The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, December 08, 1983, Wrap it Up!, Page Page 3, Image 19
Thursday, December 8, 1833 Daily Ncbraskan's Wrap It Up Pago 3 ominnieB'cia mm pirij of held Qaao A Commercial Christmas Carol," by Chuck Dickens ($20.05 softcover). The clock had just struck 3 p.m. A worried Bob Cratchit eyed his time piece. Ebenezer Scrooge was filling out purchase orders or something that required the use of a feather pen. Cratchit felt his throat tighten as he addressed his employer. Excuse me, Sir," Cratchit croaked, considering the day, I was wondering if I might be allowed to leave early?" Scrooge looked surprised. "What day are you talking about, Cratchit?" "Christmas, Sir." "Christmas? But it's only the day after Thanksgiving!" Mike Frost "Yes, but if you don't buy presents today, you might as well forget about it" Scrooge grumbled to himself. "I dont understand it. Last year, the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future convinced me of the importance of Christmas. But for the life of me, I dont see why you need to do your Christmas shopping a month in advance." "It's not for me, Mr. Scrooge, it's for the children. Becky wants a Cabbage Patch doll, Bob Jr. wants a video game and Tiny Tim wants a Walkman." "Very funny, Cratchit. All right, you may go, but I expect you in bright and early Monday morning." Cratchit put on his coat Thank you, Sir. And a merry 31 shopping days to Christmas to you, Sir." "Christmas shopping. Bah humbug," Scrooge said. Scrooge continued working for a few hours more, when suddenly there was a rap at the door. "I suppose 111 have to take the rap," Scrooge said to himself laughing. He opened the door. "Good afternoon, Sir and a merry 31 shopping days to'Christmas," the stran ger began, "I'm selling corkscrews, pow er corkscrews, the wonder of modern science. This product of advanced tech nology can be your's for a scant $19. "No thank you, I'm giving my money to the poor this Christmas." "Why? They still have poor prisons don't they? This nifty little item can open bottles, unlock doors, jack tires, scrape mulch from your shoes " "Bah, humbug," Scrooge said and slammed the door. That night, Scrooge returned home and began working on his hand-made Christmas cards. Suddenly, he heard a spooky clanging, and turned around to see his old partner, Bob Marley. "Hey, mon, what's going down?" Marley asked. "Hi, Bob. Just making some Christmas cards." "Oh, men! Why dont you buy dem?" "I dont know, I thought tills was a little more personal," Scrooge answered. "Wake us, mon," the apparition said, "this is de 20th century. Go and buy you cards. "No," Scrooge said with determi nation. "I'm going-to make these and then hand deliver them and then " "Hand deliver, oooh. I hate to do this to you again, Scrooge, but you're going to be visited by three ghosts. They will teach you the real lesson of Christmas." "You know, Marlsy " Scrooge said, "Sometimes I'm sorry we were ever partners." Scrooge waited for the midnight hour. Soon, the clock struck midnight, and just as Marley promised a ghost appeared. Scrooge wasnt sure, but he thought it locked like Shirley Temple. "Hello, Mr. Scrooge," the ghost said. "I'm the ghost of Christmas presents past Come, IVe something to show you." The ghost took Scrooge's hand, and soon, they stood in Scrooge's child hood home. The old man looked long ingly at the image of himself as a boy. "Oh boy, mom," young Eb said, "a Shirley Temple doll! Wow! And a keen Captain Midnight Decoder Ring and gosh, an JDvaltine mug with Little Orphan Annie on it! This is the best Christmas yet!" "Those are the gifts you loved as a child " the ghost said. "Yes," Scrooge responded, "but that was before I learned the true meaning of Christmas." "Boy, you're going to be a tough coo kie to crack," the ghost said, pouting just as Shirley Temple did. "Well go back now. But be prepared, the next ghost will visit you at 1 a.m." Back in his chair, Scrooge awaited his next spiritual visitor. Soon, the ghost appeared. Scrooge thought he resembled Sting, a member of Scrooge's favorite rock