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