Before I begin the story, I would like to say a few words about the meaning of Christmas. Now, Christmas is a special time of year where-
Would you get on with the story already?!
Wait, I’m teaching the kids an important lesson. Stop hitting me!!
Not until you start the story!
If you don’t let go in the next ten seconds, I will beat you with a huge salami stick!
Are you sure that is the meaning of Christmas?
It’s the meaning of- get off of me!
Fine! Have it the boring way! *psst!* Don’t listen to a word he says. He will put you to sleep faster than you can say- Ow! I don’t even like salami! Ow! Quit it!
A few more beats later…
Sorry everyone. The meanie is gone now. And I get to have a free lunch. Doesn’t everyone love happy endings? Now, as I was saying, it’s not just about the presents. It’s about-
Get to it faster!
How did you-
NOW!
Sigh. Christmasisaboutthejoyofgivingandfriendship andbeingthankfulforwhatyouhavealsobeing nicetoeachotherandnotbeatingeveryonewith salamistickslikeIdidbutIdon’tcarebecauseI candowhateverIwantandIreallyhatethisguy forinterruptingmyspeciallessonforChristmas nowonforthestorycalled TheChristmasCarol:Baltostyleyesthisisatrue story(yeahright)andIhave metthesewonderfulpeopleinthestory(Idoubtit)anywayIhopeyouenjoythestorysoyoucanlearnthe trumeaningofChristmaswhichIdidn’tgettobecause ofSOMEpeopleIthankyousomuchandI’msorrythat Ihadtotalksofastone
morethingIdonotknowwhoIam. *faints*
Now that wasn’t so hard was it? Okay, I hope you all enjoy the story. Let’s hope you brought popcorn because this is going to be looooong. Well, I don’t know. This intro is. Where am I?
Alright, no more distractions. Here’s my story as a Christmas gift to my readers! Have fun reading! Salami.
A long time ago, but years after Balto, Jenna, and Steele died (their kids are living, but very far away from
“But it’s Christmas Scrooger! It’s a time of giving! Can you please make an exception?!”
“Christmas? Humbark!!” and he was gone. Crust deserved that meat more than he did. He wondered how Barkley survived. Oh wait! He didn’t. Before Crust came, there was another lead dog called Barkley. He worked with that team practically his whole life, until he died 7 months ago. No one knows how exactly he died, but Crust thought it was because Barkley couldn’t stand Scrooger anymore, so he killed himself. So Crust was the replacement. Crust went back home. At least he had more meat than usual when Scrooger steals it. Thank you for Christmas, he said in his mind.
Scrooger went to his house which is like a mansion in 1932. He put is food in a special bag in a safe outside. (No one could steal it because it was bolted down) and went inside to see that his masters were very much asleep. He looked at the blazing fireplace. It was very bright, but he looked at it differently than normal. He thought he saw a face in that fire, but he didn’t believe it. Scrooger realized he was very tired as well. He went upstairs to his room, put his nightcap on and lay down on his special bed. It’s like a human bed, but smaller to fit his size. Soon, he was in a peaceful sleep, dreaming of food, everywhere! He started to lick his lips in his sleep. But the sound of licking could not match the sound of clanking metal! He woke up immediately and looked at the door. The metal sound kept getting louder and louder. Scrooger got up and backed away to the wall, scared half to death. Finally a blue figure flew through the wall and landed in the middle of the room staring at him. The figure’s legs were weighed down with ankle weights, chains, and heavy metal boxes. He looked tired and scary at the same time. “W-who are you?” Scrooger asked.
“Don’t you know me?” Scrooger shook his head.
“I am the ghost of Barkley, remember? I was the lead dog until 7 months ago when I died.”
“Barkley? You look different when you’re blue and almost transparent. And why are you in chains? Please tell me.”
