Ebenezer Scrooge once had a sister named Fran, whom he was quite close to. She ended up marrying and having a son named Fred. Fran died, shortly after Fred's birth. Fred grew up to be a very cheerful man.As Scrooge got a lot older, he disliked being in the presence of Fred, because...1) Fred reminded Scrooge of Fred's mother, who was Scrooge's sister, which reminded Scrooge of his youth, which Scrooge preferred not to think about!2) Because Fred was always so merry, and cheerful, and Scrooge always felt he had nothing to be happy about, so that angers him.Fred invited Scrooge to spend Christmas with him in late 1843. But Scrooge refused, angrily.During the night before Christmas, Fred's family mock Scrooge's grouchiness, and then make a toast to him.However, the next day, Scrooge is in a frightfully good mood, and he ends up spending Christmas Day with them, after all!Scrooge has been as merry and as cheerful as Fred, since then, if not more!