Snowfall by Dan Fogelberg
The gray-clad narrator follows Scrooge’s trudge through the snow down the snow-covered streets of Fortanya. Scrooge’s black hat and cloak stand in stark contrast among the white snow, and the street lamps have little effect on brightening him up. Scrooge soon slows and steps up to a large, dark house between two much smaller townhomes.
MIOKO
Scrooge lived in chambers that had once belonged to both himself and his deceased brother. They were a gloomy suite of rooms, but he preferred them that way.
Scrooge steps up three stairs to reach his door, and he begins to reach into his coat pocket for his key.
MIOKO
Now, it is a fact that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the door, except that it was very large. It is also a fact that Scrooge had seen it night and morning during his whole residence in that place. Let it also be kept in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one more thought on his brother since that afternoon...
With the key in hand, Scrooge glances at the knocker on the door. Staring back at him was the bespectacled face of Vance Edwards.
Vance’s face does not show any expression or feeling. It is dim and ghastly, with the reflected moonlight blocking all vision of his eyes through his black-rimmed glasses. His hair wisps curiously on the sides of his head, but the rest of him is hauntingly motionless.
SCROOGE
Gahh!! What the—
He blinks, and it is a knocker again. Clearly rattled, Scrooge stands for a moment to catch his breath. After a pause, he scoffs, picks up his key, unlocks his door, and slams it behind him.
Mioko keeps a safe distance behind Scrooge as he latches up the front door and lights a candle. He starts up the dark wooden stairs with only the light in his hand to guide him.
MIOKO
Up Scrooge went. Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it. But before he shut his chamber’s heavy door, he walked through his rooms to see that all was right. He had just enough recollection of the face to desire to do that...
As Scrooge steps into his chamber, Mioko fades into a shadow on the other side of the door. The door closes, and Scrooge locks both locks tightly. At last, he breathes a sigh of relief.
SCROOGE
Dinner and rest is all I need...
He lights a small fire in his fireplace and set his candle down on a table beside his large wing chair. He then steps into his closet and selects his embroidered dressing robe. With a quick change of clothes, he emerges with the robe tied at his waist and a small stocking cap on his head. He goes to his small pantry and gathers a loaf of bread and a block of cheese, and sits down in his chair. The meager fire burns in the fireplace before him, and the candle on the small table beside him flickers quietly. The only other sound in the dimly lit room is the gentle ticking of a large grandfather clock stationed near the door.
He had scarcely begun to eat when the small bell near the ceiling began ringing. The bell was once used to alert the upstairs resident of a visitor, but, as no one ever came to visit Scrooge, it hadn’t been used for years.
Scrooge’s eyes pan the ceiling, watching the bell jerk and dance furiously for a moment longer before it slows and stops.
But as soon as the last ring of sound fades, a new sound comes to Scrooge’s ears: a terrible thumping and bumping; the rattling of chains made of heavy steel. The door does not open, but a blue-white figure bursts into the room in a clattered heap.
The fire in the fireplace goes out in one terrible whoosh. The candle’s flame leaps from the wick and disappears into a line of smoke. Scrooge darts out of his chair in a panic. The figure, glowing in a translucent shade of moonlight, rises into a hunched position. Heavy chains clearly weigh down on his thin body. His feet seem to fade into nothing but a small wisp hovering above a dark, metal moneybox. His face bears the shining spectacles he had seen at his door before.
SCROOGE
What—what is this—what do want with me??
GHOST
Much!
The apparition seems to stumble, collapsing slightly from the weight of the chains. As he raises his head, the glare on his glasses shines into Scrooge’s eyes.
SCROOGE
Who are you??
GHOST
It’s better to ask who I was!
Taken aback at the harshness of the spirit’s words, Scrooge brings a hand to his chest.
SCROOGE
Who were you, then?
GHOST
In life, I was your business partner... your brother, Vance Edwards.
SCROOGE
Vance?? I don’t believe it!
VANCE
Why do you doubt me?
SCROOGE
Because! I... I could be seeing things! It was a rough day at the office. Maybe—yeah—it could have been something I ate! This cheese could have gone bad—after all, you’re not looking very “gouda”... hah!
VANCE
Still think it’s all a joke, do you?
Vance’s ghost moans and takes a step forward, lugging the heavy chains across the floor. The glasses slip down his nose, revealing his stark blue eyes. A clink is heard, and a silver coin that had once covered one of his eyes upon his burial rolls across the floor. It falls flat at Scrooge’s feet.
Scrooge trembles and shrinks to his knees, finally believing that the ghost is indeed his deceased brother. He speaks, scarcely above a whisper.
SCROOGE
Oh, Vanny... Why? Why did you come to me like this? Why are you fettered in chains?
VANCE
I wear the chains I forged in life... I made them, link by link...
With a heavy pull, Vance coaxes one hand to his face to adjust his spectacles before the weight of the chains drag it back down to the floor.
SCROOGE
But they seem like such a heavy burden for someone so weak—
VANCE
Oh, but if you could see the chains you have made! They were as long as these seven Christmases ago! And you still add to them every day!
SCROOGE
How??
VANCE
Your actions, brother! I was cruel and scornful in life... Each time I purposely did not help another, I forged a new link in my chain... each time I gave up on charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence... each time I thought only of myself and my own prosperity... I forged this chain!
Vance groans, collapsing again under the weight of his chains. He struggles to rise, as Scrooge shakes his head in disbelief.
SCROOGE
...Speak kindness to me, Vance! Despite it all—it’s so very good to see you, we don’t need to ruin it with fear and—
VANCE
Scrooge!! My time is nearly gone!
Scrooge clasps his mouth shut, shuddering in fear as Vance raises himself as far upright as he can.
VANCE
I am here tonight to warn you in hopes that I may save you from this fate I am bound to...
SCROOGE
Oh, Vance, you have always been such a good brother—
VANCE
Tonight you will be haunted by three spirits!
SCROOGE
...You are the worst brother...
VANCE
This is the only way I can help you! Without their visits, you can never hope to free yourself from your fate!
The chains tighten around him, one loop catching around his neck. He cries out, staggering backwards.
VANCE
Aagh—expect the first ghost when the clock strikes one!
SCROOGE
Couldn’t I see them all at once? It would be over quicker—
VANCE
ONE!!
The chains tighten further, pulling Vance away. His arms are pulled behind him as the large moneybox slides through the latched door.
VANCE
Remember—what has happened tonight, brother! Aagh! Remember, and you can change!!
SCROOGE
Vance!!
But the transparent ghost slips out of sight with the clattering and banging of heavy chains.
The fire slowly raises itself from the ashes. Even the candle lights itself as it was previously. The grandfather clock continues to tick as the large, bronze pendulum swings back and forth within its case.
But Scrooge is still on his knees in front of his chair. His eyes are wide, and his outstretched hands are still trembling. He glances at the fire and the candle—at the plate of half-eaten bread and cheese on the table beside it. He glances again at the door—double-latched just as he had left it.
He shivers, getting to his feet and walking to his four-posted bed. He draws open the curtains and sits down, taking one last deep breath.
SCROOGE
Bah! Hum—
But before he could finish, something catches his tongue. He instead shakes his head and climbs into bed, flinging the curtains closed. He lays awake for only a moment, but soon passes into a dark, dreamless sleep.