A Christmas Carol : Conclusion

Back home Uncle Tony was there again, helping the boys unwrap all their presents. He was incorrigible; he was almost like a boy himself.  At Eliot's school there had been slight concerns over Eliot's behaviour. There had been a downturn in his performance, and his end of term results weren't good. They'd put it down to the fact Christmas was coming and Eliot was letting his hair down, but really there was more to it than that. When questioned Eliot would clam up, say nothing.  

Joan was getting worried. It was six o' clock and Eliot hadn't returned from the church.  Where was he? If he didn't come home in the next half hour she would ring the church. Half past six came and went and still nothing. She got the priest on the phone. "He never arrived, Joan. I can't think where he would be."

Uncle Tony had left with Eliot at 3-45 pm and said goodbye to him on the way to the church. Was Tony the last person to see him? It was dark out then for God's sake. Joan was worried, where was her precious boy?

When the police arrived they were taken aback. This was christmas for chrissakes and now a boy missing. Helicopters were put on alert and the local woods were searched. It wasn't long before they got a call. Police sniffer dogs had located a body. Sadly it was Eliot. His poor, little, defenceless body with his clothing disarrayed had been dumped in a shallow grave. Where was God now?

Joan couldn't believe her boy was murdered, but her thoughts couldn't help turn to Tony, her brother. A gay man, by all accounts, he had always shown too much interest in Eliot. To Joan this was now unhealthy. She started to hate deep within her soul : "It was Tony, I know it was, the man must be a maniac. I never thought he would do this, not murder."

Back in church Father Barnes sat beneath the cross, his thoughts in disarray. He prayed from his heart, but could God forgive a man like himself, a sinner with no heart at all -- a wolf in sheep's clothing. He thought of John Donne's poem again; Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.