- 25 Dec 08, 00:08#86040
Although it may already be Christmas for some of you, Merry Christmas to you anyways.
Infact... Merry Christmas to 7UpJordan, 8-ball, AKR, Ask Jeeves [Bot], Baidu [Spider], Centauri, Clarkey3262, Denthúl, Dutchcruijff, EPE, EwmanM, Ferrari man 009, FerrariFan63, Gigabot [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google [Bot], Haze, Jabberwocky, Juliet P, KyrosV, Longbow, MAD MAX, MSN [Bot], MSNbot Media, McLaren Fan, Nick from Oz, Red_Five, Rick_1138, SHINYBOY, Stealthgate007, Stephen, Yahoo [Bot], big ron, bjsulla, bud, darwin_dali, deMuRe, domlebo70, f1maniac95, hamilton08, headless, iPod, kerc, liquidmetal, phil, racechick, scotty, vintage.... and who ever didn't login in the last 24 hours, Im thinking Hanwombat, Tex, Al4x to name just a few.
Hope everyone has a very peaceful and fulfilling Holiday Period.
In the theme of the season I felt inspired to bring some yule time cheer.
Our story begins, in a cold wintery London. It is early evening and as smoke bellows out of the chimneys of the city skyline, a dim light can be seen coming from an upstairs office. By a table a shivering figure sits, with only the light of a candle to keep him warm.
“Mister Scrooge”, a rather cold Anthony Cratchet murmured towards his boss.
He was not met with an answer.
“Mister Scrooge!” Cratchet asked again, feeling a shiver overcome his body.
“What is it Cratchet?” Snapped the grumpy old man. “Can’t you see I’m counting the money I’ve just received from Morocco for their grand prix in 2010?”
“Yes, but I was wondering…” Anthony stuttered.
“Spit it out, Cratchet, spit it out!”
“Well seeing as It is Christmas day tomorrow, Mister Scrooge, I was wondering if I could have the day off?”
Scrooge’s head lifted up from behind his wads of cash.
“The day off? The day off?” Anthony’s cowered at Scrooge’s fiery stare, “Asking for things like that will lead to you having no job to come back to.”
“I know… but its just my family are having dinner…”
“You know Cratchet, your job is not safe, I only keep you on because you are good for my business and image.” Scrooge picked up his top hat and studied the detailed stitching on the inside. “I suppose you can have a half day off.”
“Oh why thank you Mister Scrooge, thank you.” Anthony got out of his seat to leave
“But only if you stay late tonight and make sure East Midland’s airport will refuse to reduce air traffic for the future British Grand Prix.” Scrooge pointed his finger straight at Anthony, causing him to hurry back to his seat, “I’m going to go home, I have a few things I need to do before tomorrow?”
“Is it getting things ready for your Christmas dinner?”
“No, Bah Humbug!” Scrooge cursed walking over to the coat stand and wrapping a scarf around his neck, “I have to phone my lawyer, I’m making sure that none of my pennies are given to that god forsaken wife of mine.”
“Oh well Merry Christmas Mister Scrooge.” Anthony smiled, quickly scurrying into his paperwork when met once again by Scrooge’s icy glare.
Slamming the door behind him, Scrooge began to walk down the street towards his mansion. However as he rumbled through his pockets looking for his keys, he was approached by two men in rather tatty white race suits.
“Spare a few pennies for the poor sir?” Asked the tall grey haired one, holding aloft an empty tin can.
“Its for our race team. We’ve recently went out of business you see, and need to try to find a buyer. Until then we’ve got to try and help our employees, they are in store for a very hard winter.” the second short, fat man with glasses explained.
“Bah Humbug!” Scrooge snapped backhanding the can away from his face. “I am not made of money! Why would I give my pennies away to lowlife like yourself?”
“But it’s Christmas!” The two men exclaimed in unison.
“Christmas. Is that a time for giving?” Scrooge asked.
“Yes, of course sir.” the tall man answered.
“Well then.” Scrooge swiped the tin can from the other man’s hands, “You won’t mind me taking your gift for me now? The money you owe me for pulling out of Formula one.”
