The words of Charles Dickens’s story A Christmas Carol are not only famous, but resurrected often at this time of year. This following story puts a little twist on things and despite there being some familiarity with three ghosts, don’t be lulled into thinking that you can guess the ending. For the record, no character here is under the age of 18, there is no violence, nor is there any abuse. Enjoy!
It was mid-December, the days had grown quite short and the weather decidedly colder. Lori shut down her computer and headed for the coat rack. She kicked off her shoes and pulled on her red wellies knowing that the slush that still blanketed the city would make her walk home a wet and messy one. A stocking cap, mittens and a warm woolen coat completed the ensemble.
She walked to the elevator and pressed the down button. Hardly two minutes later Lori arrived at the lobby and along with dozens of others similarly dressed for the weather she exited the building, turned right, and headed up the street. The city had been festively well-adorned for the holidays and nearly everyone was in a joyful mood. Well, let’s just say nearly everyone because Lori was one of those few exceptions.
Several blocks later the commercial district transitioned into an older residential one. Lori, just 30 years old and having a decent job, was able to afford the rent for a first-floor apartment in a former house. It’s tall windows, hardwood floors, and high ceilings gave the place a distinct Victorian flavor. After putting her key in the lock and giving it a turn Lori entered, removed her hat and coat and kicked off the wellies. She headed to the kitchen, got herself a glass of wine from a half-used bottle in the fridge and then wandered into the living room. Not bothering to turn on any lights because whatever illumination there was came from the streetlight shining through the window.
“I’m going to be glad when these holidays are over!” she thought to herself. “All this happiness seems so phony and artificial,” she mused. Another big sip of the wine not only warmed her gullet but started to relax her. After a full day in front of her computer, Lori felt her eyelids getting heavy and soon dozed off to sleep.
Sometime later, and she had no idea of how long, there came a knock at the door. Getting up, she went to the entry, and opened it only to find a somewhat familiar face—somehow she felt that she had met this person before. It was a handsome guy, who looked very much like an old boyfriend from her college days. He introduced himself as the Ghost of Christmas Past. She invited him in offered him some wine as they sat down to chat.
“Those were fun days,” she began but then tears welled up in her eyes when she remembered that during senior year of college he was the one to finally take her virginity. A moist warmth was felt in her bikinis as those fond memories returned. She longed for his touch and no sooner had that thought crossed her mind when he leaned over and gave her a tender kiss. He led her by the hand to her bedroom where she saw the vision of herself lying naked on the bed with him making passionate love to her. She watched herself as her body writhed with an intense climax as Adam ejaculated. The scene was like a hologram, realistic for certain, but not totally there for real. Still her previous damp bikinis were now totally eryaman rus escort wet with lust.
Lori turned to say something to the ghost, but when she did both he and the hologram disappeared. “That was just too strange!” she exclaimed. “But it was like he was really here and I was watching as the two of us were having sex on my bed just like we used to do years ago.”
Lori made her way back to the living room. She could see by the streetlights that the snow was now coming down harder. She went to the front entry and opened the door. By now the snow had covered up any footprints, assuming, that is, that there ever were any.
Back in the living room, the glass of wine that she had poured for the ghost was largely gone. “Somebody or something was definitely here. Either that or I’m going crazy,” she said to herself. She took another long swallow of her own wine and sat down to recall what she thought that she had seen just a few moments earlier. She then relaxed and let herself doze off once more.
Sometime later, and again Lori had no idea of how long, there came another knock at the door. She wondered if it might have been the ghost coming back, but when she answered it, there stood a different ghost. He was covered with snow and introduced himself as the Ghost of Christmas Present. She invited him in, but he refused but told her to get her hat, coat and wellies on because they were going to go for a walk.
Now totally curious Lori wasted no time getting ready to brave the storm and soon they were walking back towards downtown. The snow was deeper now, but air was still and without any breeze the night felt magical and not the least bit biting. She seemed surprised when he took her hand and held it as they crossed the street that at this hour was uncharacteristically lightly traveled. They walked, no they really strolled at a romantic pace that only lovers do. Lori loved every moment of it and hoped it would never end.
Some blocks down the avenue they stopped to do some window shopping. It was a jewelry store and inside there was a young couple the woman of which looked uncannily like her, who were looking in a display case. A clerk came over and the ghost pointed out something in the case, but Lori could not immediately see what it was. Moments later the clerk placed a diamond ring on her finger. “My gosh but that stone is huge. It’s gorgeous!” she thought to herself. She watched the events with keen attention and noticed that the ring fit her finger perfectly. It was a wonderful scene and Lori was fixated on it.
She diverted her gaze from the interior of the store to look at the ghost, but there was nobody there. He was gone. Then when she looked back into the jewelry store the place was closed and the lights had been turned off.
“What the . . .?” she asked herself. “Am I dreaming again.” She turned and looked both ways up and down the street. There were a few people out in the storm, but certainly nobody who looked like the ghost. Lori realized now that she was alone and sadly headed home. Still, the thoughts about what she had seen lingered in her head. How she would love to be engaged to a handsome guy and ultimately get to marry him.
