The Ghost of Christmas Last

By Sean Hayden

Throughout history, men who do not keep the spirit of Christmas within their heart were often visited by the three ghosts of Christmas. These visitations taught the importance of giving to the selfish and greedy.

Those were the men worth saving.

Those who were not were only visited by one spirit and it wasn't for educational purposes...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Untold Press
• Release date: Dec 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301043989

Sean Hayden

Born the son of a fire chief, Sean naturally developed a love of playing with fire. His family and friends quickly found other outlets for his destructive creativity. Writing is his latest endeavor. Always a fan of the macabre, mythical, and magical, Sean found a love of urban fantasy and horror. After writing several novels in this genre, he found, fell in love with, and immersed himself in steampunk. He has always wanted to rewrite history and steampunk gave him that opportunity. Sean currently lives in Florida as a fiber-optic engineer as well as an author. He was blessed with the two most amazing children he could ever hope for, has met the absolute love of his life, who coincidentally is his partner in everything. His hobbies include grand designs on world domination as well as a starring role in his own television s

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Sean Hayden

Cover Illustration © 2012 by Sean Hayden

Stock photo used in cover design © 2012 by Dreamstime/Rudall30

SMASHWORDS EDITION

First Untold Press Publication / December 2012

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination and or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published by Untold Press LLC

114 NE Estia Lane

Port St Lucie, FL 34983

www.untoldpress.com

PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Drew Middleton stared as the snow fell down around him. A mother and child stood transfixed in front of the department store window like mindless fools. The little boy pointed from one spot in the display to another and with each passing movement of his greasy little finger, his smile grew wider. The mother nodded and said, Okay, with each item the child pointed at. In all of his sixty-three years, He had never, ever understood Christmas.

It probably had a lot to do with his poor childhood. His parents barely made enough money to put food on the table let alone spend frivolously on decorations, trees, or even gifts. His mother sometimes played Christmas music on their old record player, but that was the extent of their Yule tradition. A few times in his youth his father had tossed him a couple of coins with a muttered, Merry Christmas, Kid, but those memories were more of an embarrassment than heartwarming.

Imbeciles, he muttered at the mother and child and gave them a wide berth as he passed by on the already slick New York sidewalk.

Excuse me? The woman peered at him as he walked by.

I said, 'You are an imbecile.' Good day, he said with a sneer as he continued on his less than merry way.

What's his problem, mommy?

The voices started to fade as he continued walking, but he was sure he heard the word, Scrooge. The word brought a smile to his lips. It was the first one he had in a few days.

Bah, humbug, he said as his smile grew wider.

The rest of his walk to the Brighton building felt a little more pleasant. The streets were filled with shoppers, but it did little to deter his improved mood. It was the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday, everyone called it. He saw it as just another day, like the day before. Most people in New York would either be spending the day with their