Greetings all. During this holiday season, I elected to read Charles Di-kens' A Christmas Carol, having been loosely familiar with the story, but had never read the original. Here's a summary of the first four staves.
In stave 1, we’re introduced to Ebenezer Scrooge. He’s the CEO of his company, with employee Bob Cratchit. It’s shown throughout this stave that Bob is overworked and underpaid. Ebenezer has only given Bob minor 2% wage increases every year despite cost of living. Bob asks to have time off for the holiday, but Scrooge's company operated internationally and it was too difficult for Ebenezer to figure out how to give everyone a half day off. Some people ask Ebenezer to give money to have heat on Friday afternoon, but he refuses. Then he goes home and meets the ghost of his old business partner, who says that other ghosts are going to come. In stave 2, the ghost of Christmas Past visits and reminds Ebenezer of the prior years (before he was CEO). He’s shown a holiday party thrown by his old boss. There’s a full luncheon, instead of a minor plate of donuts and muffins. Everyone has a good time. In Stave 3, the ghost of Christmas Present visits and shows Ebeneezer the life of his overworked employee Bob. How the terrible healthcare offering of Scrooge’s company is unable to help Bob’s family. In Stave 4, the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come visits and takes Ebenezer to see his own grave. No one visits or lays roses on his headstone because Ebenezer was an a$$hole, and everyone hated him.
Happy Holidays, everyone.