“Ugh. I thought you would catch on. Oh well, I am the ghost of Christmas present.”

“Oh no, not again! Look, I don’t want to see another ghost! I’m going back to bed. Humbark!”

“Don’t worry, Scrooger. It’s not YOUR present because I can’t show you what you’re doing now.” She chuckled, smiling.

“I don’t care! I need sleep! Old dogs get tired, you know.” He looked at the clock once more. It said 1:00. How could that be?!

“Just follow me Scrooger. I can’t do my job if you won’t come. And you won’t die happy and free.” Scrooger got back up again and walked slowly toward her.

“That’s better. Now come. We have things to see.” Scrooger did still have the ability to fly, so there was no problem in that. Once they landed, Jenna led him to an unfamiliar neighborhood in town. Scrooger looked around a bit. All the houses looked more or less the same. He felt a little sorry for them, having to live in these “shacks.” Then he looked in a dark ally in between two buildings. He heard voices in there.  

“We’re here.” Jenna said. She padded up to the front of the ally as well as Scrooger.

“Who lives here, Jenna?”

“You don’t know?” Scrooger shook his head. “Oh, well it’s the house of the dog that works with you on the mail team, the lead dog.”

“Crust…lives here?”

“Sadly, yes. But they don’t let living in an ally bring their Christmas Spirit down. Look.” Scrooger took a step closer to get a better view. He saw a mother Husky that looked tired, but happy as she was nuzzling her kids. There were three, two boys and a girl.

“What’s keeping your father and brother from coming home?” The mother wondered. Just then Crust came up to the ally.

“Hello Crust.” Scrooger said. But he didn’t listen as he went into the cave carrying a small puppy. “Hey! Wait a minute. Jenna, I thought this was the present! And I could interact with people.”

“Well, it’s still the past, but just many hours ago. Remember what Balto said.” Scrooger listened to the family’s conversation after he understood what Jenna said.

“Oh there you are Crust! What’s been keeping you?”

“Well, it is Christmas Eve, Ranza. It’s a very busy time, besides Christmas day.”

“And how did Tigo behave at Church?”

“As wonderful as ever. And he also didn’t mind having people look at him with his leg. He said it would remind people that of the miracles that have been preformed long ago, that made the crippled walk and the blind see.” That touched Ranza’s heart, then she turned to her children.

“Okay everyone, dinner is ready. Let’s set the table” The kids got a very torn small blanket from behind a trash can and laid it out in front of them. Then, Crust brought the remaining of the food he brought home and cut it into six pieces.

“Wow daddy, even more food than usual!” The girl child said.

“That’s more than usual for them? That piece of meat the girl has on her isn’t even enough to satisfy a rat.” Scrooger said.

“Well, you stole some of the food that Crust had, so the reason their food is so small is because of you.” Jenna pointed out. Scrooger and Jenna went back to listening to the conversation.

“Is this all we’re going to have, dad?” another child asked.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t afford anything, not even a home. I just wish our neighbors were a bit nicer to us.”

“Dad, our neighbors are street rats and spiders. They’re mean no matter what!” a boy pup said back.

“Come now, it’s Christmas Eve. Let’s be thankful that we have more food than before.” Every one bowed heads.

“Thank you for this food, and God bless us.” Crust chanted softly. The family joined in. “God bless us.”

“Every one!” That was Tigo. “Even Scrooger.”

“Oh that Scrooger! I’ll give him a piece of my mind. He’s the reason that we”-

“Ranza, please. Christmas Eve. It’s a time to be thankful for what we have, not what we want.” Scrooger couldn’t help but ask Jenna, “Why can’t the little pup walk, Jenna?”

“Good question. You see, he had a terrible accident, and his leg gave out. And mow it’s bandaged until the operation. But the problem is, Crust spent the last of his money for it to be bandaged in the first place, so now they can’t afford to have the operation.”

“But, it’s just a broken leg…right?”

