Their faithful Friend and Servant,

J. R.
December, 2010.

Part One:  Marley’s Ghost
A glimpse of the Invisible World

Ben Scruggs is becoming a name brand of his own for the disavowment of Christmas. The disappointments of his past 13 years of life, connecting emphatically against the holiday season, threaten to destroy the joy of all those around him. But even the smallest beliefs, when put to paper and conviction, can call a reckoning to the miserly.
An 'X'mas Carol Part 1 November 30, 2010

Part Two:  The First of the Three Spirits
MARLEY was not dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. But the dead boy in his room sure looked like Jacob Marley.

13 year old Ben Scruggs has an unexpected visitor who takes the boy back, in more ways than one, to correct his misunderstandings of his own past – and thus his present bad behaviours. But this insight comes with a price tag. Ben has to figure out what that cost is and pay it, and if he doesn’t figure it out in time, or doesn’t see it through to the end, then he faces a very large penalty.
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 1 November 30, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 2 December 7, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 3 December 7, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 4 December 14, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 5 December 14, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 6 December 18, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 7 December 18, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 8 December 22, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 9 December 22, 2010
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 10 January 25, 2011
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 11 January 31, 2011
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 12 February 20, 2011
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 13 March 21, 2011
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 14 March 31, 2011
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 15 April 8, 2011
An 'X'mas Carol Part 2 Chapter 16 April 15, 2011

El Ano Pasado
A Christmas and New Year's Eve Story Challenge Entry
While vacationing in Mexico, thirteen year old Joel and his twelve year old sister Clara use ancient rituals to prayer to Mayan deities.  Due in part to Joel's poor Spanish language skills the consequences are not what they expected, especially for the young teen boy..
El Ano Pasado Chapter 01 January 31, 2011
El Ano Pasado Chapter 02 February 20, 2011

Never Play Poker with Girls
Twelve year old Will and his friends learn the hard way that it's best to never play poker with girls as losing can result in some very humiliating and embarrassing consequences.
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 00 March 10, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 01 March 17, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 02 March 25, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 03 April 2, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 04 April 9, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 05 May 22, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 06 June 3, 2010
Never Play Poker with Girls Chapter 07 June 10, 2010