The A.G.M. a short story

                                
                         The AGM or What the Dickens!

                                  By M. J. London

“For goodness sake Marley sit down, the rattling and clinking of your dammed chains is driving me mad!” exclaimed Past.

“Driving you mad! What about me? Don’t you think I would if I could?” retorted Marley.

He gave his chains a sweep to the side lowering his ethereal body down into the armchair, “ I can only sit for short moments I am doomed to wander, as you well know,” bemoaned a mumbling Marley.

Past began tapping the arm of his chair where his equally transparent reclining shape sat. He stared up at the ceiling wondering for the millionth time, “Why? When he was done and dusted after all, why did they still call upon him to be at these meetings of the four spirits? Could they just not let him rest!?”

“No.” came the answer in his ear and head even though no voice had uttered it out loud.

“Oh do stop doing that Present its bad enough Future does it, and where the hell are you, I have been here waiting ages with Marley, he's  driving me crazy with his sobbing, wailing and chain rattling.” He gave Present a moment to see if he would materialise.

“I am always here, I am The Ever Now” said Present in an over theatrical and deep voice.

“Well that is as maybe, but as we all agreed, that here we are all equal, and where in heavens name is Future?” enquired Past.

“I really do not know,” offered Present, as he semi materialised passing through the wooden door, “You know him and his “Oh yes, but I have not quite yet arrived have I?” nonsense.”

“I can hear you, you know, even if officially I am not here, I can heeeear yoooou!” Future soundly interjected into their minds.”

“Well show yourself! It’s bad enough speaking to other wisps of essence, without them being totally shapeless!” said the now further irritated Past.

With that Future appeared next to Present, raised his arm from within his cowl and pointed at his chair, then drifted over and sat. This formed the fourth of a square, that they now all sat facing into the centre of, in this sparsely furnished room. The only other items were a set of drapes pulled together and an old-fashioned bed. The rest of the room was bare apart from one door that was shut fast, and through which Present had passed.

“Right, down to business. I do believe I have the Chair this session of our AGM, that is to say Annual Ghost Meeting,” said Present in a commanding tone.

“Yes, yes.” uttered Marley and Past in concert, Future only thought it, but the thought still penetrated into the minds of all the others. Past was wondering how long this was all going to take, as Present somehow seemed to hold on to things for as long as he was able, almost ignoring Past and Future at times, or so it seemed.

“Right” asserted Present again “To business and first on the agenda is your unredeemed self Mr Jacob Marley, do you wish the floor? Without too much chain rattling, if you please.”

Jacob Marley stood, pushing to one side the dangling locks, moneyboxes and ledgers. He loosened the cloth that held his mouth closed and said in his shaky worn voice,

“As you well know I represent many of the bankers, moneylenders and dealers of those spirits now passed from this world. We are induced, nay, I should say MADE! To wander for eternity, dragging our bonds and actions after us!” Here, he paused, hoping for a dramatic silence, which was spoilt by Past sniffing.

Marley cleared his throat then carried on, “We feel enough is enough. It is unjust to carry this penance for eternity.” Again he stopped, shuffled his insubstantial body causing a clanking clinking rattling of his irons, he allowed them to settle then continued;
“Its unfair, when, when the likes of Mr Scrooge, well you know the outcome of his ato, aton, atonement, ” Here Jacob stammered adding, “Admittedly it was I who first warned him, but, but oh bother I have lost my train of thought!” With that he sat down looking at the floor knowing he had failed in his quest.

“Hmm,” hummed Present rocking his head from side to side.

“So nothing new then Marley?” He stated.

Jacob Marley spread his hands in a gesture of despair.

“And you Past? What do you have to offer to our distinguished gathering?”

Past stood looked around at his fellow spirits then said,

“I sought to do what was correct, I sought to alleviate poverty and injustice, but gain always got in the way, the need to acquire more capital, resources and land with the intention of securing oneself before distributing to all others!” He halted, looked to the ceiling then continued.

“Oneself needs became paramount, one neglected others and their causes of fairness, justice, rights, but it was all for the greater, good in the end!” The last words tailed off almost to a whisper in Past’s own disbelief in them. With that he collapsed back into his seat.

Present then stood of his own accord. As he did, his long, flowing cloak parted. Clinging to his legs were now four children, where as previously there had been only two, that of Ignorance and Want. Now there was also Intolerance and Fear.

“I do not believe I need to say anything more.” Spoke Present. He then sat down with firm stature and turned towards Future, asking, “And you sir?”

Future floated soundlessly to the door, which opened. Two roads divided outside. He pointed down one where darkness prevailed, he pointed down the other where light blazed illuminating the way, shrugged his shoulders and returned to his seat.

“Well,” said Present again, “So basically no change. I declare the AGM closed until next time, thank you all for coming.” In a shimmer they all dispersed into the ether.

                                        The End


Written for a Dickens Competition in May 2012, but needless to say it came nowhere, but I enjoyed writing it, hope you enjoy reading it.