A Christmas Carol

I was going through some old documents I had when I came across this. I wrote it for somebody I cared about a few years ago. She loved the Christmas Carol Story but brought up that she wished things turned out better for Scrooge and Belle. So I wrote an ending that met that criteria. This person isn't around anymore so instead of this collecting dust I figured you could have it. Hope you enjoy!

A Christmas Carol: the Romantic Ending

Birds singing, a shiver up his spine. No, not this time, Scrooge decided this was most definitely another trick from the spirits. They had been tormenting him all night with terrible visions, making him believe he wasn’t asleep anymore was most certainly something they would do. Scrooge decided that the simplest way to avoid yet another terrifying experience was to sleep through it.

Moments passed, then minutes, no visions came to him, no sounds of ghosts around him like poor Jacob Marley’s chains. An idea popped into Scrooge’s head, if this was indeed a dream all he needed to do was pinch himself, if it hurt he was safe, if not he would continue feigning sleep. A childish endeavor he knew, but the only one he could think of at the moment. Ever so slowly he moved his hand to his leg, he did not want to alert any spirit to his being awake. He took a deep breath, made a silent prayer that this would work, and pinched.

Scrooge nearly fell out of bed, not so much from the pain but from the shock that he actually was awake. He doubted he had ever felt such elation in his life. He bolted up straight rubbing his eyes. He looked around his room, everything was as it was when this whole ordeal began.

He noticed light breaking through the curtains. Stumbling over to the window he realized his legs were hardly cooperating… How long had he been asleep? He caught himself on the windowsill. He judged it was early morning by how high the sun was in the sky, though he did not know the day. He pushed the window open letting the cold air bite into him, he didn’t mind, feeling this meant he was alive. He saw a young boy walking down the street. “You there, young man, what day is it?” Scrooge exclaimed. The boy looked up at him shielding his eyes with his hand. “Why it’s Christmas Day sir, everyone knows that!” Scrooge laughed to himself, the spirits had done all that in one night, he hadn’t missed Christmas Day. "Do you know the Poulterer's, in the next street but one, at the corner?" Scrooge inquired. “I sure hope I did.” the boy answered.

“An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge. “A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they"ve sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there -- Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?” “What, the one as big as me?" returned the boy. “Yes my boy that’s the one!” exclaimed Scrooge, a smile as wide as the sky on his face. He had new found joy interacting with people. “Go and buy it for me, have the man come here and I’ll give you a shilling, do it in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half a crown!” The boy went wide eyed and took off as fast as he could. Scrooge spent a few minutes bundling up, putting on a coat and hat, and writing a note for the man with the turkey. He was downstairs within a few minutes to wait for the boy to return with his prize. He took a deep breath, every breath now felt life giving. The colors of the world seemed much more vibrant. Smiling faces on the street instilled joy inside him. He wished a Merry Christmas to everyone that passed. Even people who knew his old self and gave him a strange look at first quickly changed their demeanor and smiled back, returning his well wishes.

The boy returned two minutes later with the man. Scrooge handed the boy his half a crown as promised and paid the man for the turkey with some extra for the delivery. He hoped Bob Crachit enjoyed the meal. Now it was time for his own meal. He visited his nephew Fred, asked as politely as possible to have the honor to join him for dinner, and then did everything he could to make merry with everyone. And what an experience it was! Scrooge hadn’t been so merry since Christmas Day as a young boy. He enjoyed himself as much as he could because the next day he had a mission and he was not sure how it would turn out. At the end of the night he thanked everyone for such a wonderful night.

Walking home Scrooge found he had a renewed skip in his step. Imagine the joys I could have experienced if I hadn’t been such a curmudgeon all those years. Unfortunately his good spirits couldn’t keep his heart from sinking to his stomach. The hour grew ever closer to when he would see Belle again. He had to see her, even if she denied him her love he decided he could not live another day without her knowing how he felt and how he had changed. He reached his door and sauntered up to his room. Realizing now that merriment comes with new aches and pains he wasn’t familiar with. He opened his door and his heart sank more. After last night he was hesitant to lay back down in that bed, afraid that today was another test by the spirits. Despite his fear his body yearned for sleep and after a few moments of standing in his doorway he figures it wouldn’t be worse than what he’s seen already. Scrooge slid under the sheets and said a silent prayer that he would be allowed to even see Belle tomorrow.

The next morning was a slow start, Scrooge was more sore than he cared to admit. It took him a full minute to get all the cricks and cracks out of his body before attempting to get up. Once he was up though there wasn’t any stopping him. He quickly put on a nice outfit, grabbed a cane, and headed to the postman’s office. When the postman saw Scrooge his body stiffened, he took a deep breath and managed to form a smile. “Good morning Mr. Scrooge, here to pick up your postage I assume?” Scrooge gave him a friendly wave. “Hello Reginald my good man, I hope you had a wonderful Christmas.” Reginald was slightly taken aback by Scrooge’s brighter mood. “Not today though, I need the address of someone, she’s an old friend and I would like to reconnect with her, her name is Belle Whithers.” Reginald looked puzzled, he had never heard a stranger request. Old Ebenezer Scrooge? Looking for a friend? The man had never concerned himself with anything but money. “Uhm, why yes Mr. Scrooge I can help you with that, I just need to consult the address book. The Postman walked over to his desk, reached underneath, and pulled a large book out, placing it on the desks’ surface. Scrooge could hear the postman mumbling to himself “W… W… t,u,v, Ah here we are, W.” Some more mumbling presumably to help him find Belle before he said “Ah found her Mr. Scrooge, she actually lives not too far from here, it's a wonder you haven’t seen her out and about.” Scrooge did not want to admit that until yesterday he didn’t do much out and abouting. Scrooge took a look at the page and realized there would only be about a ten minute walk until his life possibly changed forever. “Thank you Reginald, have a pleasant rest of your day” Scrooge said with a smile.

