A Christmas Carol

Scrooge kept his coins locked away.

He grumbled at bright Christmas Day.

Bob shivered with cold.

Scrooge counted his gold.

‘Now get back to work!’ he would say.

Fred called, ‘Come to dinner, dear!’

But Scrooge wouldn't join Christmas cheer.

When folk asked for bread,

‘No help!’ old Scrooge said.

He wanted no friends to come near.

Then Marley, his friend who had died,

Came dragging his chains at his side.

‘There's time yet for you.

Think what you can do.

Three ghosts will soon come as your guide.’

The first ghost shone, gentle and bright.

It showed him a long-ago sight:

A boy, all alone,

With his books, on his own.

His sister hugged him with delight.

He once hoped to marry Belle.

Now money came first; she could tell.

‘Your heart has turned cold.

You care more for gold.’

She left. He remembered it well.

The next ghost showed Tim by the light

Of Bob's fire that Christmas night.

They had little to spare,

But had love to share:

Bob held Tim's hand, warm and tight.

Scrooge asked, ‘Will Tim be here

When Christmas returns in a year?’

‘Without change, he may die.’

‘Can I help?’ was his cry.

Then Scrooge wiped away a small tear.

Two children crept out, needing care.

Their rags left their thin ankles bare.

‘No books? No warm bread?’

'We must help,' the ghost said.

Closed doors lined the street everywhere.

The last ghost stood still in the snow.

It pointed where Scrooge had to go.

A rich man had died,

And nobody cried.

How lonely! And who? He must know.

Tim's chair had an empty seat.

His crutch stood alone, small and neat.

In that future, he'd died.

His sad family cried.

Bob missed all those hugs, warm and sweet.

His name on a grave made him freeze.

He fell to the ground on his knees.

‘Must this future stay?

Could it change today?

Oh, give me a chance, Spirit, please!’

‘I'll share my food, warmth, and cheer.

I'll care for folks all through the year.

Can I start today?

Please show me the way!’

He held the ghost's hand, full of fear.

He woke to the bells ringing clear.

'It's Christmas! The day is still here!'

He jumped out of bed.

'I can help!' he said,

Then laughed as he wiped off a tear.

He sent Bob a turkey to eat.

Then helped needy folk in the street.

‘I've been wrong to ignore

All these people before.’

He smiled at each person he'd meet.

He knocked at his nephew's with care.

‘Please come in!’ Fred pulled up a chair.

Fred gave him a grin.

Soon the games could begin.

Scrooge laughed with the friends gathered there.

He raised Bob’s pay right away.

Tim lived on, with more time to play.

Scrooge stayed close and dear

All the rest of the year.

He brought Christmas warmth every day.