“I am a prisoner, Scrooger. When I died, ghosts put chains on me. I don’t know why, but I know I have done something terribly wrong to let this happen. Being bound with chains for the rest of eternity, always being pulled back and have to struggle and strain to get somewhere. It is a cruel life. What you’re looking at, Scrooger, is your future.”
“What?! That’s impossible! What have I done wrong?”
“You’re going to have to figure that out on your own.”
“Barkley, please don’t let this happen to me! We were real pals remember? Great buddies!”
“I’m sorry, but this is your fate. And it’s all your fault.”
“No! Please! I’ll do anything! ANYTHING!”
“Well, there is one way”-
“TELL ME!”
“Okay! Sheesh! If you choose to accept this, you will be visited by three more ghosts. The first ghost you will meet, when the bell strikes 1:00.”
“Can’t the ghosts just come all at once and get it over with, Barkley?”
“No. This is the way it’s going to be, whether you like it or not. Or you can end up like me and those other ghosts outside the window. Look.”
Barkley led him to the window and pulled out the curtains. Scrooger gasped in surprise. There were hundreds of ghosts with chains just like Barkley floating around and moaning loudly. And they look like they haven’t slept in weeks! Which they haven’t.
“Okay, I’ll take the three ghosts.” Scrooger said in defeat. “The ghosts are nice right?”
“The first ghost, when the bell strikes 1:00.” Was all he said again. Then he disappeared were he stood. A flash of thunder filled the sky and then it fell silent.
Scrooger rubbed his eyes and looked again. He was gone, alright, but was he really there? He decided not to think about it.
Maybe it was all just a dream, I’ll wake up soon. He thought. Scrooger went back to his bed and fell asleep again. Just a second later, something was rigging. Not like a phone, but like a huge bell that rigs softly. “ding…ding…” It was his clock. Scrooger woke up again, very annoyed, and looked at the clock. 1:00 was what it said.
“What! I went back to bed at least 11:30. It must be the wiring. I’ll tell my masters in the morning.” At that moment his room was glowing with a yellow light, including himself. He turned around but closed his eyes tightly because of the blinding light. When the light dimmed down a bit, he saw a figure in the corner of the room. “Now what?!” He said.
“I am the ghost of Christmas past.” The figure said. The light finally went out completely. He could totally see who was present before him.
“Oh, you’re just that old wolf-dog Balto. The great hero!” He said sarcastically.
“Well, ever since I died, I became the ghost of YOUR Christmas past! It’s weird isn’t it?”
“I must be dreaming. Now go away so I can wake up!” Scrooger ran back in his bed and pulled the sheets over him.
“Oh Scrooger,” Balto pulled him out of bed. “This is no dream. I received a message from your pal Barkley to remind you of the good ol’ days, when you weren’t such a bad person.”
“What are you talking about?! I- never mind. Just leave me to sleep!”
“If you don’t want to end up like your old buddy, I suggest we cooperate. Deal?” Scrooger thought for a second, then said. “Fine. But exactly why are you here?”
“To take you back in time, Scrooger. To a time where you were a growing, young pup. I’ll show you.” Balto ran to the window and opened it. He looked back at Scrooger. “Well, are you coming?”
“But I can’t fly because I’m a mortal. I will fall and hit the cold, icy ground.”
“Touch my robe and you will fly too.” Yes, he was wearing a robe.
Scrooger looked at him like he was crazy, but he did as he told him, and right before his eyes, he was floating!
“Alright, follow
Scrooger didn’t know much of what happened right after that. But he remembers seeing all sorts of different colors around him for a few seconds, which is how long it took him to realize that they were traveling at light speed! Then in a blink of an eye, they stopped. Scrooger, after his head stopped spinning, looked down. He saw the same town of
“Balto, what’s going on? No one notices me! And I walk right through people! Am I invisible?!”
“That’s exactly it, Scrooger. See, these things are from the past, and no one from the present or future can ever be noticed. It will change everything if that happened! This is the past, and no one can change it, bottom line.”