Scrooge opened his gates and proceeded to his door. Laughing menacingly, he left the two charity workers in a daze.
Later that night Scrooge sat down in his arm chair, next to the roaring fire, and read his newspaper.
“Bah humbug, three American wagon manufacturers nearly out of business? Good for them, if only they’d paid me to host a Grand Prix in their country, or Canada for that matter.” Scrooge sniggered to himself.
Just then, a cold wind blew through the room, extinguishing the fire and blowing the room door wide open.
“What was that?” Scrooge said getting to his feet and walking over to close the door.
“Scrooooogggeee” an eerie voice began to fill the room as another gust of wind blew, almost knocking Scrooge off his feet.
“Wha… what was that? Who goes there?” Scrooge squeaked, cowering behind a chest of drawers.
Suddenly Scrooge heard footsteps coming down the hall. Behind those footsteps Scrooge could hear the sound of chains clanging together.
“Bernard Scrooogeee” The voice echoed again as a ghostly figure entered the room, dressed in bandages and chains.
“Jean-Marie Balestre!” Scrooge exclaimed peeking his head up from behind the chest of drawers.
“Yes it is I, your old business partner! I come with a warning Bernard!” The grumbling tones of the ghost sent a shiver down Scrooge’s spine.
“A warning? But your dead?”
“Yes I am, you have been very bad Bernard. I would have thought that my passing would help you realise the error of your ways. Instead it has hardened you, you are worse than ever.”
“Get on with it, time is money!” Scrooge raised a cocky smile.
“There you see? I was like you Bernie. A complete tosser and look where that left me. I was pushed out of my office, left to rot.”
“You weren’t ruthless enough that was your problem!”
“No Scrooggee” Balestre’s voiced boomed through the room, “I should have been more open to ideas, especially from the normal aspirated bunch that you were apart of. Don’t end up like me Bernie, forced to carry around the chains of my guilt around my neck.”
“I will not change!”
“Well tonight you will have no choice, tonight you will be visited by three ghosts. During tonight these spirits will make you see the error of your ways.”
“Bah Humbug, spirits? Your having a laugh, be gone Balestre!” Scrooge got up and began to try and shoo the ghost. “Be gone!”
“Oh I am going, but you have been warned!” The ghostly figure began to levitate out of the door, “Good luck Scrooge! Au’ revoir.”
Sudden a silence filled the room, the light from the moon filled the room as Scrooge picked himself back up.
“Spirits? Bah I must be seeing things. Too much sherry. That’ll be the day.”
A few hours later Scrooge was asleep in his bed, when suddenly the same harsh wind blew throughout.
“Scrooge.” Another ghostly voice whispered into Scrooge’s ear, waking him up with a startle.
“Am I dreaming?” Scrooge shrieked. “Your seriously not a ghost are you?”
The ghostly figure looked down at his fat self in embarrassment. “Yes of course I am! I’m the Ghost of Christmas past!”
Scrooge stared up at the ghost, fixated on his thick rimmed glasses and goatee, “You know, you look awfully familiar.”
“Of course I would, I’ve taken the face of one of the many team bosses you helped run out of business.” The ghost bellowed grabbing Scrooge’s hand and dragging him out of bed “I’m going to show you the error of your ways Bernard.”
With a flash they had travelled back in time. Everything looked familiar to Scrooge.
“Why this can’t be possible!” Scrooge said in amazement, “It’s looks like Anderstorp…”
“In 1978, yes.” The ghost smiled standing beside him, “just after the grand prix in fact.”
“Surely this is all a dream.” Scrooge moved forward to touch a wheel rim sitting at the back of the garage, “but it seems so real!”
“Yes this is real Scrooge. Remember him.” The ghost pointed over to the garage door. There stood a younger Scrooge, still short as ever, talking to another man who towered over him.
“Why that’s Gordon Murray, my old designer!” Scrooge was startled.
“They are going to protest you know?” Gordon Murray sighed, “Colin’s even said he’ll design one.”
