The Ghost of Christmas Future is the most feared. It presents the uncertainty of a future that can perceived as hellish or dark and Scrooge like Peeta has to deal with that uncertain future.
I do not own The Hunger Games, the Muppets, or A Christmas Carol
"Johanna, to the stage!" Plutarch yelled.
"I'm coming," Johanna grumbled. "I'm coming. It's not fair that I can't carry my ax on stage."
"The ghost of Christmas future isn't the angel of death," Peeta said. He'd been searching for Katniss backstage.
"It's the only reason I took the part," Johanna said.
"Jo," Haymitch said, "I don't want that thing to fall from your hand while you're hanging from above."
"But I'd aim it at Brainless. I'm sure she'd like to be put out of her misery…"Johanna cackled as she spoke.
"Really," Peeta said.
"Maybe you want me to take care of mister tall and clingy for you," Johanna said pointing behind him as she walked to her spot on stage and put her hood up.
Peeta took a look around him and once more Gale and Katniss were in a corner whispering to each other. He witnessed Katniss giggle. Katniss didn't giggle. She laughed and she scowled, but she didn't giggle, except when she was being tickled by him. Peeta pulled out the box with the ring. His mind flashed back to watching the beach scene from the 75th Quarter Quell. He had given her a locket with Gale's picture.
When he had first seen the footage he had been confused as to why he would give her an image of Gale. But as he got his memory back, Peeta recalled how close Katniss and Gale were before Katniss had volunteered for Prim.
It was always assumed Katniss and Gale would end up together.
If it hadn't been for the Games, Peeta did not think he would have had a chance to get to know Katniss. They had grown back together after the war, and healed. Peeta was sure she was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But, seeing Gale and Katniss interact together, he wasn't sure if Katniss was in the same emotional space as he was.
Peeta closed his fist around the ring box. Anger never solved anything. He needed to think with a cool head.
"Listen, boy, don't let that get to you," Haymitch said.
"She looks so happy with him," Peeta said. "She deserves everything."
"Look kid, not everything…"
"Haymitch you are wanted on stage," Plutarch said.
"Don't do anything stupid," Haymtich said.
"Haymitch!" Plutarch said.
"I'm coming!" Haymitch grumbled.
"Maybe Haymitch is right," Peeta said to himself. He was going to get away from the action when he heard Gale say.
"I think we'd be good for one another."
"I know…" Katniss responded.
"I wish…" Gale sighed.
Katniss put her hand on his shoulder.
"Humbug," he heard himself say. Peeta lowered his head and walked back to his dressing room. He put the ring on the desk and thought maybe it wasn't the right time. Maybe Katniss would be better off with Gale.
On stage, Haymitch was standing before the image of the graveyard. A pale light shone down on Haymitch and the stage was filled with smoke. A cloaked figure appeared on stage. Spooky, unsettling music filled the air.
The clock struck, and the clang resounded with a finality that made everyone uncomfortable.
"Are you the spirit of Christmas yet to come?" Haymitch's voice trembled.
The cloak-draped figure seemed to float in the air. The edges of its cloak flapped in the air.
"Spirit, I fear you more than any other ghost I've met before," Haymitch said. "Do you not speak to me?"
The ominous figure did not speak.
From the side of the stage Rizzo and Gonzo appeared.
"Oh I don't like that ghost," Rizzo said, quaking. "It's too scary. I don't think it's healthy for this rat to be here."
"You're so right, Rizzo," Gonzo said. He turned to face the audience. "You're on you're own folks. We'll meet you at the end!"
"Yeah," Rizzo said. Both Rizzo and Gonzo left the stage.
"With a humble heart, I am prepared to follow and to learn the lessons you have for me. Show me…" Haymitch said.
The figure raised their arm and Haymitch was lifted into the air. The curtain opened and below four pig muppets were speaking holding umbrellas. Rain fell. One had an elegant tall hat. Another had an exaggerated mustache, another had unruly gray hair sprouting from underneath his hat, and yet another had red hair and was clutching his umbrella.
"I only know he's dead," a pig muppet said with a tall hat.
"When did that happen, Link?" The one with the gray hair replied.
"Last night," Link replied. "Dead as a doornail."
"Wonder what he died of?" The pig muppet with the exaggerated mustache said.
"I thought he'd never die," The pig muppet with the red hair said.
The muppets began laughing then one with the exaggerated mustache said, "Well I don't care why he's gone. I'd like to know what happened with all that money!"
All of them said, "MONEY."
"Well he did not give it to me," Link said snorting. This sent the muppets laughing again.
"Do you think they'll hold a funeral?" The pig muppet with the exaggerated mustache questioned.
"For sure, Julius, it'll be a cheap one," Link said to the pig with the exaggerated mustache. "Never knew that man to be a spendthrift."
"I don't know a single soul who would want to go!" Julius exclaimed.
"Well, I'd go if there was free food," the red-headed pig nodded.
"Knowing him, he'd be too cheap to pay for such extravagances," Link grumbled.
"Speaking of food, I'm starving! Let us go get some lunch!" The muppet with the red hair said.
The four pig muppets moved off stage.
Haymitch turned to the ghostly figure. "I know some of those men, spirit. Of what poor wretch do they speak?"
The figure did not speak, only pointed below. Thunder crackled as the stage moved and they were inside a shop. More muppets were present. There was a beetle, a lizard, and a raven facing a large spider with a top hat.
"You just came from the house of sadness, I see?" The spider asked.
"Sad that he didn't die long ago," the lizard said. "The ol' skinflint."
"Hmmm, what have you got for Jo?" The spider asked. "What have you got to remember him by?"
The lizard cackled, as Jo the spider reached out for the package. The beetle however became upset and said in an annoyed voice, "Get off!"
