A Christmas Carol
Retold by: Athena
        
                Stave Five: The End of It
        
        Yes, Lee was in his own room. There was his own
bed and sheets. Everything was as it should be. Daylight 
streamed in through the window and Lee opened it to 
gleefully great Christmas morning.

        He remembered the events of the night before. In
his bedroom he pointed out where the ghosts of Christmas
past had appeared and in the sitting room where the 
ghosts of Maelstrom and Christmas present were. With
fear, he recalled the ghost of Christmas yet to come and
the promise he made to it.

        "Yes! I will go back...."



        At the same time when Lee Jordan awoke, a tall
shadow crept into the computer room at Acme. Waiting 
inside were the Chief and Zack and Ivy. They looked up
as the visitor entered.

        "So, how'd it go with Lee?" Zack asked.

        "Very well, I believe. This an interesting plan
even if it does fail."

        "Why should it fail, Carmen? You just said so 
yourself that it went well," the Chief answered.

        Sitting down in a computer chair, Carmen seemed
to think about this, but in reality she was trying to
collect her tired thoughts from the sleepless night.

        "Lee still hasn't grown up yet. I don't believe
that he has the maturity to change for the better."

        "Can't argue with you there, Carmen."

        For the first time, Carmen seemed to notice Zack
and Ivy's presence. "What are you still doing here,
detectives? It's Christmas morning."

        "It's okay, Carmen, we just wanted to see what 
would happen with Lee. The Chief was gonna C-5 us to 
Aunt Ida's when we're done," Ivy answered.

        "Ah, I see. Well, Cheif, I held up my end of the
bargain. Remember, you promised."

        "Yes, I remember."

        "You bribed Carmen to help us, Chief?" Ivy asked.

        "No, he didn't, Detective. He asked if I'd help,
and I said I would on one condition."

        "And what's that, Carmen?"

        "That I could spend Christmas with the Chief,
with no interference from Acme."

        "Chief! You said that?!?" Ivy yelled. "How do
you know that she's not gonna download all of Acme's 
files on her computer, or mess with the C-5, or-"

        "I don't know, Ivy, but it is Christmas, and if
Lee Jordan can have a second chance, so can Carmen."

        Carmen smiled up at the Chief. "Thank you, 
Chief."

        "Now why don't you two go spend Christmas with
your family. I'll tell you if anything happens with Lee."

        "Okay, thanks Chief, Merry Christmas!"

        "Yeah, Merry Christmas, Cheif," Zack followed, 
"you, too, Carmen."

        "Merry Christmas, Detectives."

        And Zack and Ivy disappeared in a flash of blue
light.

        "So, Carmen, you really think Lee won't change?"
the Chief asked as Carmen set up a chess board.

        "No, I don't, Chief."

        "Well, he could, you know. You're always welcome
back here at Acme, yourself. If you ever change your 
mind...."

        "No, Chief, I don't foresee that happening any 
time soon, either."

        "Oh.... Wait a minute. There's a Crimenet Alert."

        The Chief disappeared for a moment, then 
reappeared with a very worried look on his face.

        "I guess you were right, Carmen. Lee Jordan was
just spotted at Rockerfella center stealing the lights
off the Christmas tree. I'll be right back."

        When the Chief reappeared he spoke again to 
Carmen, "I just informed Zack and Ivy. They're on their
way.... Carmen?" But she was gone.

        "Oh, well," the Chief said to himself, "and as 
Tiny Chief once observed-" A sneeze racked through the
computer room just as Zack and Ivy appeared.

        Zack finished the line, "God bless you."

                        The End