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The Bogey-Beast

There was once a woman who was very, very cheerful, though she had little to make her so; for she was old, and poor, and lonely. She lived in a little bit of a cottage and earned a scant living by running errands for her neighbours, getting a bite here, a sup there, as reward for her services.

Christmas Day in the Morning He woke suddenly and completely. It was four o'clock, the hour at which his father had always called him to get up and help with the milking. Strange how the habits of his youth clung to him still! Fifty years ago, and his father had been dead for thirty years, and yet he waked at four o'clock in the morning. He had trained himself to turn over and go to sleep, but this morning it was Christmas, he did not try to sleep. Why did he feel so awake tonight? He slipped back in time, as he did so easily nowadays. He was fifteen years old and still on his father's farm.

• “Christmas is a time for family, food and fellowship. Wishing you nothing but the best that the season has to offer.”
• “Merry Christmas! This coming year, may you be gifted with countless blessings.”
• “This holiday season, may you and your family experience light and laughter.”
• “It's people like you that make Christmas a sacred, meaningful occasion. Merry Christmas!”
• “Gifts come and go, what really matters are the people who light up our lives all year long. Thank you!”
• "Sending lots of peace and joy to you and your family this Christmas season."
• "Wishing you safe travels and that you become closer to all those that you treasure in your heart this Christmas season."
• "May your life be filled with warmth and good cheer this holiday season and throughout the New Year."
• "May this Christmas bring you many reasons to smile.

EDUCATION With a full-time job and a girlfriend, John's schedule was pretty tightly packed. But for the sake of a better future, he enrolled in a graduate program for economics at his local university. John had already completed an undergraduate program and graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy, yet like most liberal arts degrees, it was not the greatest choice for seeking employment and starting a career. This time would be different. With much more experience and wisdom, this opportunity to further his education would not go wasted.

FAMILY AND OCCUPATIONS Jenny happily agreed to accompany John on his visit to his family gathering the following weekend. They were now officially a couple, and it would be a good time to introduce her to his mother, father, and brothers. Also at the get-together was John's uncle, named Doug. Doug was a mechanical engineer, who worked on all kinds of machines, including steam and gas turbines and electric generators. He was an extremely intelligent man, who helped guide John in his younger years. While chatting with his uncle, he noticed his two cousins Michael and Joanne in the background.

STAYING AT HOME It was a Sunday afternoon. John had no particular plans, so he slept in and allowed himself to catch up on sleep he had missed during the week. It would not be a completely lazy day though, for he had a number of household chores to do. Perhaps most important of all were the unpaid bills that needed to be taken care of. Housing isn't free, after all. Rent, electricity, water, internet, student loans, and phone plans all have payments due. Thanks to technology, however, all of these can be paid online without leaving the house. Next, the laundry had piled up over the week, and a few loads would be necessary for the upcoming week.

CHAPTER 7: TOWN AND CITY Before his big date with Jenny today, John had a few errands to run to make sure everything was ready. First of all, a trip to the bank was needed, so he could withdraw enough cash for the busy day ahead. Along the way to the bank, he stopped by his favorite coffee shop to pick up some much needed caffeine to jump-start the day. Next, he had to make a run to the post office and drop off some mail that was overdue and nearly late. After that, it was off to the mall to find a new outfit to wear on today's date.

CHAPTER 5: WORK While John's social life was blooming, his life at work was the polar opposite. He works at an office for an insurance company, and while the pay is good, the workload is overwhelming. Each morning, he checks his work email to find 50 new requests that have to be immediately dealt with. If he doesn't quickly dispatch and process the emails before lunch, he will get caught behind schedule and most likely have to work overtime. It's extremely stressful and more so when his boss is watching him over his shoulder. John's boss has to be strict with all the employees.

CHAPTER 6: ANIMALS AND NATURE To relieve some of the stress and anxiety he had been accumulating for quite some time, John set off on a nature walk. He heard that spending a day or two in the mountains would do wonders for him and his mental health. The isolation would give his mind time and space to detox and refresh. Animals would be his only companions during the walk. His house was located in an apartment complex, so it was pretty rare to see any wildlife besides the occasional squirrel.