It's I, your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?
1) Give somebody the cold shoulder
To be rude to somebody by ignoring them.
e.g. I think my colleagues were jealous I got a promotion at work, as they gave me the cold shoulder.
2) Christmas comes but once a year
We should take advantage of a special event and enjoy it - because they don't happen very often.
e.g. Let's stop arguing and enjoy ourselves at this party - Christmas comes but once a year.
3) Be in the holiday spirit
Mostly refers to Christmas holidays. To enjoy onself at Christmas, and forget work or studies.
e.g. I've put all my study books away. I want to be in the holiday spirit.
4) The proof of the pudding is in the eating
Only by actually doing something can we know something is really true.
e.g. I think I've fixed this computer, but let's switch it on and see. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
5) Skating on thin ice
Taking a big risk.
e.g. When John argued with the boss yesterday, he was skating on thin ice. He could lose his job.
6) A piece of cake
Something is very easy to do.
e.g. I can solve the puzzle of the Rubik's cube easily now. It's a piece of cake.
7) The more the merrier
The more people who join a group the better the event will be.
e.g. 'Can I join you and Mary for coffee?' 'Of course! The more the merrier!'
8) Feel at home (make yourself at home)
Feel comfortable in somebody else's home.
e.g. 'Please, take a seat. Make yourself at home!' 'Thank you, I feel very much at home.'
9) Be my guest
Said when somebody offers you food in their home.
e.g. 'May I have another biscuit? They're delicious!' 'Please! Be my guest!'
10) Make merry
to enjoy yourself at a party
e.g. I feel really tired today. Yesterday I ws making merry at Steve's birthday party.'
Ebeneezer Scrooge had not gone far along the street when, coming towards him, he noticed the gentleman who had walked into his office the day before, and said, 'Scrooge and Marley's, I believe?' He had asked Scrooge for money for the poor and starving in order to buy meat and other food for them at Christmas. However, Scrooge had given him the cold shoulder, and replied that it would be better if the starving would die, therefore reducing the problems of overpopulation.
It now made Scrooge’s heart break to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met again; but he knew what path lay straight before him, and he took it.
'My dear sir,' said Scrooge, standing in front of the old gentleman and taking both his hands. 'How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday in obtaining donations for the poor. It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!'
'Mr Scrooge?'
'Yes,' said Scrooge. 'That is my name, and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to apologise. Christmas comes but once a year, so I would like to make a donation to this very good cause.' Here Scrooge whispered in the old gentleman’s ear.
'Lord bless me!' cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. 'My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious you want to donate that much?'
'If you please,' said Scrooge. 'Not a penny less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour?'
'My dear sir,' said the other, shaking hands with him, 'I don't know what to say to such generosity!'
'Don't say anything, please,' replied Scrooge. 'Come and see me. Will you come and see me?'
'I will!' cried the old gentleman. And it was clear he meant to.
'Thank you,' said Scrooge. 'I am very grateful to you. I thank you fifty times. Bless you!'
He walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying this way and that – people in the holiday spirit. He looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows; and found that everything could bring him pleasure.
He talked to very poor, who were asking for money in the street, and as the proof of the pudding is in the eating, he demonstrated how he could be generous, and gladly gave them money he had in his wallet.
In the afternoon, Scrooge turned his steps towards his nephew's house. He passed the door a dozen times, but could not find the courage to enter. He felt he was skating on very thin ice by now turning up at his nephew’s home. For so many years, he had rudely rejected his nephew’s invitation to Christmas dinner. How would he be received now?
In the end, he just made a dash for the door, and knocked. There! He had done it – not difficult at all! A piece of cake!
'Is your master at home, my dear?' said Scrooge to the girl who answered the door.
'Yes, sir.'
'Would you tell me where he is?' asked Scrooge.
'He's in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I'll show you upstairs, sir.'
'Thank you so much. He knows me,' said Scrooge, and he followed her up the stairs. 'I'll go in, my dear.'
He opened the door and looked round it into the room. The people inside were looking at the table (which was laid beautifully with the best cutlery and plates and glasses. Anxious to see that everything was just right.
'Fred!' said Scrooge.
How his nephew and niece looked at him totally astonished!
'Why, bless my soul!' cried Fred, 'who's that?'
'It's I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred? Perhaps I am one too many.'
‘The more the merrier, I say!’ laughed his nephew. ‘And you will be our most special guest, uncle! He took Scrooge’s hand and shook it energetically.
Scrooge felt at home in five minutes.
‘Please, be my guest!’ said his nephew with a broad smile. ‘Help yourself to all the food you like.’
Nothing could be merrier. His niece looked just the same. So did the other members of her family. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful togetherness, wonderful happiness!
*************
Scrooge was early at the office next morning. Oh, he was early there! If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late! And he did it; yes, he did! The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was eighteen minutes and a half behind his time by the time Bob Cratchit arrived at his seat in the office. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come in.
Bob's hat was off before he opened the door. He was on his stool in no time at all, writing away with his pen, as if he were trying to make up for the lost time.
'Hello!' barked Scrooge in his usual voice. 'What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?'
'I am very sorry, sir,' said Bob. 'I am behind my time.'
'You are!' repeated Scrooge. 'Yes, I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please.'
'It's only once a year, sir,' said Bob miserably, appearing from his office. 'It shall not be repeated. I was rather making merry yesterday, sir.'
'Now, I'll tell you what, my friend,' said Scrooge. 'I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,' he continued, jumping from his stool, and giving Bob a big hug. 'And therefore I am about to raise your salary!'
Bob trembled with fear. Had his employer suddenly gone mad? He was about to rush out of the door into the street and call for the police.
'A merry Christmas, Bob!' said Scrooge, in a calmer voice that could not be mistaken for madness, and he shook Bob’s hand. 'A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many years! I'll raise your salary, and attempt to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas glass of warm wine, Bob! Let’s make up the fire and get rid of the terrible cold in this office before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!'
***********
From that Christmas on, it was always said of Ebenezer Scrooge that he knew how to keep Christmas well. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim remarked, God bless Us, Every One!
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