From: jane@soave.swdc.stratus.com (Jane Beckman)
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Subject: A Christmas Visit
Date: 24 Dec 92 00:56:26 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc., San Jose, CA



The door of The Place banged open, and a drift of snow swept
in.  "Hey, close the door!" someone yelled, then noticed that
the snow was unmelting, and the breeze warm, not chilly.
Something odd was afoot, but there are always odd things afoot
at Callahans.

And then HE came in, filling the door, his red robes spangled
with snow, his cheeks and nose rosy with cold---or was it from
too much mead and wassail?  His beard was huge and bushy, and
there were little bits of holly braided into it.  He was
crowned with holly and---winking Christmas lights?  Like some
improbable figure of Henry VIII, a huge turkey leg was gripped
in one hand, and he raised it to his mouth and tore off a huge
piece.  "And Greetings of the Season to you all!" he roared,
like the wind trying to tear the roof off a house, with a
pealing of bells in the distance.  "I have to be off, on my
way, in a short while, but I thought I would stop at a place that
seems terribly like my sort of place, and wish you all a Merry
Christmas!" 

A couple of people recognise him.  "Um, Hello.  If my memory
of Dickens serves, you would be Scrooge's Ghost of Christmas
Present?"  

The great figure laughed.  "Not quite!  I think you have me
confused with one of my brothers!  He was a fine, blustery,
boisterous fellow, but he's over a hundred and fifty years
older than I am!  I've got almost 2000 brothers, now, you
know!  Splendid, every one of them!  But for some reason, that
brother is the one everyone remembers.  You see, I'm the Ghost
of *Your* Christmas Present!  I know a string of new carols,
and tidings of Solstice and Yule, and new customs that my
brother wouldn't even recognise, to go with so many of the old
ones.  And oh, the world has changed since his time!  If I took you 
out to see MY Christmas, you'd see houses strung with lights, and 
luminarias shining on walls, and Las Posadas processions going by on
streets, and customs too numerous too mention!  There is even 
a bush in Somalia decorated with mineral water bottles."  

His face darkened.  "You'd see things that distress me, too, I
fear.  Folks out of work, folks living on streets and eating
at missions, people who seem to think that Christmas is how
much you buy, how much you spend, families who fight and
shower each other with abuse over trivial things, on what
should be a joyous day, old people living lonely lives in tiny
apartments with not enough heat...

"But my brothers have seen dark things, too.  And there are
other things, like charities who give out bags of food, and
places who collect toys for children.  Think about these, and
my brief time here, and what we can all do to celebrate the
true spirit.  Truth be told, there are many more Scrooges that
have risen to take the place of Old Ebeneezer.  We need to
show them the true Spirit, which is not of material things,
but of hope and joy and the human spirit!"

Stamping his feet, he approached the bar.  A huge hand pounded
on the counter.  "Callahan, my man, fetch me a brimming bowl
of wassail, and season it with a cup of kindness and a bit of
charity, that I may toast the Season!"

Mike Callahan seemed hard-pressed to find an appropriate
vessel for such a drink, but finally settled on the trophy
that had been gathering dust in an obscure corner.  "Ah, a
Loving Cup!" said the Ghost with obvious relish.  "That's just
the Thing!"  He waved his hand, and the fire rushed up into a
roaring blaze, from the small blaze previously burning.  "Ah,
now that's more like it!"

Quaffing from his huge vessel, he turned and faced the room.
"So, who will join me to toast the Spirit of Christmas?!"


 *****MERRY CHRISTMAS, PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN!***** 

     ---from Jilara and Alaric, who were last seen---
     ---celebrating the season under the mistletoe--- ;-)
--
  Jilara   [jane@swdc.stratus.com]

"The field of pseudo-science hasn't progressed much in ten
years, except to gain access to the net." --from ca.earthquakes
Newsgroups: alt.callahans