Vincent-McWilliams: A Christmas Carol

Introduction

Two children were singing on the streets of London. This was Adam and Ellie Smith. They were trying to earn some money for their large family by singing Christmas Carols. Everyone was merry at Christmas, especially on Christmas Eve which was today. As the children sang, a silhouette of two girls and a small dog approached from behind the children. One of the girls bumped in between the children, stopping the carols and knocking over their broken cup full of coins and a button.

Everything in the cup fell out. The coins bounced away as Adam and Ellie tried to grab them. But one of the coins fell down a drain before they could catch it. Ellie yelled at the girls, telling them to watch where they were walking. The girls turned revealing them to be Pippa Vincent, or the Creator as she was more famously known as in London, and Maddie McWilliams. Siblings but they both took different names as the years passed. Realising who they were, Ellie apologised for insulting them.

As Adam reached for the coin in the drain, the dog that was beside them walked up to him. Adam thought the small Norfolk Terrier was going to hurt him when it started giving the young boy kisses. This was their dog, Chewy. He was given to Pippa after her cruel stepmother passed away. Pippa noticed what her dog was doing and told him to stop as he didn't know where the boy had been. As Maddie and Pippa walked away, a cold gust of wind made a nearby lampost turn blue, whispering the sisters' names.

Chewy looked up at it, confused. Maddie called Chewy back over to them so he left the two children alone. On their way to make some errands, the two soon spotted their nephews; Chase and Loki. The two recognised their Aunts and tried to get their attention. Not wanting to have to deal with their energised nephews, the girls turned the other way and tried to sneak away. And they almost did before the two boys caught up with them.

The boys bid their Aunts Merry Christmas and said hello to Chewy who was excited to see the two. Loki explained that the two were just on their way to the girls' office and it was lucky that they ran into them. Maddie only sighed, believing that it was her and her sisters' fault for this encounter. Pippa checked the clock to see what time it was. It was time for the two to collect their money from one of the businesses they owned.

A toy shop run by a demon girl named Piro Garcia. Her rent was due. But Pippa looked down at the inside of the lid of her pocket watch. The words 'To Our Happiness' was engraved into it. Ignoring it, she closed the watch and left with her sister to get the payment they were owed. They passed by a band that was playing Christmas music with two women asking for donations. It was for the Homeless Fund to make Christmas Merrier for the poor. Maddie asked them if they had a permit to perform there but the women said that they didn't know they needed one.

Now that they did know, Pippa advised them to pack up before she got the police to throw them in prison, leaving the siblings in peace. The two left just as a lamp behind them turned blue, whispering their names. Loki and Chase only just realised their Aunts had gone and started to run after them with Chewy following. Seeing the donations, Chase gave them some money for their charity. Afterward, the two continued to chase their Aunts to Piro's toy shop where they wanted their money.

When asked about the money owed, Piro explained that she did have the money yesterday but her mother got sick and she had to pay for a doctor. Maddie didn't believe Piro's story and made one of her own. About Piro owing the two girls twenty-five pounds and her actually paying it making the siblings happy. But Piro didn't have the money and asked for more time to pay them. She wanted a week to pay it off.

While all this was happening, Chase and Loki had finally caught up and Chase was playing the trumpet for the kids in the store. All be it not very well. When Piro mentioned about it being Christmas to the sisters, Pippa sarcastically forgot about it, saying how that changed everything. In the spirit of Christmas, Pippa was giving her until Boxing Day to pay them. Piro supposed it was better than nothing and promised to pay them in two days. But Maddie had something to add.

For the inconvenience she's caused them, Maddie was adding another twenty-five pounds to her debt. So now Piro owes them fifty pounds by Boxing day. It doesn't sound like a lot but, given the time period, it was a lot for Piro. But she signed the agreement regardless. The sisters left the shop, getting greeted by a couple who bit them Merry Christmas. Another crisp wind blew past, making a nearby lamp turn blue, whispering their names again. The two finally noticed it but shrugged it off.

They made their way back to their office where their employer, Selena Smith was working as usual. But, when they arrived, they saw a poster over the plack with their names on it. Maddie tore it off while Pippa noticed a few orphans who were putting the posters up. Pippa asked them what they were doing. The orphan girl explained that they were just making some money as they were poor, homeless urchins. The two glared at the children who left on their sleighs. Maddie and Pippa walked into their place of work as a hanging sign became covered in ice.