“Oh let them, by the time they do we’ll be miles ahead, all in the name of competition.” the much younger Scrooge chuckled.
“Remember when you were like that?” The ghost said, snapping Scrooge out of his shock, “Remember when you were a team player? Standing up for the teams, the little man?”
“Of course, like it was yesterday.” Scrooge turned to face the ghost.
“You’ve really changed haven’t you?”
“Have I?”
“No sooner you would be FOCA president, and instead of standing up for the teams you set out to screw them out of their deserved cash! Instead of helping the little men you charged them more. Team after team, and it just wasn’t constructors. Why do you think we never race here anymore?”
“Well…” Scrooge stammered in defence, “You have to start somewhere.”
“You betrayed them Bernard, you let them down. You let me down too and now all I’ve got is a television job! I want my race team back!”
“I’ll sue you for slan…” Before Scrooge could speak the ghost swung a punch at Scrooge square on the nose, sending him to the floor.
When Scrooge finally woke up he was no longer in the Brabham garage, he was marooned in the snow. Clamouring to his feet, Scrooge looked around. He was in a London street. People were rejoicing, singing carols and being generally merry.
“Bah Humbug.” Scrooge muttered, trying to find the best way to get back home.
“That’s not the words!”
“Oh no not another one!” Scrooge said jumping out of his skin as another ghost appeared.
“Yes it is I scrooge, the ghost of Christmas Present.” The ghost said.
“Lemmie guess, you‘ve got something to show me?” Bernie groaned, as the ghost helped him on his feet.
“Indeed.” The ghost said, walking over and looking in the nearest house window, “Look at this.”
Scrooge walked up to the window and looked through the window. Inside the house, there was a young family - three children sitting around the dinner table and a woman tending to a pot cooking on the fire.
“Where have you taken me spirit?” Scrooge asked.
“To the house of a familiar soul.” The ghost answered.
“Why, that’s Cratchet!” Scrooge exclaimed noticing his employee coming into the room and sitting down at the table.
“Yes, probably the only man who is still there for you?” The ghost not smiling at all, running his hands through his balding head. “You wouldn’t even give him Christmas day off.”
“He got a half day!” Scrooge swiped, looking over at the woman of the house, taking opening the pot to reveal a horrid concoction. “What the hell is that they’re having?”
“It’s all they can afford.” The ghost said seriously, “You don’t pay well. And as the world hits recession you aren’t exactly offering a Christmas bonus…”
“He… he could have told me…” Scrooge looked closer at the poor furniture in the house.
“You never listened, you threatened redundancy.” The ghost pointed at the wife, “Anthony’s wife, Luiz Felipe, is expecting again. How will they afford four children when they can’t three?”
“The kids seem healthy enough to me.” Scrooge smirked.
“Oh really.” The ghost raised his perfectly trimmed eye brow, “Look closer. That young boy, Kimi, he started the drink at an early age. His potential career has gone down the tubes and its effected his eye sight, he keeps getting distracted. The middle son, Felipe works after school, but he faces a pay cut, but he is protesting against it. Getting on the wrong side of the law so he is. And the youngest one… Lewis…”
Tears began to fill Scrooge’s eyes as he watched the youngest boy, struggle to sit upright, “What’s wrong with him?”
“They couldn’t afford to pre order the new Stirling Moss Mercedes Road car, they had to get him a cheaper option. They stole the safety car.”
“That’s crazy everyone should be able to afford it I can…”
“Yes I know 12 times over.” The ghost exclaimed, “you have more than enough to keep you Scrooge, you should give more to your employees, the men and woman who keep your business ticking and allow it to survive. Its just like team mates, they should be always allowed to race fairly and given the right to have a clean cut. Imagine if there is no money, how will Lewis be able to pose as a rapper? He may grow STUBBLE and gallivant with any old female popstar, and that is not allowed.”
“What will happen to Lewis?” called Scrooge, tears falling down his face, but the setting had now changed, it was pitch black, “spirit where are you? Spirit!?”
“Bernard Scroooge.” A final more frightening voice approached, hobbling over to Scrooge with a TV around his foot.
