Camden Town (eBook)

V S Paterson (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
144 Seiten
Vivid Publishing (Verlag)
978-1-923601-18-5 (ISBN)

Infos

Ebenezer Scrooge thought his days of ghostly warnings were behind him. He was wrong. When a frail Scrooge is visited by Fezziwig, with whom he was apprenticed and is altogether dead, he is shown a troubling truth; Bob Cratchit's newfound inheritance has drawn a charming but dangerous advisor into the Cratchit family's life. One reckless decision could destroy their future-and condemn Scrooge's soul to eternal unrest. To save his friend, Scrooge must guide Bob through visions of what was, what is, and what may come. But will Bob listen before it's too late? 'Camden Town' - a novella,  is a heartfelt, atmospheric sequel to Dickens' classic-a story of loyalty, temptation, and the enduring power of second chances.

V S Paterson is the author of 'Camden Town'.

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Ebenezer Scrooge thought his days of ghostly warnings were behind him. He was wrong. When a frail Scrooge is visited by Fezziwig, with whom he was apprenticed and is altogether dead, he is shown a troubling truth; Bob Cratchit's newfound inheritance has drawn a charming but dangerous advisor into the Cratchit family's life. One reckless decision could destroy their future and condemn Scrooge's soul to eternal unrest. To save his friend, Scrooge must guide Bob through visions of what was, what is, and what may come. But will Bob listen before it's too late?'Camden Town' is a heartfelt, atmospheric sequel to Dickens' classic a story of loyalty, temptation, and the enduring power of second chances.

Textauszug

2

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

Scrooge spoke little at dinner, nor did he partake in his usual glass of port, feigning a headache and suddenly overcome with chills. Earlier he chose not to play with James Ebenezer before the boy’s bedtime, as was their daily practice. With such a change of Scrooge’s mood, Fred and Isobel wished to seek the doctor’s opinion as to their uncle’s wellbeing. Before they could do so, a weary Scrooge took to the stairs.

‘I am only a little tired today and taking rest in my bed will do me good. No need to waste your money on calling the doctor. I can still make judgements as to my health. A person knows their own ailments that haunt them from time to time and how best to ease them.’ Isobel and Fred were disbelieving.

Fred spoke in earnest. ‘Truly, you look ill, uncle. A doctor in these circumstances is necessary.’

Scrooge was stubborn in refusing their request. James Ebenezer, who awoke upon hearing his uncle’s rumblings, was worried and waited on the landing to see his suffering relative.

‘Uncle, you should go to bed right now as I’m told to do when I am not feeling good.’ Acting as a nurse would do, James took his uncle’s hand, kissed his brow, and wished him a good sleep. This gave Scrooge comfort. Alone in his bedroom, Scrooge held a hand close to his chest as his heart remained heavy and his mind ill at ease.

‘Damn that Bob Cratchit, he will be the death of me!’

Scrooge dressed in his nightclothes and put on his nightcap and lay in his bed for a long time before sleep came. Soon after, an icy breeze swept across his bed and the closed window opened, making the candlelight flicker and go out. Then came a sorrowful moan that awoke Scrooge from his slumber. The moaning voice was near.

‘What devilish dream is this?’ shouted Scrooge, looking about the darkened room. He lit the candle, and the wind extinguished the room filled with light. Again, he lit the candle and observed his pocket watch. It was past eleven o’clock. The moaning grew louder. Scrooge sensed an unworldly presence as he had experienced before.

‘Why are you here?’ I have done what you asked on that night, three Christmas Eves ago. I have no need of your counsel now.’

Scrooge recalled his experience with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. The spirits who helped preserve his life as he followed their otherworldly advice. For many long years Scrooge was considered a miserly human being with no interests other than business and being ruthless and took displeasure in company with others apart from Jacob Marley. Dead Jacob departed this earth ten or more years ago and whose own ghostly figure first appeared to Scrooge on that gloomy Christmas Eve. Marley’s death came from his selfishness and greed whilst he was alive. For Scrooge, he repented before the deadly Grim Reaper came to take his soul, else he too, like Marley, would have remained burdened in death. The bitter coldness returned Scrooge’s thoughts to the present as once more the candlelight went out. A loud, creeping sound cried out to him.

‘Go away, spirits!’ he shouted in the wind. ‘I am done with your lot!’ Picking up the candle, it lit as if by magic. Scrooge’s hand trembled as he looked about him for ghosts, unseen but hidden there in his room. ‘I am not afraid. You cannot hurt me.’

Scrooge noticed a shadowy figure near the open window and watched as the ghoul grew larger as it came closer. Scrooge jumped up and stood on his bedcover. To his wide-open eyes, there next to the end bedpost was a familiar creature, once living and now dead. It was not dead Marley, nor the three spirits he had met before. It was Scrooge’s old employer from long ago. Fezziwig was an apparition and translucent. The figure smiled at Scrooge but did not speak. Fezziwig was exactly as Scrooge remembered him. Wearing an old Welsh wig atop his head and dressed in a dark overcoat with white pantaloons beneath, with a waistcoat sitting over his large belly and a cravat matching his dress shirt, the friendly ghost gazed at Scrooge.