group. "I'm the ghost of Christmas presents present Come with me Ebenezer, let's rock." With that, the ghost and Scrooge were standing in a crowded depart ment store. . "There's Bob Cratchit!" Scrooge said, spotting his employee. He strained to listen to Cratchit's conversation with the clerk. "I'm sorry, Sir," the clerk said, "but we're all out of Walkmans. If only you had gotten here a few minutes earlier." Scrooge realized it was he that delay ed Cratchit's departure. "I must go home and tell Tim not to expect too much for Christmas," Scrooge over heart Cratchit say. The ghost, who looked like Sting, said, "see what you've done. Boy, you're one uncool cat" "I'm sorry, Sting," Scrooge said. "I thought I knew the true meaning of Christmas. But maybe not" "Well go home now. Soon, the third ghost will visit," Sting said. Scrooge dreaded the 3 a.m. toll But, soon the chimes on his clock rang, and he found himself face to face with the ghost of Christmas presents future. The ghost, not saying a word, took Scrooge's hand and led him through a cloudy abyss which had appeared in the living room. - T . r Scrooge knew he was in the future. He saw a man in a department store. "Why, that's Tiny Tim!" he cried. The ghost nodded. -- "IH take 20 blue serge suits," Tim said. "And every Andy Williams record youVe got in stock." "Boy, Mr. Cratchit," the clerk said, "you're about the biggest square IVe ever seen." "Tiny Urn, a square!" Scrooge shrieked in horror. "And it's all my fault. If only I'd let Cratchit get that Walkman! Lo, if only I had it to do all over again." As he spoke those words, Scrooge suddenly found himself in his living room. "It's not too late," he said, run ning out into the street. He ran toward the shopping mail. On bis way, he ran into the corkscrew salesman. "Sir," he said addressing the vendor, "I'm afraid I was a little abrupt 111 take 50 corkscrews. The poor will love 'en!" ' "Thank you, Sir," the salesman said, as Scrooge trotted dong hb way. He , went in the store and eiid to the clerk, "I'd like to buy a wclkman please." "We're out buddy. You should have been here yesterday " the clerk replied. Ill pay you triple the price," Scrooge said. , "Well, look what I just happened to find," the clerk said. ' Scrooge happily paid the inflated price and merrily ran toward the Crat chit house. Bob wo overjoyed when he learned of what his employer had done. "Please," Cratchit said, "come in, Mr. Scrooge." "No," Scrooge replied, "I havsnt time. I must go and buy a box of Christmas cards. One of those impersonal kinds, with the Christmas trees decked with peppermint sticks and the words happy holidays.'" "Thank you for your generosity, Sir," Cratchit said. "I learned a valuable lesson, Crat chit," Scrooge said. "Merry 30 shopping days to Christmas to you all, and to all a good night" 50 OFF Our entire FallWinter inventory has been reduced to 50 off regular retail We carry only the finest nat ional brands available and have con siderable coordination . but hurry, these will go fast Outfit yourself in these up-dated styles for the long winter season ahead and SAVE as you've never SAVED before Here are some of our style: MR Blazer Blazer -Skirt Skirt Blouse 100 wool 100 wool Regular Retail $116.00 $118.00 $60.00 $62.00 $48.00 Our Price $58.00 $59.00 $30.00 $31.00 $24.00 We have blouses and sweaters that are marked down accordingly Many other prices have been slashed to close out this inventory And . . . the holiday line has been reduced 40, with some great values We also have an authentic Harris Tweed Blazer for $8900, normally $160.00 to $18000. It is available in many patterns a great idea for Christmas gifts. Also, just arrived, a complete Cruise line of fantastic warm weather cloth ing, available to you at 30 reduced -prices 'y y:yy' Enter our Drawing! Win a FREE weekend for two at the Raphael Hotel in Kansas City. Drawing to be hekj 4:00 p.m., Saturday December 10. 1 1 k i " , '' vtJs. Always 207a less than current prices. 0 4r.h&Hwy.2 f Jcxt lo Tha Cc!cn!il She? Gpsn di"y 10 to 6 except Sunday Msndsy & Thursday Un"l 8 (through Christrnss cr.!y) 4 3-0332