“Oh no, stay away from me.”
“I’m here to tell of your future. What will happen to you and those around you, if you do not change your ways!” groaned the ghost.
Suddenly images began to swirl around Scrooge:
The arse of a familiar friend being smacked, an empty paddock area, Rubens Barrichello.
Then one stood out, it was Cratchet’s house. The same dinner table, but where was Lewis? Suddenly Tony George came into view, laughing menacingly as Lewis signed away his life to the IRL - around and around and around.
“No no.” Scrooge began to panic, “I can’t take anymore of this, please take me home, I can change!”
“But you haven’t seen what happens to you!” The ghost laughed smugly pointing over to the corner.
Scrooge screamed in horror at the sight of his ex-wife rolling around in his money.
“Give us our money!” The ghost punched Scrooge again, “And next time don’t mention our secret agreement.”
It would seem like an eternity before Scrooge woke up. Feeling his face throb he opened his eyes and sat up. It was morning, he was home in his bed.
Jumping up with a skip, Scrooge ran over and opened his bedroom window.
“I made it, I’m still here.” grinned Scrooge, “You boy what day is it?”
“It’s Christmas day sir!” the young boy who Scrooge was shouting at from across the street called.
“Ah yes very good.” Scrooge said, opening his sock drawer and pulling out a money bag, “Here son, take this and go and buy the biggest Turkey for you and your family!”
“Wow, sir that’s more than enough here.” The young boy exclaimed, hurrying over to catch the bag as Scrooge threw it out of the window. “I was sacked from my job earlier in the year, but this money could help me continue to write my internet blog.”
“Very good son, now hurry along.” Scrooge called back, closing his window and hurrying to get dressed.
Some time later, Scrooge hurried out of his front door and out of his gate. Only stopping to take one long breath of London air.
“Well hello gentlemen.” Scrooge exclaimed walking over to the same two charity workers from the previous night.
“Erm well hello sir… we don’t want no trouble.” One of them said.
“Trouble? Why would I bring trouble?” Scrooge laughed, “I bring good news. Here is the number of a client of mine, Mr D Richards, get in touch with him, he will surely save your team.”
“Really?” The short charity worker said astounded.
“Yes really.” Scrooge said giving each man separate money bags, “And forget those taxes forget every surcharge. It’s Christmas!”
Scrooge skipped joyfully away from the men, who were still in shock by his announcement.
Further down the street Scrooge came to the home of his employee. Scrooge began to bang the door frantically, “Come on open up open up!”
“Mister Scrooge?” Anthony opened the door with a startle, “What… what are you doing here?”
“Work Cratchet.” Scrooge growled, pushing him out of the way and walking into the house.
“Work?” Anthony said.
“Yes, turns out you can’t have the half day off now.”
“I can’t?”
“No, you’ll just have to have the full day off instead.” Scrooge chuckled, embracing his bewildered employee.
“Have you lost it Mr Scrooge?” Anthony said confused.
“No my dear boy, not good enough for you? Well have the rest of the week off, and next week until new year. You need your rest for next season. We’re going to be full.”
“How do you mean sir?” Anthony raised an eyebrow watching Scrooge pick up Lewis in his arms.
“We’re going to give the teams a fairer share in the profits, we’re going to drop the circuit charges and cut off our ties with countries with no motorsport heritage.”
“But… that’s not you sir…”
“And night races? Hell who needs them, people in Europe have been getting up for years, why change now?”
“Wow, Mr Scrooge this is the best Christmas ever!” Anthony smiled, “I was worrying I’d have to go back on the trains.”
“Nonsense, I’m promoting you!” Scrooge giggled, “And for the kids, I’ve brought gifts, and don’t worry about the safety car I’ll replace it. We can all get shiny Mercedes!”
And so there ends another Christmas tale. From that day on Scrooge became a better person and Formula One changed forever for the good.
Sadly fairytales never come true… not in the real world anyways.
Merry Christmas one and all, and let’s look forward to a Happy New Year!
P.S. Too much mulled wine for me
(all grammar, spelling etc etc, forgive me, this was a long whim...)
