Chapter 3: Tell Me:

Scrooge's POV:

First, there was Fred's nonsense, then there was Bob's. That's what I felt.

Scrooge: Every year, the same reminders of the things I've lost
Absent friends and broken pledges wrapped in freezing frost
Why should I be bright and merry?
Why should I, won't someone tell me?
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Cold bleak winters filled with sorrow are all I've ever known
Seasons greetings you can keep them
Just leave me alone
"Why not join us, toast the season?"
Don't they know I have my reasons?
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Every year such joy and gladness
Sparkling in their eyes
Treat them tougher, make them suffer
Bring them down to size
All around me, oh so cheery
I'm not happy so why should they be?
Tell me, tell me
Tell me

Marley: Ebenezer Scrooge!
Ebenezer Scrooge!
Ebenezer Scrooge!
Ebenezer Scrooge!
Ebenezer Scrooge!
Ebenezer Scrooge!

That was when he came! Prudence then ran to him. "Prudence, I hope Scrooge has been treating you well!"

"Wait," I said, "Marley?"

"Yes, I am the Ghost of Jacob Marley!"

"Wait," I said, "you're a figment of my imagination! I knew there was something about that food!"

"You don't believe me," asks Marley.

"If you're a ghost, then I'm Santa Claus," I said. He then grabs me with his chains and throws me to my chair.

"Ho-Ho-Ho," says Marley, "I have come to warn you!"

"Why the chains," I asked.

"I forged these chains in life," says Marley, "you wear such a chain!" I looked at myself, but I couldn't find it. "I have come to warn you to change your ways or suffer the same fate I have!"

"What are you talking about," I asked, "you ran a great business-"

"Mankind should have been my business," says Marley, "you'll be visited by three ghosts! Expect the first one at one!"

"Can't I just meet them all at once and get it over with," I asked.

"The first one at one!" Marley then leaves. I then looked out the window and saw so many ghosts, trying to be generous, but no one notices them! I then closed the window. Could I have imagined it? Then I realized, if I did, then how did Prudence see him?

To Be Continued

In the next chapter, Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Past.