Christmas Bells

Jacob Marley watched Scrooge’s chains melt away as the old man put right his years of misery.

But his own were still there, putting his old friend on the right path only good deed enough to remove a few of the clanking links.

This night, two minutes to Christmas, was when he felt most alone. With Scrooge no longer fated to join him, only the youngest of children would ever see him pass.

The bells began to strike for Christmas Day, and Jacob’s chains chimed through the streets. Maybe somewhere, he thought, one of those children thinks I’m Santa Claus.