The walk, at first, was quite pleasant and Scrooge’s heart was bursting with hope and anticipation. That is, until he could see Belle’s house at the end of the street. Then every step he took seemed to drag his heart further and further into his stomach. Somehow the thought of facing Belle again after all these years was a worse form of torture than he experienced with the spirits.

He got to her doorstep, mouth now as sand, and stared blankly at the knocker. His mind, usually sharp and clear, was now muddled by all the things she could possibly say to him. Maybe she wouldn’t even recognize him, or worse she would recognize him and turn him away without ever hearing him out. He was about to turn away, satisfied with the knowledge that she was near, hoping that thought would keep him happy. As he began to turn he heard the latch on the door.

Before him stood Belle, to Scrooge she hadn’t aged a day, still as beautiful as the day he first saw her. Belle was the first to speak. “What can I do for you, Ebeneezer?” Scrooge just stared, mouth slightly slack. He quickly remembered she was the only person that could ever leave him speechless. He lingered only a moment before doing the only thing that came to his mind. Using his cane to balance himself to his knees, removed his hat with his other hand and placed it by his heart and said “I wanted to humbly ask if you’d be willing to talk to me.” Belle looked at him, he couldn’t read the emotions rolling over her face too well but he’s pretty sure he saw some disapproval, discernment, and possibly disgust. After a long moment she said “Get up before your knees lock up, you can come in, I’ll put the kettle on.” Scrooge was led into the house and he sat on an exceptionally comfortable chair in the parlor. The interior of the house was quaint compared to what Scrooge was used to but it felt so warm and welcoming, also different from what he was used to.

After about 15 minutes of him sitting there and Belle in the kitchen tending the kettle, she emerged with the kettle and two cups on a tray. The tray went on a table between Scrooge’s chair and the chair that Belle sat herself in. Belle poured them both a cup before she began the conversation. “You said you came here to talk, what makes you think I’d want to talk to you Ebeneezer?” Her words weren’t so much cold as they were exasperated. She clearly didn’t expect to see him and sounded like she was guarding herself against another heartbreak. Funny thing, the human heart, it can function properly each day but if something, even something from decades ago that hurt it, resurfaces, it can be thrown completely off kilter by the memories. “I would never have dared disturb you if I didn’t have a good reason, Belle” Scrooge said, his voice soft.

“I was blind the day I chose wealth over you, but recently I had somewhat of an epiphany.” He thought he sounded ridiculous, like a man attempting to fix a sinking ship with hot wax, but he was determined to bring that ship up from the depths, no matter how much hot wax he needed. “This epiphany, it was an eye-opener, it made me realize what is truly important in this measly thing we call life. How it can hardly be called a life without someone you care about going through it with you. You’re important Belle, you were more important to me than anything, only I was fool enough to not know that back then. But now, now I know you are still the most important aspect of my life, the love we once shared made me feel light as a feather and while the years and the greed weighed me down, even just talking to you for this short time I have that feeling of weightlessness again.” Scrooge took a moment to breath and swallow before continuing. “Belle, I know you most likely never expected to see me again, maybe even hoped against it, and if after this conversation you still never want to see me again I will gladly respect your wishes and just the knowledge that you are alive and well will sustain me until the end of my days. Though I will admit I’d rather spend those days by your side, rekindling what we had and adding to it.” Scrooge stopped, nothing more could be said, it was Belle’s decision now. Whether she denied him or accepted him, Scrooge would go on trying to spread goodness in the world forever trying to make up for the harm he caused.

Belle looked at Scrooge, her eyes filled with both pity and sadness, she could not deny it hurt to see him again, hurt nearly as bad as the day they separated. However, something about him was different, back then she could see and hear the warnings of Scrooge changing. She could hear it in his voice and the topics he chose to think about, she could see it in where he spent his time and what he spent it on. She could see it on his face, the distractedness whenever they were together, him clearly being lost in thought. But now she could see his full attention on her, his voice although changed somewhat with age, sounded as cheerful as it had been when their relationship was good. It was time for her to make a decision, though with Scrooge right in front of her, she wasn’t sure if she could make it…

Christmas Day- 1 year later

It was 6:30 p.m.. There was a knock on the door. Fred went to the door to invite his next guest in for their annual Christmas dinner. He took a look through the peephole to see who it was. With a smile, he swung the door open. “Uncle Scrooge! How nice of you to show up, we were wondering when you would get here, dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. Scrooge smiled back at his nephew, what a fine young man he had grown into, over the past year, with no kids of his own, Scrooge had gone about mending his relationship with Fred, seeing him as the child he never had. “Thank you my lad, mind if I hang my coat up here?”

Fred was still holding the door open. “Of course Uncle, there’s a hook right there.” Fred turned back to the outside world. “Aunt Belle, let me take your coat for you.”

Belle smiled at Fred. “Oh Fred, ever the gentleman you are.” Belle allowed Fred to remove her coat as she walked into the house.

The decision wasn’t an easy one for Belle. The beginning of her and Scrooge’s new journey was filled with awkward spots but the old man had been persistent in treating her as the queen he saw her as. They eventually moved in together and after a few months they had picked up where they left off with their original relationship, only this time without the bad feelings and poor decisions.

“Right this way dear, everyone is waiting.” Scrooge took Belle’s arm around his and led her into the dining room where there were two places waiting for them. This wasn’t the first time Belle had been to Fred’s house for dinner, Scrooge did not need to show her where the dinner table was, but he did so anyway because this was a most important night and Scrooge wanted to make it as official as possible. It was the first Christmas dinner they would spend together as a complete family, and to Scrooge, that was the most wonderful thing in the entire world.