Infact... Merry Christmas to 7UpJordan, 8-ball, AKR, Ask Jeeves [Bot], Baidu [Spider], Centauri, Clarkey3262, Denthúl, Dutchcruijff, EPE, EwmanM, Ferrari man 009, FerrariFan63, Gigabot [Bot], Google Adsense [Bot], Google [Bot], Haze, Jabberwocky, Juliet P, KyrosV, Longbow, MAD MAX, MSN [Bot], MSNbot Media, McLaren Fan, Nick from Oz, Red_Five, Rick_1138, SHINYBOY, Stealthgate007, Stephen, Yahoo [Bot], big ron, bjsulla, bud, darwin_dali, deMuRe, domlebo70, f1maniac95, hamilton08, headless, iPod, kerc, liquidmetal, phil, racechick, scotty, vintage.... and who ever didn't login in the last 24 hours, Im thinking Hanwombat, Tex, Al4x to name just a few.
Hope everyone has a very peaceful and fulfilling Holiday Period.
In the theme of the season I felt inspired to bring some yule time cheer.
Our story begins, in a cold wintery London. It is early evening and as smoke bellows out of the chimneys of the city skyline, a dim light can be seen coming from an upstairs office. By a table a shivering figure sits, with only the light of a candle to keep him warm.
“Mister Scrooge”, a rather cold Anthony Cratchet murmured towards his boss.
He was not met with an answer.
“Mister Scrooge!” Cratchet asked again, feeling a shiver overcome his body.
“What is it Cratchet?” Snapped the grumpy old man. “Can’t you see I’m counting the money I’ve just received from Morocco for their grand prix in 2010?”
“Yes, but I was wondering…” Anthony stuttered.
“Spit it out, Cratchet, spit it out!”
“Well seeing as It is Christmas day tomorrow, Mister Scrooge, I was wondering if I could have the day off?”
Scrooge’s head lifted up from behind his wads of cash.
“The day off? The day off?” Anthony’s cowered at Scrooge’s fiery stare, “Asking for things like that will lead to you having no job to come back to.”
“I know… but its just my family are having dinner…”
“You know Cratchet, your job is not safe, I only keep you on because you are good for my business and image.” Scrooge picked up his top hat and studied the detailed stitching on the inside. “I suppose you can have a half day off.”
“Oh why thank you Mister Scrooge, thank you.” Anthony got out of his seat to leave
“But only if you stay late tonight and make sure East Midland’s airport will refuse to reduce air traffic for the future British Grand Prix.” Scrooge pointed his finger straight at Anthony, causing him to hurry back to his seat, “I’m going to go home, I have a few things I need to do before tomorrow?”
“Is it getting things ready for your Christmas dinner?”
“No, Bah Humbug!” Scrooge cursed walking over to the coat stand and wrapping a scarf around his neck, “I have to phone my lawyer, I’m making sure that none of my pennies are given to that god forsaken wife of mine.”
“Oh well Merry Christmas Mister Scrooge.” Anthony smiled, quickly scurrying into his paperwork when met once again by Scrooge’s icy glare.
Slamming the door behind him, Scrooge began to walk down the street towards his mansion. However as he rumbled through his pockets looking for his keys, he was approached by two men in rather tatty white race suits.
“Spare a few pennies for the poor sir?” Asked the tall grey haired one, holding aloft an empty tin can.
“Its for our race team. We’ve recently went out of business you see, and need to try to find a buyer. Until then we’ve got to try and help our employees, they are in store for a very hard winter.” the second short, fat man with glasses explained.
“Bah Humbug!” Scrooge snapped backhanding the can away from his face. “I am not made of money! Why would I give my pennies away to lowlife like yourself?”
“But it’s Christmas!” The two men exclaimed in unison.
“Christmas. Is that a time for giving?” Scrooge asked.
“Yes, of course sir.” the tall man answered.
“Well then.” Scrooge swiped the tin can from the other man’s hands, “You won’t mind me taking your gift for me now? The money you owe me for pulling out of Formula one.”
