Ebenezer was walking towards the park where the Spirit of Christmas present had shown him that Belle was playing with her children. And as he walked his feet sank in the snow and his mind took him to the past where, as a young boy, he used to have fun playing with his sister in the snow. Ebenezer walked with his head down, letting his memories fill his spirit with the love he felt for Fan, his younger sister, who was still alive in his heart even after her death. With his eyes on the snow he watched the faint rays of the sun reflect two shadows walking together, Ebenezer raised his head and looked everywhere, but there was no one at his side. However, sunlight still reflected two shadows on the snow. Then Ebenezer heard someone’s laugh again, much like a child’s laugh. Bewildered, but determined he asked authoritatively, “Who is walking next to me? And why can’t I see you?”
THE FOURTH SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS (Part IV)
While walking Ebenezer, kept the images of the man and his family under the bridge in his head, just as the spirit of Christmas Present had shown him the night before. When he reached the bridge, he could recognize it immediately; without hesitation, he began to descend the steep path in search of that man. As Ebenezer was under the bridge, he encountered terrible sights that could easily reach the heart of any sensitive person to human pain and thought,
Ebenezer made a mental list of the visits he would make and while walking down the street, he met three men who a few days earlier had asked for a donation for the shelters of the town that protected the homeless, the elderly and orphans throughout the year. The three men, facing Ebenezer, ignored him and continued walking. Then Ebenezer turned around, raising his right hand, shouted at them, “Gentlemen, I would like to talk with you for a moment.” The three men stopped and looking into each other’s eyes, nodding their heads as to say okay.
Since I was a child, I’ve liked cooking and modifying cooking recipes to give them a very personal touch and somehow, I always convert the recipes into original combinations of ingredients and flavors creating my own particular style of preparing them. On this occasion I want to share with you a recipe, which I’ve given the name of “Maria Amelia”, as a tribute to a great woman. She was an example in many aspects of life and she touched the lives of many people. I’ve used this recipe every Christmas season to prepare “María Amelia Cake”, and whenever I do, I remember how Maria Amelia ate almost the entire cake and with a jovial smile she told me, “You are to blame for making it so good, it’s perfect!, and then she asked ; “Could I take a little piece for Papa?, that as usual he had decided to stay at home”. So, every time I baked, I would make a special cake just for her and since it has been a few days since her passing I want to say that her joy and sweetness will become infused in the flavor of this cake. Even though this Christmas season will be the first of many in which Maria Amelia will not be eating the cake.
From then on, my daughters’ attitude changed completely, they were almost always in a bad mood and rebellious. They started to answer back with sass every time I scolded them, they rejected the food I was making for them and they also began to complain about everything. Their behavior towards my girlfriend became derogatory and disrespectful. Every time they misbehaved, they ran into their bedrooms and hid and if I followed them, my little naughty girl would get in the way and blocked me, by standing in the middle of the hallway.
The following days were very quiet, the atmosphere in the house was full of joy all day with a big difference, since I took the picture from the attic and placed it in my room, she began to walk freely throughout the house regardless of whether it was day or night. When my daughters did their homework in the living room (sitting on the floor). She was also there by the side of the coffee table, watching as my daughters wrote or drew on their notebooks. When we gathered to share in what we call “Family Home Evening ” she sat on the smallest chair in a corner and smiled as she watched us talk and play.
In my dreams it seemed as if I was floating in the dark. Without knowing exactly where I was, I began to move across until I reached an unknown path where my body was part of the wind that moved the leaves of the trees, the sensation was fascinating because I was floating, the floor covered with stones and suddenly she was holding my hand, her black eyes were wide and round, her white skin with tiny mouth with puckered lips, her nose puffed but perfectly aligned with the shape of her face and her hair a mix of brown and blonde. 
As the days went by my daughters began to complain about hearing strange noises at night, trying to keep them from realizing what was happening I always had a logical answer for every strange event that happened. However, they objected to my answers even though we were comfortable at home, they knew that what was happening was not ordinary.
After experiencing a strange sensation upon hearing the voice of someone that was not there I looked up at the sky and the sun was already beginning to set with its intensity, the clouds were losing their bright color and the wind was starting to announce that the night was falling. So, I went back inside the house and the owner was in the living room waiting for me, as he approached me, I said to him; “I like the house! However, I can’t pay the rent and right now I don’t have the full amount for the security deposit”. I exclaimed; “thank you for your time, but I can’t rent this house”.
When I see you, I can’t never tell if I’m awake or asleep. There is a chill running through my body, and I get goosebumps as I see your reflection in the mirror. Although you are not physically by my side, you are the twinkle in my eyes that as photographs they reflect your face in my pupils. Since you came into my life…You became the twinkle in my eyes.
EMOTIONS AND PAPER STRIPS 