A Christmas Carol
Retold by: Athena
Stave Five: The End of It
Yes, Lee was in his own room. There was his own
bed and sheets. Everything was as it should be. Daylight
streamed in through the window and Lee opened it to
gleefully great Christmas morning.
He remembered the events of the night before. In
his bedroom he pointed out where the ghosts of Christmas
past had appeared and in the sitting room where the
ghosts of Maelstrom and Christmas present were. With
fear, he recalled the ghost of Christmas yet to come and
the promise he made to it.
"Yes! I will go back...."
At the same time when Lee Jordan awoke, a tall
shadow crept into the computer room at Acme. Waiting
inside were the Cheif and Zack and Ivy. They looked up
as the visitor entered.
"So, how'd it go with Lee?" Zack asked.
"Very well, I believe. This an interesting plan
even if it does fail."
"Why should it fail, Carmen? You just said so
yourself that it went well," the Cheif answered.
Sitting down in a computer chair, Carmen seemed
to think about this, but in reality she was trying to
collect her tired thoughts from the sleepless night.
"Lee still hasn't grown up yet. I don't believe
that he has the maturity to change for the better."
"Can't argue with you there, Carmen."
For the first time, Carmen seemed to notice Zack
and Ivy's presence. "What are you still doing here,
detectives? It's Christmas morning."
"It's okay, Carmen, we just wanted to see what
would happen with Lee. The Cheif was gonna C-5 us to
Aunt Ida's when we're done," Ivy answered.
"Ah, I see. Well, Cheif, I held up my end of the
bargain. Remember, you promised."
"Yes, I remember."
"You bribed Carmen to help us, Cheif?" Ivy asked.
"No, he didn't, Detective. He asked if I'd help,
and I said I would on one condition."
"And what's that, Carmen?"
"That I could spend Christmas with the Cheif,
with no interference from Acme."
"Cheif! You said that?!?" Ivy yelled. "How do
you know that she's not gonna download all of Acme's
files on her computer, or mess with the C-5, or-"
"I don't know, Ivy, but it is Christmas, and if
Lee Jordan can have a second chance, so can Carmen."
Carmen smiled up at the Cheif. "Thank you,
Cheif."
"Now why don't you two go spend Christmas with
your family. I'll tell you if anything happens with Lee."
"Okay, thanks Cheif, Merry Christmas!"
"Yeah, Merry Christmas, Cheif," Zack followed,
"you, too, Carmen."
"Merry Christmas, Detectives."
And Zack and Ivy disappeared in a flash of blue
light.
"So, Carmen, you really think Lee won't change?"
the Cheif asked as Carmen set up a chess board.
"No, I don't, Cheif."
"Well, he could, you know. You're always welcome
back here at Acme, yourself. If you ever change your
mind...."
"No, Cheif, I don't foresee that happening any
time soon, either."
"Oh.... Wait a minute. There's a Crimnet Alert."
The Cheif disappeared for a moment, then
reappeared with a very worried look on his face.
"I guess you were right, Carmen. Lee Jordan was
just spotted at Rockerfella center stealing the lights
off the Christmas tree. I'll be right back."
When the Cheif reappeared he spoke again to
Carmen, "I just informed Zack and Ivy. They're on their
way.... Carmen?" But she was gone.
"Oh, well," the Cheif said to himself, "and as
Tiny Cheif once observed-" A sneeze racked through the
computer room just as Zack and Ivy appeared.
Zack finished the line, "God bless you."
The End
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