“Okay, but where am I in this past?”
“I’ll show you. Come.” Balto led him to a small school house for puppies. Scrooger looked inside the window too see a tiny brown puppy all alone in the building. He was crying and singing a sad song about being the only one in the world…that can at least understand him. Scrooger remembered this.
“That’s me.”
“Indeed Scrooger, you were neglected as a child, by everyone. You were one of the loneliest pups in the world. After school every day, you would stay, and cry for about an hour.”
“It’s so sad…” Scrooger felt hot tears fall slowly down his face. He didn’t care at the moment, for if you would see this scene, you would cry too.
“Come. You have more to see.” Scrooger wiped the last of the tears and came with him.
The colors thing happened again. They were still in
“I remember this. This is where I used to work, before going into the dogsled business.”
“That’s right, Scrooger. Oh look, there you are!” Scrooger looked inside the factory window. Balto was right. There he was. But his fur color was a little grayer than his puppy days, around 5 years old. But this time he was happy. Scrooger’s old work buddies and boss were in there getting the main room set up for a Christmas party. In a blink of an eye, hundreds of dogs were in there having the time of their lives in there! Including the younger Scrooger. Scrooger definitely remembered this. This was the night Isa, a beautiful and kind Husky, fell in love with Scrooger. All the other guys wished to dance with her, but she turned every one of them down. Then came Scrooger. She realized what a gentile dog he was, and decided to choose him. Scrooger was so happy, even the present Scrooger was smiling. Balto smiled too, even though this was the year after he died. The older Scrooger wanted to view the party more closely, so he jumped through the wall and landed in the room. Still, no one noticed him, but he knew that now. Then, just when he looked up at the lively scene, all of the dogs, whoosh…vanished. Leaving only the empty room, except for the young Scrooger and his old factory buddy. They were cleaning up the last of the messes, and then everything, even the room vanished!
The colors flashed before his eyes once more, and now he was in a room, more specifically, Isa’s house. Isa was a poor dog, but not as poor as Crust. She still lived with humans, but they have little money. Isa and Scrooger were sitting on a couch, a little torn and ripped.
“Scrooger, I can’t.”
“Why not, Isa?”
“I’m not sure that you’re the same dog that danced with me last Christmas.”
“What do you mean? I’ve always been the same.”
“Scrooger, you don’t understand.” Isa’s voice was calm as usual.
“My family is losing food now, and I can’t afford it. And ever since you first saw me, you thought I was rich. Is that the real reason you loved me? Because of food?” Scrooger looked away, mad that his love wasn’t rich.
“But, food is everything! It helps you survive the bitterest of colds, and the scorches of heats. It helps you live. And what’s better than living? See, I’ve grown so much wiser.”
“Scrooger, love is more powerful than any amount of food.” Isa walked to a table and looked at the snow globe on it. It was a picture of a horse tied to a sleigh with people on it, holding each other in their arms. “Do you remember the sleigh ride we had last Christmas morning?” Yes, Scrooger did remember. He looked back at her, smiling a bit. Isa went on. “We never noticed it was snowing. In fact, we thought it was summer, it was so warm.” She chuckled, then frowned again. “But now, since you started that job, you’ve been making huge amounts of food, forgetting that food can’t buy true happiness. Now that’s all you ever cared about, thinking it’s the only thing that can make a person smile.” Isa’s voice was still calm.
“Isa, I love you.”
“But not for the reasons I think. Would you rather marry me, a girl who’s father had very little food, or someone who is as rich as a queen, or could be a queen if she wanted to?” Now Isa’s voice started to rise. Scrooger looked at the ground, silent. This was a tough question for him. Isa’s patience ended.
“Then you don’t know what love really is! Goodbye, Scrooger!”
“Please, Isa. You’re the prettiest girl I have ever met.”
“Get out! You know you don’t care about me! So why don’t you just leave?!”
“I do care about you! But I wish that you only had more food.”