Scrooge opened his gates and proceeded to his door. Laughing menacingly, he left the two charity workers in a daze.
Later that night Scrooge sat down in his arm chair, next to the roaring fire, and read his newspaper.
“Bah humbug, three American wagon manufacturers nearly out of business? Good for them, if only they’d paid me to host a Grand Prix in their country, or Canada for that matter.” Scrooge sniggered to himself.
Just then, a cold wind blew through the room, extinguishing the fire and blowing the room door wide open.
“What was that?” Scrooge said getting to his feet and walking over to close the door.
“Scrooooogggeee” an eerie voice began to fill the room as another gust of wind blew, almost knocking Scrooge off his feet.
“Wha… what was that? Who goes there?” Scrooge squeaked, cowering behind a chest of drawers.
Suddenly Scrooge heard footsteps coming down the hall. Behind those footsteps Scrooge could hear the sound of chains clanging together.
“Bernard Scrooogeee” The voice echoed again as a ghostly figure entered the room, dressed in bandages and chains.
“Jean-Marie Balestre!” Scrooge exclaimed peeking his head up from behind the chest of drawers.
“Yes it is I, your old business partner! I come with a warning Bernard!” The grumbling tones of the ghost sent a shiver down Scrooge’s spine.
“A warning? But your dead?”
“Yes I am, you have been very bad Bernard. I would have thought that my passing would help you realise the error of your ways. Instead it has hardened you, you are worse than ever.”
“Get on with it, time is money!” Scrooge raised a cocky smile.
“There you see? I was like you Bernie. A complete tosser and look where that left me. I was pushed out of my office, left to rot.”
“You weren’t ruthless enough that was your problem!”
“No Scrooggee” Balestre’s voiced boomed through the room, “I should have been more open to ideas, especially from the normal aspirated bunch that you were apart of. Don’t end up like me Bernie, forced to carry around the chains of my guilt around my neck.”
“I will not change!”
“Well tonight you will have no choice, tonight you will be visited by three ghosts. During tonight these spirits will make you see the error of your ways.”
“Bah Humbug, spirits? Your having a laugh, be gone Balestre!” Scrooge got up and began to try and shoo the ghost. “Be gone!”
“Oh I am going, but you have been warned!” The ghostly figure began to levitate out of the door, “Good luck Scrooge! Au’ revoir.”
Sudden a silence filled the room, the light from the moon filled the room as Scrooge picked himself back up.
“Spirits? Bah I must be seeing things. Too much sherry. That’ll be the day.”
A few hours later Scrooge was asleep in his bed, when suddenly the same harsh wind blew throughout.
“Scrooge.” Another ghostly voice whispered into Scrooge’s ear, waking him up with a startle.
“Am I dreaming?” Scrooge shrieked. “Your seriously not a ghost are you?”
The ghostly figure looked down at his fat self in embarrassment. “Yes of course I am! I’m the Ghost of Christmas past!”
Scrooge stared up at the ghost, fixated on his thick rimmed glasses and goatee, “You know, you look awfully familiar.”
“Of course I would, I’ve taken the face of one of the many team bosses you helped run out of business.” The ghost bellowed grabbing Scrooge’s hand and dragging him out of bed “I’m going to show you the error of your ways Bernard.”
With a flash they had travelled back in time. Everything looked familiar to Scrooge.
“Why this can’t be possible!” Scrooge said in amazement, “It’s looks like Anderstorp…”
“In 1978, yes.” The ghost smiled standing beside him, “just after the grand prix in fact.”
“Surely this is all a dream.” Scrooge moved forward to touch a wheel rim sitting at the back of the garage, “but it seems so real!”
“Yes this is real Scrooge. Remember him.” The ghost pointed over to the garage door. There stood a younger Scrooge, still short as ever, talking to another man who towered over him.
“Why that’s Gordon Murray, my old designer!” Scrooge was startled.
“They are going to protest you know?” Gordon Murray sighed, “Colin’s even said he’ll design one.”
“Oh let them, by the time they do we’ll be miles ahead, all in the name of competition.” the much younger Scrooge chuckled.