“I’m afraid not. It’s much worse. If the shadows of this remain constant, meaning if you don’t do something about it, Tigo will be no more. He…will die.” And with that, everything disappeared again, even Jenna.

Scrooger was shocked. And felt very guilty for all that he did. He thought of himself as a puppy again, singing the loneliest song of all. He felt lonely when he was young, so when he grew up, he tried to make the world a lonely and sad place to feel his pain. Only he realized, stealing food didn’t do one thing to Crust’s family, it actually brought them together. They were still happy, even though Tigo was going to…

His thoughts were interrupted by a shadow cast over him. He froze, but he slowly turned around. Scrooger thought he saw the grim reaper, but there was no skeleton head, no head at all! Well, he couldn’t see his face. The strange figure lifted his white paw. Scrooger covered his face and closed his eyes tightly as if he thought he was going to be hit by him, but all he did was take off the hood that covered his face.

Scrooger looked at him and was shocked. “Are you the ghost of Christmas future?”

“Yes Scrooger. Or you can call me Steele.”

“But I thought you were the bad guy.”

“When I died, I realized what a jerk I was, so I wanted to do something for someone else, to teach them a lesson.”

“Look Steele, I already learned my lesson, so bye.”

“No! You will come with me if you want to be happy forever. The choice is yours.” It only took a second.

“Fine, so you’re going to show me what will happen right?”

“Correct. Follow me.” Scrooger and Steele went to town. It sure looked the same, but there was something different about it too. He couldn’t quite figure that out yet. Then they came upon two dogs, strangers, so Scrooger didn’t know who they were. The two dogs were talking.

“Well, I don’t know who took his stuff, but all I know is that he’s dead.”

“When did he die?”

“I think last night. They’re planning a funeral next week, but I don’t know anyone who would even go to it, besides the people forced to dig his grave.” They both laughed and they went on walking.

“Steele, who are they talking about? And where are you taking me?”

Steele didn’t answer. In a moment they were at a cemetery. The gravestones gave Scrooger the creeps.

“Look, Scrooger.” Steele said in a sort of sad tone. What Scrooger saw, was Crust’s family. Why were they at a cemetery? They had horribly sad faces and looked to a certain gravestone. Crust took a step toward the stone and said, “Merry Christmas Tigo. Rest in peace, son.” Now all of them were crying. Ranza took the bandages that Tigo used to have on, and put them right in front of the grave. Then they all left, except for Crust, who took one more look at the stone. “Why?...” Tears slipped out of his eyes, and then he was gone.

“Oh no! Not Tigo! Oh please no! How did this happen? Steele, is there anything I”- He stopped. Something clicked in his head. “Where am I Steele? I never saw myself yet.”

“If you really want to know…” Steele pointed to another gravestone. It wasn’t in place, for the funeral didn’t happen yet, and the hole was only half dug. But the name was very clear on the stone: Scrooger.

He screamed. Now he knew who those other dogs were talking about.

“Just remember Scrooger, this is the future, so you have the power to change it. You can still save yourself and Tigo, if you know how…” Then Steele flew to the heavens, leaving Scrooger alone in the cemetery.

But that was only a moment. Scrooger closed his eyes and opened them to the sound of his clock. He was back in his room and on his bed. Was it all just a simple dream? If it was, it was a simple dream that changed his life. Scrooger flew out of bed and to the window. He opened the curtains to find that it was morning. But what morning? How long did the ghosts take to do that? He had to know.

“Excuse me, little pup.” He called to the first dog he saw.

“Yes?”

“Would you mind telling me what day it is?”

“Why, it’s Christmas sir! Who could forget Christmas?!”

“Really? I haven’t missed it? Whooopie!!!” Scrooger ran from the window to get ready for the day.

“Crazy old mutt.” The kid whispered to himself as he walked away.

“WAIT!” Scrooger yelled as he went out the front door. Then he tripped on his own foot and