“See? This is why food can’t buy happiness! It turns dogs into greedy jerks with not a single pinch of love in their hearts! I never want to see you again!!”
“But Isa”-
“I said…OUT!!!!!” Scrooger finally ran out the door. Isa slammed it and locked it.
“No Isa! Please don’t leave me” The older Scrooger said.
“She can’t hear you remember?” Balto pointed out.
“Oh please Balto! I don’t want to see any more of this! I want to go back home!”
“I’m sorry, but you have two more ghosts coming your way.”
“No please! No more I beg of you!” He closed his eyes. “Please don’t do this to me! I don’t deserve this!” Scrooger opened his eyes. He was in his bed again. As if nothing happened…
Scrooger looked at his clock. 5 minutes till one. Had it all just been one big dream? It had to be. There was no other explanation. He walked to the window just to make sure his clock wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t. The sky was just as dark and silent as it did when he went to bed.
“It was just a dream after all. There are no such things as ghosts! What was I thinking! Humbark!” He pulled the sheets over him and fell asleep for only a minute. Then he woke up to the smell of food. Scrooger got up immediately and ran to the food on the other side of the room. Boy, it was more than a feast! It was like a mountain of food! And sitting in a golden chair in the middle of this fine hill, was the next ghost. It was covered entirely of a robe so Scrooger couldn’t see who it was. It didn’t matter to him much anyway, because he was close to fainting when he stared at the beautiful, glorious food! His mouth was a faucet, drooling all over the floor. (gross). He jumped to dive in it, but he was blocked in mid-jump. It was like some sort of invisible shield! He heard rustling on the golden throne so he looked that way. Another dog came out of the robe and stretched. Then it put the robe back on. Scrooger noticed it was a girl, red and white/cream markings.
“Finally, I thought no one wouldn’t resist the food, until now. Nice to see you awake again, Scrooger.” Now Scrooger completely remembered who she was.
“Oh I know you. You’re Balto’s mate Jenna. Rosie’s dog. Umm, what are you doing here?”
“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 fell on the concrete.
“What?” The pup said as he looked down on him.
“I need you do to something for me.” Scrooger said, finally getting up. “Do you know the place where the big turkeys are sold?”
“Yeah! It’s down the block!”
“Can you go and buy it for me?”
“What? No way! Then what do I get?”
“I have a nice, big dog bone for you. You know what? Make it two dog bones for being such a good lad.” Scrooger chuckled. He never thought giving away could be fun. “Now go on the double and get the biggest turkey there is!” Scrooger waited at that very spot until he came back. Moments later he did, with a turkey almost as big as Scrooger!
“That’s a good boy! Here are the bones I promised. And here is a fresh meat stick on the house! Enjoy, and Merry Christmas! The pup skipped away merrily. And now for Crust’s place.
Scrooger put the huge turkey in a big bag so they wouldn’t see it. He wanted this to be a surprise. He knew the way, for he had gone this way before. One he got there, he put his angry face on. And stomped into the dark ally.
“Crust!!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him with horror.
“Scrooger? How did”-
“There’s no time for questions! Now I didn’t get enough meat yesterday! And do you know what I do to people who can’t pay me back?!”
“Uhh. Oh please Scrooger!”-
“I- I give them the best
“Merry Christmas everyone!”
“How did you do this Scrooger?”
“There’s no time for questions. We need to eat. Dig in everyone!” But then Scrooger forgot something. “Wait!” he said. And he looked at Tigo. “Would you do the honors, Tigo?”
“Yes, Mr. Scrooger. God Bless us, Everyone!”
“Now I have another present…Money!”
“To pay for the operation!” Crust finished. “How”-
“I said, no more questions. Now everyone say the magic words:
SALAMI!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dedicated to all my readers, and people who have never seen or heard the Christmas Carol before. There will be more fanfics coming your way real soon! I wish everyone the best of Holidays!! I like salami!!