Friday Flash Fiction
  • Home
    • Opportunities at FFF
    • About Friday Flash Fiction
    • Terms & Conditions
  • 100-Word Stories
  • Longer Stories
  • Poetry
  • Authors
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E-F
    • G-I
    • J-L
    • M-O
    • P-R
    • S-V
    • W-Z
  • Submissions
    • 100-Word Submissions
    • 500-Word Submissions
    • Short Poetry Submissions
    • Writing Good Flash Fiction >
      • How to complete the Entry Form
    • Appeals/Feedback Request
    • Contact FFF
    • Technical Stuff >
      • Terms & Conditions
      • GDPR Compliance
      • Duotrope
    • Support FFF

Mrs Scrooge, by Christa Loughrey

27/12/2023

 
Not surprisingly, Scrooge became very popular after his Christmas reformation, and it wasn’t long before he met and married a bonny younger woman. He lived just a few months longer, but they were the best months of his life, and he died a happy man.

Knowing how much Mrs Scrooge had inherited, people were surprised at the frugal life she lived after Scrooge was gone. Nobody was ever invited to dinner, or even to visit, these days. In public she was always seen in the same old clothes, which she wore until they practically fell off her back. Fred and his family, once the recipients of such lavish generosity from Scrooge, only ever received token gifts now, and though they continued to be kindly towards her, Mrs Scrooge always kept her distance from them. People whispered that she was just a gold-digger who had inherited Scrooge’s former miserly spirit along with his fortune.

She died of pneumonia - probably from living on poor food and in such a chilled house, the doctor said.

The family were surprised to see the whole church packed out at the funeral service. Even the Cratchit family came, having travelled by uncomfortable coach all the way from that lovely coastal house which had been bought by Scrooge to give Tiny Tim a healthier life. 

‘What a wonderful, kindly lady she was’, extolled Martha Cratchit, who seemed genuinely distressed at Mrs Scrooge’s passing. Fred was glad for her that she hadn’t stayed around to witness the changes in Mrs Scrooge, and was too kind to disabuse her.

But here’s the thing. As Fred and his family stood to shake hands with mourners after the service, many perfect strangers came up to them and expressed the same sentiments. Fred was very confused – until the reading of the will.

After clearing his throat and polishing his glasses, the old attorney advised Fred:

‘Before I read this will, I want to let you know that, over the years of her widowhood, Mrs Scrooge regularly gave very large sums of money to charities and poor families. I was bound by the strictest promises to keep this secret from everyone, as were the recipients of her charity. I consider that promise to be at an end now that she has gone. But I’m sorry to have to tell you, Fred, that even the house was mortgaged to the hilt, and there is nothing left of the great fortune she inherited.’

To which Fred replied,

​‘Mr Hodgkins, this morning I felt only sorrow. My aunt-in-law was just a sad reminder to me of happier times when Uncle Ebenezer was alive, and, try as I might to engage with her, I thought her beyond reach of my love. Now I see her for the truly worthy mate and successor which she had become to dear old uncle. I am happy beyond all measure, because you have just given me the greatest inheritance a man could ever wish for.’
Paul A. Freeman
27/12/2023 02:23:26 pm

Oh, dear, I must have something in my eye.

A lovely sequel to a book I read every year.

Christa Loughrey
27/12/2023 05:04:39 pm

Thank you, Paul. Glad you enjoyed it.

Don Tassone link
28/12/2023 02:45:56 pm

A beautiful take on the true spirit of Christmas. Well done, Christa.

Christa Loughrey
28/12/2023 02:49:29 pm

Thank you, Don.

david milner
1/1/2024 03:04:57 pm

If only...and lovely with it.

Christa Loughrey
5/1/2024 03:37:53 pm

Thank you, David.


Comments are closed.

    Longer
    Stories

    Longer Friday Flash Fiction Stories

    Friday Flash Fiction is primarily a site for stories of 100 words or fewer, and our authors are expected to take on that challenge if they possibly can. Most stories of under 150 words can be trimmed and we do not accept submissions of 101-150 words.


    However, in response to demand, the FFF team constructed this forum for significantly longer stories of 151-500 words. Please send submissions for these using the Submissions Page.

    Stories to the 500 word thread will be posted as soon as we can mange.


    Picture
    Please feel free to comment (nicely!) on any stories – writers appreciate it.
    Just at the moment, though, we're moderating some of them so there might be a slight delat before they appear
    .

    One little further note. Posting and publishing 500-word stories takes a little time if they need to be formatted, too.
    ​Please note that we tend to post longer flash fiction exactly as we find it – wrong spacing, everything.

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

Picture
Website by Platform 36