“Remember when you were like that?” The ghost said, snapping Scrooge out of his shock, “Remember when you were a team player? Standing up for the teams, the little man?”
“Of course, like it was yesterday.” Scrooge turned to face the ghost.
“You’ve really changed haven’t you?”
“Have I?”
“No sooner you would be FOCA president, and instead of standing up for the teams you set out to screw them out of their deserved cash! Instead of helping the little men you charged them more. Team after team, and it just wasn’t constructors. Why do you think we never race here anymore?”
“Well…” Scrooge stammered in defence, “You have to start somewhere.”
“You betrayed them Bernard, you let them down. You let me down too and now all I’ve got is a television job! I want my race team back!”
“I’ll sue you for slan…” Before Scrooge could speak the ghost swung a punch at Scrooge square on the nose, sending him to the floor.
When Scrooge finally woke up he was no longer in the Brabham garage, he was marooned in the snow. Clamouring to his feet, Scrooge looked around. He was in a London street. People were rejoicing, singing carols and being generally merry.
“Bah Humbug.” Scrooge muttered, trying to find the best way to get back home.
“That’s not the words!”
“Oh no not another one!” Scrooge said jumping out of his skin as another ghost appeared.
“Yes it is I scrooge, the ghost of Christmas Present.” The ghost said.
“Lemmie guess, you‘ve got something to show me?” Bernie groaned, as the ghost helped him on his feet.
“Indeed.” The ghost said, walking over and looking in the nearest house window, “Look at this.”
Scrooge walked up to the window and looked through the window. Inside the house, there was a young family - three children sitting around the dinner table and a woman tending to a pot cooking on the fire.
“Where have you taken me spirit?” Scrooge asked.
“To the house of a familiar soul.” The ghost answered.
“Why, that’s Cratchet!” Scrooge exclaimed noticing his employee coming into the room and sitting down at the table.
“Yes, probably the only man who is still there for you?” The ghost not smiling at all, running his hands through his balding head. “You wouldn’t even give him Christmas day off.”
“He got a half day!” Scrooge swiped, looking over at the woman of the house, taking opening the pot to reveal a horrid concoction. “What the hell is that they’re having?”
“It’s all they can afford.” The ghost said seriously, “You don’t pay well. And as the world hits recession you aren’t exactly offering a Christmas bonus…”
“He… he could have told me…” Scrooge looked closer at the poor furniture in the house.
“You never listened, you threatened redundancy.” The ghost pointed at the wife, “Anthony’s wife, Luiz Felipe, is expecting again. How will they afford four children when they can’t three?”
“The kids seem healthy enough to me.” Scrooge smirked.
“Oh really.” The ghost raised his perfectly trimmed eye brow, “Look closer. That young boy, Kimi, he started the drink at an early age. His potential career has gone down the tubes and its effected his eye sight, he keeps getting distracted. The middle son, Felipe works after school, but he faces a pay cut, but he is protesting against it. Getting on the wrong side of the law so he is. And the youngest one… Lewis…”
Tears began to fill Scrooge’s eyes as he watched the youngest boy, struggle to sit upright, “What’s wrong with him?”
“They couldn’t afford to pre order the new Stirling Moss Mercedes Road car, they had to get him a cheaper option. They stole the safety car.”
“That’s crazy everyone should be able to afford it I can…”
“Yes I know 12 times over.” The ghost exclaimed, “you have more than enough to keep you Scrooge, you should give more to your employees, the men and woman who keep your business ticking and allow it to survive. Its just like team mates, they should be always allowed to race fairly and given the right to have a clean cut. Imagine if there is no money, how will Lewis be able to pose as a rapper? He may grow STUBBLE and gallivant with any old female popstar, and that is not allowed.”
“What will happen to Lewis?” called Scrooge, tears falling down his face, but the setting had now changed, it was pitch black, “spirit where are you? Spirit!?”
“Bernard Scroooge.” A final more frightening voice approached, hobbling over to Scrooge with a TV around his foot.
“Oh no, stay away from me.”
