A Christmas Carol - Stave 3 - The Second of the Three Spirits

In A Christmas Carol - Stave 1 - Margaret's Ghost, Prime Minister Theresa May met Margaret Thatcher's ghost, who warned her that she would be haunted by three spirits. She has already met the Ghost of Christmas Past and she is getting increasingly concerned about the fate of a brave Police Officer's child, Tim.

Stave 3 - The Second of the Three Spirits

Theresa felt that she was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time, for the especial purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger dispatched to her through Mrs Thatcher's intervention.

The clock struck one and Theresa heard a roar of laughter from below. She tip-toed down the stairs and hesitated outside the living room.

"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in, and know me better, woman."

Teresa entered timidly and found that the room had undergone a surprising transformation. Gone were the tasteful decorations - swept away by a tide of living green studded with living berries.

"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present," said the Spirit. "Look upon me."

Theresa reverently did so. It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare.

"You have never seen the like of me before!" exclaimed the Spirit.

"Never," May made answer to it. "Except the last time that Boris attended a cabinet meeting."

The Spirit spluttered on its wine. "A joke! They said you didn't have the imagination to make jokes?"

"I've got plenty of imagination. I just can't find anything funny in the current situation. I've got so little room to manoeuvre and no-one appears willing to compromise or cooperate. Enough about me. How is the Police Officer's Tim?"

"Hold onto my cloak and we'll find out."

They flew through the streets of London and stopped just outside the Police Station. There was much laughter and back slapping after a job well done. As usual the Police had run towards danger while others ran away. Roberta Cratchit's quick thinking and courage had saved the day. Her smile was bright. A bit too bright. She said "I must go now. Otherwise no Christmas Dinner for Tim and Joe! She swung out of the Police Station confidently enough but seemed to get more wary and furtive as she approached her destination.

The Spirit asked "How do you think she fares?"

Theresa said. "It's strange. She saved a life today but she's acting as if she is ashamed."

"She has no cause for shame." The spirit put the emphasis on *She*. "Do you see where Roberta is going?"

Theresa seemed perplexed: "The food bank. I don't understand."

"Are you really so surprised? It is you who has chosen to let Police Officers' wages to stagnate. It is you who are presiding over a safety net being torn to shreds. Her husband had an accident. Now the whole family must survive on her meagre wage. They're short of everything. Money for rent, heating and food. The house is no longer warm. They will be evicted soon."

"But where will they go? What will happen to Tim?"

"Only the future will tell. You will meet that Spirit soon."

"I can't bear it. Please show me a happier scene."

They flew across the roofs of London and peered into a room filled with light and warmth. Paid for by the taxpayer, of course. Two men clinked glasses and laughed.

Teresa's eyes narrowed. She almost hissed: "Those two! What are they laughing at?" She listened carefully to the men talking. One of them said. "She can't last much longer." The other gloated "She's totally ensnared. With such a small majority, she can't reshuffle us." The other agreed "We wait until the moment is right and have a little chat with the 1922 committee."

Theresa growled "That wasn't what I had in mind. Please show me someone who isn't planning to stab me in the back. Someone who has something in common with me."

The next stop was Islington. "Is that supposed to be funny?"

The Spirit said. "To be fair, Mr Corbyn is more likely to stab from the front. Look and listen."

Mr Corbyn was getting ticked off. "Jeremy dear. What is the point of having an allotment if you don't bring the produce home?" He responded meekly: "I'll get the sprouts at first light tomorrow."

Theresa laughed. "At least I'm not the only one who forgot the sprouts. Are you trying to tell me that we have far more in common with each other than things that divide us?" An idea started to form in her mind - but it was outrageous! The opposition leader's house dissolved and Theresa was enveloped in her lovely warm duvet.

The bell struck twelve.

Theresa looked about her for the Ghost of Christmas present, and saw it not. As the last stroke ceased to vibrate, she remembered the prediction of Mrs Thatcher, and lifting up her eyes, beheld a solemn Phantom, draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along the ground, towards her.

Tomorrow gives us Stave 4 - The Last of the Spirits.