Several minutes later Lori found herself back home and let herself in. Again, she took off her coat and wellies. Then she retrieved her empty wine glass ankara escort bayan and went to the kitchen where she refilled it. She was now very much concerned about her sanity but also knew that she hadn’t had enough wine to make her drunk enough to possibly hallucinate. Another healthy gulp and she again sat down in that comfy old Queen Anne chair, the wings of which gave a cozy feeling and she dozed off yet for the third time. Her mind played games with her as she flashed back to happier times. In the faint light from outside if someone was watching they would have noticed a slight yet contented smile come to Lori’s lips.
As before there came yet another knock at the door. Hoping it might be that ghost coming back to be with her, she answered it, but was surprised by the presence of an unknown man who was well-groomed and immensely handsome.
“Yes?” she asked.
“I’m the Ghost of Christmas Future,” he said. “You have already met my two colleagues, the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present.”
“Oh, no! That could not have been who was here earlier,” said Lori.
“Yes, they were images from your memory. They were ghosts, of that I assure you. Just like I am”
“But there is no such thing as ghosts. Right?”
“Not quite. How do you otherwise explain that mostly empty wine glass? Or maybe the fact that despite the storm there were no footprints in the snow?”
Lori thought about that for a moment. “How else would this ghost know that those really did happen?” she asked herself.
“OK, OK, so what are you going to show me. You’re the third person, er. . . ghost who has interrupted my peaceful nap this evening. Do you want a glass of wine?”
“No, I want you to get dressed because I want to take you for a little walk.”
“Not another walk? Look I just got back from a walk in the storm. I got chilled and wet. Do I need to get dressed once again?”
“Yes, you do,” said the ghost. “But trust me, you won’t be sorry.”
Lori grudgingly pulled her wellies back on, pulled the knit cap down over her hair so that it mostly covered her ears, and slipped her coat back on. “There! Satisfied? Now where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see,” said the ghost.
“I’m not stepping foot outside this house unless you tell me.”
“I can’t do that. At least not yet.”
“Will it make me happy or sad?”
“Maybe some of both,” came the vaguest response.
“OK, you have my attention. I’m curious. Let’s go.”
While the earlier ghost had taken her hand, this ghost took her arm and helped her across the now slippery sidewalks. They walked several blocks and soon were in front of the city hospital.
“We’re at the hospital. Why are we going in there?”
“I want you to see something,” said the unnamed ghost as he held open the door. They walked right past reception and headed for a bank of elevators.
“Don’t we need to register with reception?”
“No, not to worry. Actually they cannot see us,” came the explanation as they got off the elevator onto the third floor and walked past a sign announcing “maternity wing.”
“We’re at the maternity section! What’s happening?”
“You’ll see,” said the ghost as he pushed open the swinging doors to the delivery room. Lori’s mouth dropped open as she looked at the woman on the delivery table. elvankent escort bayan She was naked from the waist down with her legs spread. She was sweating but also it was obvious that she had been crying. The woman looked just like Lori except had a very swollen abdomen.
They stood and watched as the woman strained some with the result that a baby’s head emerged from her vagina. Another push or two and the baby, a little boy, was born right before their eyes. The woman sobbed with joy as the nurse put the infant on her stomach.
Lori was overcome with emotion watching the scene, but mostly because that woman looked just like her. Still, she stood there and took in the scene. “Why did you three ghosts visit me and show me what could be my past, present, and future.?”
“Before I answer that,” let me ask you three questions,” said the ghost. “Were you happy to see yourself making love to the Ghost of Christmas Past?
“Absolutely. He and I had had wonderful sex together. I’d love to relive that anytime.”
“Where you happy to see the second ghost selecting an engagement ring for you?”
“Yes, that was a wonderful moment, too. I’ve dreamed of such an event.”
“And what of the last scene? Were you happy to see yourself giving birth tonight?”
“Yes, and while I have never been pregnant that would also be a future experience that I would love to have.”
“Perfect!” said the ghost and in an instant was gone. Baffled by the events of the evening, Lori looked around and the ghost was nowhere to be seen. Moreover, the hospital staff was now looking at her with a cautious stare that implied, “What are you doing here?”
Lori went back down to the lobby, exited the hospital and made her way back to her home. The snow was coming down harder than ever and all tracks left by earlier pedestrians were long gone. She made her way up her walk and let herself in. It had been a tiring evening and she decided to head up to bed.
Upon entering her bedroom Lori was taken aback by finding a naked man in her bed. She jostled the figure and when she looked closely he looked just like the Ghost of Christmas Past.
“Hey, where have you been. I thought you might want some company tonight.”
“But you were here earlier.”
“No, not really. I have spent a lot of time tracking you down and only just got here an hour or so ago. Lori, it’s me Adam. You remember from our college days.”
“Huh? I’m really glad to see you, but it has been a tiring day. I am just going to change and then get a good night’s sleep. I’m totally wiped out, both physically and emotionally.”
While Lori’s intentions sounded good she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have sex with Adam one more time. Without going through all of the details, let’s take it on faith that it was exceptionally good for both of them and that in the end she did get her night’s sleep. Perhaps she was more satisfied and contented than she could recall in recent memory.
A week later Adam returned and suggested that they go shopping and they did, in fact, wander into a jewelry store where Lori tried on a couple of engagement rings. Yes, the season had taken a positive turn since that fateful night with the three ghosts.
If you are wondering what happened with the third vision, let’s just say that Lori was expecting to get her period a week later, but as of last report she was seriously late. From what has been heard it is entirely possible that the third vision was likely played out approximately nine months later.
As for Lori, ever since that memorable evening she has been quite ecstatic for this season.