Subj: A Collinwood Carol-chapter 8-The End
Date: 12/24/01 2:23:16 PM Central Standard Time
From: Julianka

It dawned on Elizabeth that the hard surface under her beating fists changed to a soft yielding one. Those same hands sprang to her face and felt smooth skin, not wrinkled, dry flesh. She ran to the mirror. Thank god! She was back in her own time! Perhaps there was time yet to prevent some of the tragedies the spirits had shown her. She raced to the window. Morning had come! Sun sparkled on the crusted snow below. Elizabeth spied Willie Loomis walking toward the house. Throwing open the window she yelled as loudly as she could, " Willie! Willie Loomis!"

Willie looked around and finally up. Seeing Elizabeth leaning out of her window calling to him.

"Mrs. Stoddard?" He said in shock.

"Please Willie! What day is this?"

"What day?" Willie scratched his head in disbelief, Elizabeth Stoddard yelling out windows and not knowing what day it was? "It's December 20."

"Thank you! Thank you! God there's still time!" Elizabeth danced a jig, clapping her hands in delight.

"You okay, Mrs. Stoddard?" Willie asked, his concern plainly showing.

"I'm wonderful Willie!" She crowed back.

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Elizabeth closed the window. She kneeled down by her bed and said a silence prayer, thanking god and the spirits who had come to her.

She made her plans as she dressed quickly. Skipping like a girl downstairs, she ran into Mrs. Johnson.

"Mrs. Johnson."

"Yes mam."

"Remember what I told you about the radio?"

"Yes, mam. I haven't been playing it." The harried housekeeper replied.

"Well, you should! Right now!"

"Excuse me mam! I..."

Elizabeth interrupted her. "I was hasty before Mrs. Johnson. Please forgive my rudness. If you want to play your radio and dance in the kitchen please do." Elizabeth smiled and hugged her housekeeper.

"Mrs. Johnson...Sarah, would you do something for me?"

Mrs. Johnson smiled back in amazement, "Yes mam."

"Would you cook a turkey with all the trimmings and pies, cakes, cookies...the works! Look, call into to town. Order everything you need. I'll help you. You and I, Sarah only have a few days to fix a Christmas feast!"

"YES mam!" Sarah laughed. "I'll get right on it."

Elizabeth's next item on her list of things to do was call first to the Cannery's personnel department and then to Brewsters. She had the head of personnel get on compiling a list of the employees and their families. This would be sent to Brewsters. Then she had Brewsters departments working like furies to pick and gift wrap presents for every employee, their spouse and children. The store would also decorate and cater a Christmas party for the next day at the Cannery. Elizabeth called the Cannery back, asking to be put through to the pay roll secretary. And doubled the Christmas bonuses all across the board for each and every employee. And then she called the Dave Woodard. He would come to her for a check, paying for Sam Evan's surgery. She wished she could see Dave's face at this moment! He sound totally flabbergasted on the phone.

Oh goodness! She almost forgot. More work for Brewsters! She laughed to herself. Elizabeth called them back.

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Carolyn bumped into Vicki and David on the stairs. "What that noise?"

"I don't know." Answered Vicki.

"It's coming from the drawing room!" David said and ran downstairs.

Opening the doors, they were shocked to see some workers putting the finishing touches to an enormous Christmas tree! The whole room was decorated for the holidays!"

"Holy Cow!" Carolyn said in a hushed voice.

"How..What..?" David asked.

Roger came in the front doors at that moment. Calling, "Elizabeth!"

"Uncle Roger!" Carolyn, David and Vicki went to the foyer.

"Uncle Roger, do you know what going on around here?"

"I've come home to find that out!" He said. "Whatever it is is happening at the Cannery too! The offices are going wild! Where's your mother?"

They found Elizabeth a short while later in the kitchen, rolling pie dough and singing Jingle Bells with Mrs. Johnson.

"That's it." Roger said. "I've completely lost my mind!"

Elizabeth turned to the dumbfounded faces of her family. "What's wrong with everyone?" She asked. "It's Christmastime. Don't you all have shopping to do?"

When they still stood looking at her, she grinned and held out her arms. Hugging each of them in turn, she announced, "I have been a fool. Please forgive me and let's have a Merry Christmas!"

"But Elizabeth.." Roger started to say.

"Listen", Elizabeth stopped him. "I know you have lots of questions. I promise I'll answer them all tonight. But if we're going to have Christmas there's no time to waste now."

All at once everyone was laughing and giggling.

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Later as she was frosting the last christmas sugar cookie, she stopped and thought to herself. She had time. Thanks to the spirits. Time to show her family her love. Time to apologize to Roger and ask him to stay if he would. Time to tell Vicki who she is. Time to change her world. Bless the spirits! God Bless Us Everyone!

The End
Merry Christmas :)

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