‘Fezziwig, is it you? But you are long dead. Why have you come?’

Silence.

‘Have you come here from the other world?’

Fezziwig motioned for Scrooge to get out of bed.

Scrooge placed the candle back on the table beside his bed. ‘Fezziwig, I will do your bidding, like the other spirits before. I know my place and what may happen if I do not.’ Scrooge was out of bed with slippers on his feet and waiting for what would come. He held out his hand. ‘Fezziwig, I am ready to leave.’

Fezziwig pointed to the bedroom door.

‘Will you not walk through the door like other ghosts have done?’ asked Scrooge, shaking in his slippers.

Fezziwig directed his old friend to open the door. Shuffling towards it to do the ghost’s bidding, Scrooge saw Fezziwig outside waiting for him. Fezziwig motioned for Scrooge to look back towards his bedroom.

‘My heavens,’ cried Scrooge, ‘I am lifeless!’ Scrooge toddled back to his bed and saw himself in a deep and restful sleep, but without a breath taken. As he watched his other self, many thoughts and questions were in Scrooge’s head.

‘Are you taking me to the next world?’

Fezziwig showed sadness as he examined the lifeless Scrooge on the bed and turned to look upon the ghostly Scrooge standing nearby. Then came a voice from the hallway. It was Fred who rushed in to see his uncle’s limp body on the bed.

‘Isobel, send for the doctor at once.’

With the commotion, James Ebenezer came rushing in from his bedroom next door and saw his uncle lying still.

‘Uncle Ebenezer, please wake up.’ James tugged at his uncle’s nightshirt to stir him. A ghostly Scrooge looked upon his sobbing grandnephew with Fred and Isobel consoling the boy as the arriving doctor examined the unresponsive Scrooge laid still on the bed.

‘Your uncle is near death,’ the doctor proclaimed. ‘I am sure of it. His breath is slow and shallow and his pulse weak. The worst is yet to come. There is nothing more to be done here. Offer your uncle comfort in his last hours. I will return tomorrow or earlier should he not survive the night.’

Fred held tight to Isobel and James, who were weeping still. ‘Uncle don’t leave us yet,’ Fred cried.

‘James, I will miss him the most,’ said Scrooge, teary-eyed.

Then came a light touch upon Scrooge’s shoulder. It was Fezziwig who led him away and they were flying out through the opened bedroom door, down the hallway and stairs, past the servants and out through the front door which opened as they neared it. Outside was daylight. How was that possible? Scrooge quivered as he looked around, anticipating unworldly travel as he had experienced before.

‘Where are we, Fezziwig? Is this the past, present, or future?’

Fezziwig showed Scrooge a building. It was familiar.

‘I know this place. I served my apprenticeship here years before.’

Fezziwig motioned for Scrooge to enter the opened warehouse door, where they looked upon a scene taking place.

‘There I am.’ Scrooge pointed himself out to Fezziwig.

A younger Scrooge was working at his desk with ledgers for examination. Next to him was another clerk inspecting papers.

‘Goodness me, it’s Dick Wilkins,’ Scrooge exclaimed. ‘Dick was always so diligent in his profession and liked by everyone. I often wished I had partnered with him instead of Marley. Perhaps then my life may have turned out differently.’

With a clear memory of earlier times in this office, especially at Christmas where each year they celebrated with a merry party. Mrs. Fezziwig, her elder and younger sons, her daughters, and their suitors and those who worked for Fezziwig, came together to join the festivities.

‘It was always a grand evening, Fezziwig,’ Scrooge recalled cheerfully.

Fezziwig acted out a ghostly jig as he remembered the merry occasions. Scrooge chuckled as he tried to dance too.

‘You and Mrs. Fezziwig were always the best at dancing at every party. She even taught me a step or two.’

In viewing his old workplace Scrooge observed a well-dressed man known among the clerks as having a reputation for business shrewdness to whom the living Fezziwig introduced a youthful Ebenezeer Scrooge.

‘This young man is the brightest of the lot, Mr. Jorkins. Ebenezer has finished his training and is keen to learn all he can about the trade.’ Addressing his young apprentice, Fezziwig said, ‘Ebenezer, this gentleman has an interest in our style of operation. I rely upon you to show him how we do our work.’

‘Yes, I am happy to do so, Mr. Fezziwig.’ Scrooge greeted the important visitor. ‘It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Jorkins.’

After the introductions, Fezziwig returned to his daily work while a young Scrooge explained the details of the business.

‘I expect you would like to take up a desk there someday.’ Mr. Jorkins pointed to the end of the large workroom, where Fezziwig’s high desk stood.

‘Yes, sir, I intend to learn as much as I can from Mr. Fezziwig and then succeed him.’

Mr. Jorkins observed his young companion. ‘You...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 12.12.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Historische Romane
• ISBN-10: 1-923601-18-0 / 1923601180
• ISBN-13: 978-1-923601-18-5 / 9781923601185