Ch10-A Christmas Carol

CHAPTER TEN A Christmas Carol The gas streetlamp flickered back on. Charles began pacing back and forth. "Come on, Jack," said Annie. "Let's go talk to him! Quick!" Jack packed up the violin and bow. Then he and Annie hurried down the hill to Charles.

"Charles!" cried Annie. "Hello!" Charles whirled around. "Annie! Jack! You can't imagine what just happened!" His voice was shaking. "I had the strangest visions! Three ghosts came to me! They showed me visions of myself in the past, the present, and the future!" "Really?" said Annie. "That sounds like a scene in a book." "Yes, yes, it certainly does!" Charles said, laughing and wiping his eyes. "The ghosts made me want to keep writing. They taught me that I can truly help the world with my books! I—I must go home! I must find a cab and go home and get to work at once! I cannot waste another day!

Another hour! Another minute! I must write! I love to write!" He laughed with joy. "Then I guess we'll be going home, too," said Jack, smiling. "Our job is done here." "Shall I tell the cab to let you off somewhere?" asked Charles. "We need to go to Hyde Park," said Annie. "Wonderful! It's on the way. Come along!" said Charles. He took off running up the hill, dashing ahead of Jack and Annie. When they caught up with him, they saw a horse and cab clattering over the cobblestones. "Stop, sir! Give us a ride, please!" Charles shouted to the driver.

The driver brought his horse to a halt. Jack and Annie followed Charles to the cab. "Hyde Park! Then One Devonshire Terrace! Please hurry!" said Charles. The driver looked delighted. "Yes, Mr. Dickens, sir!" he said. The three of them crowded into the cab, and the horse began to trot through the dark, foggy city, its hooves clopping on the cobblestones. "Ah!" said Charles, clapping his hands. "I know now what I shall write about! I will write a Christmas story about a man whose life is changed by three ghosts! The Ghost of Christmas Past! The Ghost of Christmas Present! And the Ghost of Christmas Future! What do you think of that?"

"It sounds brilliant," said Jack. "I agree!" said Charles. "I'll write about a greedy, selfish man who helps no one. Like—like Mr. Pinch! But I'll call him—what shall I call him?" "How about Scrooge?" said Annie. "Wonderful name!" Charles laughed. "Mr. Scrooge! I love it. The three ghosts will change Scrooge's life! Do you like that idea?" "Love it," said Jack. "Good!" said Charles. "I think I shall just be able to write the story in time for Christmas. Hah! Perhaps I'll call it A Ghost Story of Christmas." "Hmm. Or maybe you could just call it A Christmas Carol," said Jack.

"Oh! I love that!" said Charles. "Yes, perhaps I'll call it A Christmas Carol. And then underneath those words, I'll write: Being a Ghost Story of Christmas!" "That sounds good," said Annie. "That should make people want to read it," said Charles. "Everyone loves a ghost story, don't they?" "Well…," started Jack. "Of course they do!" said Charles. "It all makes sense to me now. I will keep using my books to fight greed and cruelty. My pen is my sword. Except my books will never celebrate wars and fighting. They'll always show the joys and