“A story for Christmas”

Last Christmas I felt a strong will to read a short story or novel. So, I looked at my collection of "books to be read... someday" and I discovered the one , the perfect story for the occasion."A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an extremely insensitive and antisocial businessman that has devoted his life to work very hard and hoard money. But during the Christmas Eve, he is visited by four spirits that change his life for ever.

The first one is his dead best friend and partner Jacob Marley, the man for whom he had managed "Scrooge and Marley" firm for many years. Jacob reappears in Scrooge´s life to explain to him that every man has to walk among the others. So, if it does not happen in life, he has to do it once dead. That is why Marley´s soul is condemned to wander among the living. But luckily for Scrooge, Marley´s phantom also foretells the arrival of three more ghosts that will show Scrooge the correct way for him to avoid suffering from the same condemnation.

The second ghost is the Ghost of Christmas Past. It carries him back to many places where he had spent his childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. Thus, they witness old Ebenezer Scrooge´s moments at school and home; they see Ebenezer Scrooge´s friends, his girlfriend and his family. Throughout this journey, the aim of the spirit is to remind Mr. Scrooge about his old life-style, feelings, and happy experiences; and to force him to think about his past actions.

The third ghost is the Ghost of the Christmas Present. This spirit conducts Scrooge to the city streets at Christmas morning when people are having fun and sharing moments of joy. Then, they go to visit Scrooge´s clerk and his family –poor but sweet and honest people whose youngest child is severely ill. Since they have serious problems with money, the little boy cannot have the especial medical treatment he needs. The wealthy but greedy Scrooge had always refused to help them; but now, he experiences the flavour of regret.

The fourth ghost is the Ghost of the Christmas Future. It is the most frightening specter because it never speaks to Scrooge but uses one finger to point to the things for Mr. Scrooge to look at them. They go to Scrooge´s mourning where everybody is stealing some of his possessions –except for his niece and his clerk. Thus, he realizes that since he had inflicted such cruelty on people, he receives the same treatment. Almost nobody felt sadness when he died, nor did they miss him. He clearly sees that he has passed away leaving no loving memories in the others.

Mr. Scrooge learnt the lesson. After the ghosts visits he was not any more the man he used to be. His heart was laughing and his goodness was overflowing. He made amends for his wrong actions and from that moment onward his Christmas spirit was the most shining of the town. So, this year when December comes, if you feel the Christmas spirit growing inside you, I recommend you to read Dicken´s story. I believe it is quite easy to follow. What is more, perhaps you could have something to learn from it.

Lorna