At that moment the raven cleared his throat and said, "Well I've got these here, collar buttons from his dresser." He held in his black feather a row of dull silver buttons. "They've got a mother-of-pearl inlay."
"You call that impressive," the Lizard pushed the Raven out of her way. "I've got his bed curtains. A very fine damask if you ask me?"
Jo the spider looked at the curtains and said, "A cheap damask you mean. Only worth a few coins." He turned to the Beetle, "What of you, what have you got for me today?"
The beetle cleared her throat and said, "I've his sheets, from his deathbed."
"His sheets, why Mrs. Dilbrith, they're still warm!" Jo exclaimed. His voice lowered and creepily he said, "I pay extra for the warmth you know."
"You should, it's the only warmth he ever had," Mrs. Dilbirth replied.
The Lizard started laughing and in between bouts of laughter she said, "It's the only warmth he ever had!"
This caused the Spider and the Raven to join in raucous laughter. From about the stage Haymitch turned his face and said, "Gah!"
The scene went dark. A spotlight on Haymitch and one on the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. "I understand spirit, this unhappy man might be me."
The ghost did not speak.
"Merciful heavens," Haymitch pleaded. "Allow me to witness some kindness, some tenderness connected with this bleak world. Please, I beg of thee."
The ghost lifted its arm and once more the audience found themselves looking at a familiar scene.
"Why, it is Bob Cratchit's house," Haymitch said, as he peered down. "A place of joy and laughter!"
The ghost said nothing but only pointed down into the scene.
"It's so quiet. Why is that spirit?" Haymitch asked, but the ghost once more did not speak.
A low fire burned in the hearth. A crutch leaned against the wall. There were no boughs of holly, no ribbons decorated the chairs, except for a black ribbon tied to a small chair that sat next to the crutch.
"Mother," Posy said. "Are those tears?"
Katniss turned her head and wiped her face with her hand. "It's the smoke of the lamp light that's gotten to my eyes, is all dear. Go on watch for your father."
"Not Tiny Tim!" Haymitch said.
"There now," Katniss forced a smile on her face. "My eyes grow weak in the dim light and I wouldn't want to show your father weak eyes when he gets home."
Posy nodded.
"He should be home now at any moment," Katniss said, clutching her handkerchief against her chest.
"He walks a little slower now," Vick said. "These past two evenings."
The door opened and Peeta smiled sadly and sat down. "Hello, my dears."
Posy and Vick ran to Peeta, "Papa!"
Peeta hugged them. "Hello children," Peeta said sadly.
"Children, please set the table," Katniss said smiling but the smile did not come to her eyes. She turned to Peeta. "How was the churchyard?"
Peeta walked to the wall where Tiny Tim's crutch lay. His hands reached out and slowly touched the wood.
"I picked a spot on the hill, where he could see the world. It is a green thriving spot. It would have been good for you to come with me. You can see the river, the ducks…" Peeta's voice cracked.
"Tim loved watching the ducks floating on the river," Katniss said, hugging Peeta.
"Oh spirit, must there be a Christmas that brings this awful panorama to fruition?"
The Ghost said nothing and only pointed down at the home of Bob Cratchit.
"How can I…we endure this…" Haymitch said gruffly his tone of voice holding a note of sadness.
"Now children," Peeta addressed the children seated at the small table. He sat down and sighed. His eyes flicked to the chair that once held Tiny Tim. Peeta turned his attention to the other children who had their heads bowed. "Life," Peeta said, clearing his throat. "Is filled with meetings and partings…" he turned to the empty spot. "I am sure we shall never forget Tiny Tim or this first parting amongst us." As Peeta spoke, a tear ran down his face.
In the audience, someone cried softly.
As the scene slowly spun, the last thing people saw was the crutch Tiny Tim once used to walk with. The curtains closed and they were once more at the graveyard.
Haymitch and the Ghost of Christmas Past floated down to the stage.
"Must I return here, to this solitary place?"
The spirit did not speak, only pointing to the tomb that rose in the middle of the stage.
"Isn't there anything else I should learn, another lesson," Haymitch looked about, but everything was fading to black. The ominous music was slowly increasing.
Haymitch turns to the Ghost of Christmas Future who was now, standing by the edge of the tomb.
"I know what I must ask, but I'm afraid to ask," Haymitch said.
The Ghost of Christmas Future did not speak, but thunder cracked in the play and the audience was scared.
"Who is the wretched man whose death brought so much glee and happiness to others?"
The Ghost of Christmas Future pointed to the tomb.
Haymitch took a step toward the grave, his hands visibly shaking. He turned back to the Ghost of Christmas Future. "Answer me one more question."
The Ghost of Christmas Future stood there baleful, their cloak fluttering in the wind.
"Are these the things that they might be or are these shadows of things that will be?"
The Ghost of Christmas Future only stood there. They started to grow in height, pointing at the grave.
"Can these things be changed, can I change these events? A life can be made right…." Haymitch's voice trembled as he stepped closer.
A light shone on the tombstone, and it was revealed to say EBENEZER SCROOGE.
"Oh spirit please, this is not the future I wish for. I promise to keep Christmas in my heart - please hear me. Why would you show me this unless I could change? I will keep Christmas in my heart always, in the past, in the present, and in the future."
Haymitch grabbed onto the spirit's cloak and cried.
"Please speak to me…" Haymitch begged.
The Ghost of Christmas Past pushed Haymitch into the grave and suddenly the Ghost was lifted up into the air and disappeared from view. The audience gasped.
I wanted to thank you all for the warm reception to the story. Thank you once more to my bestie and beta Norbertsmom. I hope Wendywobbles enjoys the story as well.
Only one more chapter left!
Happy New Year!