NanoSteps Brainstorming 3 - And a Step to the Right

[Bob Schroeck]

Yeah, yeah, this one is a bit late, but I was only inspired a couple days ago by a theatrical production I saw.

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Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, 
no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for 
the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh 
air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious!

"What's to-day!" cried Scrooge, calling downward to a young man 
in smart clothes who was passing in the street below.  

The young man started, paused in his perambulation, and looked up 
to see Scrooge in his window.  "I'm sorry, sir?" he called back, 
sounding not at all like a Londoner.  Or, for that matter, an 
Englishman at all.

An American! Scrooge thought.  How unexpected!  "What's to-day, 
my fine fellow?" said Scrooge.

"Today?" replied the young man.  He raised an eyebrow and peered 
upward as if to make out Scrooge's features more clearly.  "Why, 
it's Christmas, sir."

"It's Christmas Day!”" said Scrooge to himself. "I haven’t missed 
it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do 
anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. 
Hallo, my fine fellow!"

"Yes, sir?" the young man replied, a broad smile breaking out 
upon his face.  

"What a pleasant fellow," Scrooge marveled to himself.  "Do you 
know the Poulterer's, in the next street but one, at the corner?" 
he inquired.

"Indeed I do, sir!" said the young man with a bit of a laugh in 
his voice.

"Excellent, oh, excellent!" Scrooge cried, almost clapping in his 
delight.  "Do you know whether they've sold the prize Turkey that 
was hanging up there?—Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?"

"Do you mean the one half as big as me?" returned the young man.

"What a delightful fellow!" said Scrooge. "It's a pleasure to 
talk to him. Yes, my good man!"

"It's still hanging there, unsold," replied the man.  His smile, 
if anything, grew even broader.  "You would not be in need of 
someone to make a purchase for you, would you, sir?"

"An intelligent fellow!" said Scrooge. "A remarkable fellow!  Yes, 
please go and buy it, and tell 'em to bring it here, that I may 
give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man, 
and I shall give you a half-crown for your trouble."

The young man swept off his hat and bowed.  "Oh, no need, sir," 
he said as he straightened.  "I shall gladly fetch him and his 
turkey for you, and you may save your half-crown for one in 
greater need than I."

Scrooge's eyes misted slightly.  How had he missed that there 
were such good people around him for so many years?  "Thank you, 
kind sir!  And a merry Christmas to you!"

"A merry Christmas to you, as well, Mr. Scrooge," replied the 
young man.  "And may your instruction from the spirits last night 
bring you joy and happiness for the rest of your days."  He bowed 
again before taking off toward the Poulterer's, leaving an 
astonished Ebeneezer Scrooge watching after him.

Spoiler

-- A Christmas Carol