“I’m here to tell of your future. What will happen to you and those around you, if you do not change your ways!” groaned the ghost.
Suddenly images began to swirl around Scrooge:
The arse of a familiar friend being smacked, an empty paddock area, Rubens Barrichello.
Then one stood out, it was Cratchet’s house. The same dinner table, but where was Lewis? Suddenly Tony George came into view, laughing menacingly as Lewis signed away his life to the IRL - around and around and around.
“No no.” Scrooge began to panic, “I can’t take anymore of this, please take me home, I can change!”
“But you haven’t seen what happens to you!” The ghost laughed smugly pointing over to the corner.
Scrooge screamed in horror at the sight of his ex-wife rolling around in his money.
“Give us our money!” The ghost punched Scrooge again, “And next time don’t mention our secret agreement.”
It would seem like an eternity before Scrooge woke up. Feeling his face throb he opened his eyes and sat up. It was morning, he was home in his bed.
Jumping up with a skip, Scrooge ran over and opened his bedroom window.
“I made it, I’m still here.” grinned Scrooge, “You boy what day is it?”
“It’s Christmas day sir!” the young boy who Scrooge was shouting at from across the street called.
“Ah yes very good.” Scrooge said, opening his sock drawer and pulling out a money bag, “Here son, take this and go and buy the biggest Turkey for you and your family!”
“Wow, sir that’s more than enough here.” The young boy exclaimed, hurrying over to catch the bag as Scrooge threw it out of the window. “I was sacked from my job earlier in the year, but this money could help me continue to write my internet blog.”
“Very good son, now hurry along.” Scrooge called back, closing his window and hurrying to get dressed.
Some time later, Scrooge hurried out of his front door and out of his gate. Only stopping to take one long breath of London air.
“Well hello gentlemen.” Scrooge exclaimed walking over to the same two charity workers from the previous night.
“Erm well hello sir… we don’t want no trouble.” One of them said.
“Trouble? Why would I bring trouble?” Scrooge laughed, “I bring good news. Here is the number of a client of mine, Mr D Richards, get in touch with him, he will surely save your team.”
“Really?” The short charity worker said astounded.
“Yes really.” Scrooge said giving each man separate money bags, “And forget those taxes forget every surcharge. It’s Christmas!”
Scrooge skipped joyfully away from the men, who were still in shock by his announcement.
Further down the street Scrooge came to the home of his employee. Scrooge began to bang the door frantically, “Come on open up open up!”
“Mister Scrooge?” Anthony opened the door with a startle, “What… what are you doing here?”
“Work Cratchet.” Scrooge growled, pushing him out of the way and walking into the house.
“Work?” Anthony said.
“Yes, turns out you can’t have the half day off now.”
“I can’t?”
“No, you’ll just have to have the full day off instead.” Scrooge chuckled, embracing his bewildered employee.
“Have you lost it Mr Scrooge?” Anthony said confused.
“No my dear boy, not good enough for you? Well have the rest of the week off, and next week until new year. You need your rest for next season. We’re going to be full.”
“How do you mean sir?” Anthony raised an eyebrow watching Scrooge pick up Lewis in his arms.
“We’re going to give the teams a fairer share in the profits, we’re going to drop the circuit charges and cut off our ties with countries with no motorsport heritage.”
“But… that’s not you sir…”
“And night races? Hell who needs them, people in Europe have been getting up for years, why change now?”
“Wow, Mr Scrooge this is the best Christmas ever!” Anthony smiled, “I was worrying I’d have to go back on the trains.”
“Nonsense, I’m promoting you!” Scrooge giggled, “And for the kids, I’ve brought gifts, and don’t worry about the safety car I’ll replace it. We can all get shiny Mercedes!”
And so there ends another Christmas tale. From that day on Scrooge became a better person and Formula One changed forever for the good.
Sadly fairytales never come true… not in the real world anyways.
Merry Christmas one and all, and let’s look forward to a Happy New Year!
P.S. Too much mulled wine for me
(all grammar, spelling etc etc, forgive me, this was a long whim...)Forumula One: The World's Greatest Sport
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