A Christmas Carol
I wrote the story below as a competition entry last year, and although it didn’t receive a prize, I was commended for the attempt. The story had to be a modern take on the familiar Dickens novel.
Christmas is coming and Joanne is getting excited.
Joanne is 10 years old and was born with Down’s Syndrome. This does not stop her from enjoying life. She is always happy and has a big heart. In fact, she always sees the good in people and has the tendency of brightening up the lives of everyone around her.
Joanne lives with her mum and grandmother. Her mum is also a kind person and works hard as a secretary for her boss Mr Dawson. Despite not earning much money, Joanne’s mum makes a happy loving home and Christmas is always a special time. Joanne never asks for anything. Her only wish is that she has a dad to complete the happy family. Every year she makes this wish and is hopeful that one day her dream will come true.
As Christmas approaches, Joanne’s mum is working even longer hours. Mr Dawson is only concerned about making money, and does not care about his staff. Joanne’s mum never complains and just does as she’s told.
Joanne actually feels sorry for Mr Dawson as he always looks sad and appears to be lonely and she believes that he really has a warm heart deep inside and she is determined to help him find it.
Joanne makes Christmas cards every year, each with a message of cheer and hope. This year she makes a special one for Mr Dawson. She goes with her grandmother to deliver them at Mr Dawson’s office. Her mum’s colleagues smile kindly as Joanne proudly gives them their cards, Mr Dawson grunts and casts it aside on top of a pile of paper work. Joanne smiles knowingly to herself.
That night as Joanne contently falls asleep preparing for her dreams, Mr Dawson is working at his computer at home, with a pile of paperwork in front of him. A card with childlike writing falls on his lap. He shudders as he reads the words
Be Aware of your Dreams. Take Careful Note and Be Prepared to Enjoy Christmas
Merry Christmas
Joanne x
Mr Dawson does not remember much after reading the card, but he is disturbed by a clicking sound and a flashing light coming from his computer. He must have fallen asleep. He rubs his eyes to see the light getting brighter, until he sees the face of that girl, or whatever her name is, on his screen and she is beckoning to him. A scene appears before him. He recognises it as a Christmas many years ago when he was 10 years old. He is surrounded by his loving mother and father and his little brother. The room is cluttered with the mixture of exciting shiny toys and scattered ripped colourful wrapping paper. A twinkling decorated Christmas tree takes pride of place besides a glowing fire place.
A lump reaches his throat as Mr Dawson remembers. His parents were not rich but their home was filled with love and Christmas was always magical. That was until his mother died when he was 12. His father was grief stricken, so Christmas was never magical again. Money was sparse and the love and warmth just disappeared. From that moment he decided to hate Christmas.
Getting into bed Mr Dawson realises that he had lost something very important in his life.
His sleep is disturbed by a rustling sound. To his amazement he is clutching that damn Christmas card. As he looks up he sees a bright light at the end of his bed, which suddenly transforms into the shape of that girl again. This time she silences him with the tip of her fingers against his lips. She takes his hand and glides him towards the window. Looking out he sees an unfamiliar home. This home is full of Christmas cheer, warmth and love. He sees the same girl sitting happily at the table with her mother and grandmother. She is surrounded by a heavenly light. Her grandmother is praising her daughter for creating a really magical Christmas, despite the hours she had worked for a pittance. He then glances towards a younger woman who is smiling radiantly. He recognises her as his secretary, but this time he notices her beauty which shines from within. His heart skips a beat as he is reminded of all that lost love.
He cannot get that beautiful woman from his mind and drifts in to a restless sleep. He is disturbed once more. He is not surprised to see the girl again. She is beckoning him to come to the window. Looking out he sees a graveyard, it is raining and cold. A stern faced clergyman is talking to two huddled figures, expressing his astonishment that they have come to say goodbye to someone who did not care about anyone. Mr Dawson sees the girl and the beautiful woman who, with that radiant smile replies
“Everyone should have someone to remember them”
The girl added
“He was a good man really, he had just lost his way”
A teardrop fell from Mr Dawson’s eye.
The next morning Mr Dawson awakes feeling lighter than he has done for a long while. His heart feels full of love and he finds himself humming to Christmas carols as he makes his way to his office. There he astonishes everyone by telling them all to go home as it is Christmas Eve. He announces everyone will be paid a bonus and get two bottles of wine each. He approaches his secretary and places a present into her hand addressed to Joanne. The woman smiles radiantly and insists that he joins them to celebrate Christmas dinner and give Joanne the present himself.
Joanne wakes up with a headache but she is bursting with happiness as she has a feeling her wish of having a father will come true one day in the very near future. At that moment she thinks this is going to be the best Christmas ever.
The end