. "But it appears to be closing time."
"Very well", Bustopher says in his cold voice. "I'll see you at eight tomorrow morning." He looks down on his work again. The book keepers huddle up to Alonzo and urge him on.
"Um… um", he stutters. "Tomorrow is Christmas."
"Eight thirty then."
"Oh", Alonzo looks down as do the rest of them. "Um if you please sir half an hour hardly seems customary for Christmas day." Alonzo looks away afraid of being yelled at and Bustopher narrows his eyes at him.
"How much time off is customary mister Cratchit?"
"Um…" Alonzo hesitates. "The whole day…"
"Yeah yes that's right", the book keepers agree. Bustopher looks at them with astonishment on his face. If it was for Alonzo's "idiocy" or that he actually mentioned the whole day I don't know.
"The entire day", he asks.
"No", the rats say.
"It was the cat's idea", one says and points to Alonzo.
"If you please Mister Scrooge", Alonzo goes on after some quick thinking. "Why open the office tomorrow? Other businesses would be close you'd have no one to do business with! It will waste a lot of expensive coal for the fire." I had to smile at that. He was smarter than Bustopher gave him credit for.
"It's a poor excuse for emptying a tom's pockets every December the 25:th", Bustopher says dully and the staff looks downcast.
"But besides I'm the only person around who knows that…" he continues. "Take the day off." He rises from behind his desk and the staff thanks him and blesses him and so on.
"Could you stop that", Bustopher barks as he puts on his clothes and the rats scatter and only Alonzo stays put.
"Um thank you Mister Scrooge", he says and walks back to his desk. Bustopher walks out of his room and out of the office but before he closes the door he call:
"Be here all the earlier the next morning."
I can hear muffled replies from his staff and Bustopher walks away into the night. I make to follow him but…
"With their employer gone at last", Munk said. What the heck? How did he and Quaxo get out here? "Alonzo Cratchit and the book keepers immediately began the most pleasant of activities… the celebration of Christmas!"
I notice one of the rats peek out through the window and when Bustopher is gone he turns to the others and yells:
"He's gone!" and the rats all laugh. Alonzo smiles softly at them.
"Gentlemen let's close up for Christmas", he says, closes his book and then starts to sing:
There magic in the air this evening
Magic in the air – He blows out his candle.
The world is at her best, you know
When people love and care
The promise of excitement is one the night will keep
After all, there's only one more sleep till Christmas – He and the rats start to clean, while Alonzo can carry a lot of books to their shelves at once the rats have to gang up and well… it doesn't really work that well… They are also trying to pull down the curtains by building a small catapult and sending a rat flying at it. The rat grabs the curtain and pulls it down but it won't stay down and he falls off the windowsill. The others just shake their heads. Alonzo continues to sing as the rats prepare to try the catapult again.
The world has got a smile today
The world has got a glow
There's no such thing as strangers when
A stranger says hello – The rats miss the window and the flying rat crashes into the wall… that must've hurt.
And everyone is family, we're having so much fun
After all, there's only one more sleep till Christmas – Alonzo is now sweeping the floor and two other rats help him. One of them is using two brooms as stilts. The rats with the catapult manages to pull down the curtain this time and the rats with the books finally get them on place. Alonzo looks around with a smile as the rats cheer.
"Very good gentlemen", he says and they put on their hats and jackets and leave the office. Alonzo locks the door and when he turns he starts singing again.
Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
With a burst of pleasure, we feel it all right
It's the season when the saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive – Suddenly I have to jump because something comes crashing towards me over the ice. Alonzo and the rats notice them too.
"Oh what's that", a rat asks and Alonzo laughs.
"It's the alley cats' Christmas skating party", he says happily. The alley cats perform many funny looking and skilled stunts on the ice and Alonzo grins and runs up to join them.
"Wha what the", the rats asks and Alonzo skates over the ice on one leg and then jumps and shift to the other one.
"Yay", the rats cheer.
"Whoa oh!" Alonzo exclaims as he skates up to them again and grabs hold of a basket to keep himself from falling.
"Nicely done boss", a rat says while the others cheer.
"Oh thank you", Alonzo says bowing. "Thank you very much but-ah!"
An alley cat ran into him and they glide out of view. The rats laugh as do I and no one even notices me… which is actually quite creepy if you ask me. Two cats skate by with one sitting on the other's shoulder. Munk and Quaxo runs up to the ice and when Munk sees that he grins.
"Wow!" he says and turns to Quaxo. The kitten starts to shake his head.
"No way", he says but Munk grabs his arm.
"Come on Quaxo!" He pulls him to the ice and get Quaxo to sit on his shoulder. Munk laughs like crazy as they go over the ice and Quaxo screams in terror. Munk hits a barrel and Quaxo tumbles off of his shoulder and ends up in it. Munk looks down into it and Quaxo stands there tapping his foot in annoyance. Munk take no notice.
"Fun huh", he asks. I laugh again and noticed Alonzo and the book keepers turn away from the ice.
"Merry Christmas", Alonzo calls to the skaters and they call back to him. Alonzo continues to sing.
There's something in the wind today
That's good for everyone
Yes, faith is in our hearts today – He puts his arms around two rats.
We're shining like the sun – "Yeah", a rat says.
And everyone can feel it, the feeling's running deep – "Merry Christmas Mister Cratchit", the rats say as they hurry off leaving Alonzo alone.
After all, there's only one more sleep till Christmas
After all, there's only one more sleep till Christmas… day – Alonzo looks up at the starry sky and smiles. Then he sighs and rubs his arms to keep warm and starts on his way home. I notice poor little Pouncival sit in an alley covered with papers. He's sniffling and shivering.
TBC I still don't own anything!
HGP - I know how you feel :D It's my favorite version of A Christmas Carol! My family has made it a tradition to watch it the 23rd each year. (in sweden we celebrate christmas on the 24rd of december) and we are between ages 21-55 and everyone still love it ;)
KatyOnACloud - Thank you and don't worry you'll just have to wait a little bit more ;)