I Just Published A Christmas Caroler on Amazon
A Christmas Caroler
A Christmas Caroler is a modern twist on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Frankie Scrooge, a bitter, miserable, lonely drug addict and alcoholic returns to his childhood home hoping to create a new life for himself as three spirits reveal his past. Eventually, Frankie learns how to redeem himself with his family.
Read the rest of the story on your Kindle or Kindle App by going to Amazon.
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Enjoy A Christmas Caroler Sampler
Bob Marley’s Ghost
To begin with, Bob Marley was dead. There was no doubt about it. Old Marley was dead from a malignant melanoma under the nail of his toe. Frankie Scrooge had heard it on the radio on that dreadful day in May 1981. He had mourned when he heard the news by playing Marley’s music for weeks until his drunken father picked up his record player and smashed it against the wall. That was the night Frankie left home and vowed never to return. He had kept that promise – until tonight.
Frankie stood on the porch of his parent’s home, unable to ring the bell. The cold nipped and froze his features, turning his eyes red and his thin lips blue. He had never minded the cold when he lived here in Montana, but all the years in Los Angeles left him unable to tolerate the wintry chill. He was unused to the snow that was falling lightly all around him. The whiteness of the flakes seemed brighter against the darkness of the starless sky. Frankie’s loneliness had given him the courage to decide to reconnect with his estranged family and brave the foul weather and return to his childhood home. But now his conviction was waning, and he wanted a drink.
He couldn’t remember how many years it had been since that Christmas Eve; the one when he worked late and returned to a silent house. His now ex-wife had left him a note saying she was divorcing him and taking the kids. “Good riddance,” he had thought, tossing the paper into the trash. She always nagged him when he missed dinners, parties, and school recitals. He was happy enough creating a successful business, craving the status his success and fortune had given him He didn’t care that he didn’t have any friends. The rooms of his beautiful Beverly Hills house that once entertained the crème de la crème of Hollywood society remained empty, and that was fine by him. The only sign of life in his home that he shared with no one were the echoes of his footsteps.
Frankie stamped his feet to keep warm while deciding what to do. He wouldn’t be here now if it hadn’t been for the all-night bender that sent him to the hospital after crashing his car through the window of a Mercedes car dealership. Paying the damages of hundreds of thousands of dollars did not faze him, but the time he spent in jail for his fourth DUI hurt his business. The humiliation of being ordered to attend AA meetings with the dredges of society was unbearable. The judge demanded a signed note from the secretary of the meeting before Frankie would be allowed to drive again. Last week, his sponsor requested that he work the ninth step by making amends to his family.
The voices and laughter on the other side of the door did nothing to raise Frankie’s spirits. He had no idea who was inside the house, but still wondered what they were doing. His mother must have made a roast turkey with all the fixings and a Christmas ham. He was sure there were mashed potatoes, corned bread, and green beans. His mouth started to water as he smelled his mother’s apple pie. Then there was his father’s famous eggnog, made with bourbon, rum, and cognac.
That’s when Frankie lost his courage. He couldn’t bear the thought of having another Christmas with his family, especially since his father would be there. Everyone would be making believe they were having fun when, as he remembered, they were just biding their time until his father went on his rampage from having too much eggnog. Christmas was not the exception to the rule. His father drank all the time. Each year he promised not to get drunk, dashing everyone’s high hopes as soon as he took his first drink. His father told everyone it was just plain eggnog, but no one believed him especially when things got ugly.
“To hell with AA,” Frankie said to himself and left to find a bar.
*****
“Uncle Frankie,” said a voice from the end of the bar. “Is that you?”
Frankie looked over to see a young man raising his drink to him. He scowled and cradled the beer between his hands, watching the foam float down the side of the glass.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.” The young man was sitting next to him now. “Don’t you remember me? Bob Cratchett. Your sister Anne’s son. I’m your nephew. The last time I saw you was at my wedding.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember you,” Frankie grumbled. “I was only at your wedding because my wife begged me to go. Why did you get married?”
Bob chuckled. “Because I fell in love. Grandma tells me how you always liked to joke around when you were a id.” He pulled out his phone, fiddled with it a bit, and shoved it in front of Frankie’s face. “Speaking of kids, my wife Kathy and I have been blessed with three children. This one on the right is Jackie. Steve is next to her, and Tim is on my lap.”
“Beautiful family,” Frankie said barely looking at the picture. “Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to enjoy my drink in peace.”
“Will I see you at dinner later?” asked Bob. “It would be so nice to have your company at the Christmas table.”
“Not likely,” Frankie spit out vehemently.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Bob said as he put on his jacket. “You will be missed again this year. May I send your regards?”
“No, you may not. All this Christmas cheer. Bah!” Frankie barked. “Humbug.”
Read the rest of the story on your Kindle or Kindle App by going to Amazon.
I would appreciate it if you would leave a review.