Henry the Grumpy Christmas Angel

"Henry the Grumpy Christmas Angel" chronicles the life and times of a man, born to an itinerate junk dealer at the turn of the twentieth century. His father was born with the "gift of gab" and amused the townsfolk and their children with and endless succession of ad hoc stories about anything presented to him. Henry developed similar skills while working in the family business. Henry's life was a continual series of disastrous events after another, that shaped his life and made him appear grumpy. He had an arranged marriage with a beautiful, religious, young woman that produced three lovely daughters. Henry, however, was not religious at all, believing only in hard work. Just before Christmas, in his seventieth year, he passed on. The book accounts the events and love of the family left behind that Christmas Eve. Henry upon passing finds himself in a long line leading to the Pearly Gates for judgement. His credentials were not the best to move into Paradise and he was sentenced to the pathway downward. All of a sudden, the Almighty, for the only time in eons, interceded and kept him in Heaven, believing that he could bring back to light the story, glory, and spirit of Christmas. Henry was given a heavenly toolkit to accomplish this task, which included the gifts of astral projection, marvelous singing voice, and storytelling. Additionally, the Almighty put him in a clown costume because he thought the children Henry would choose to deliver his message to would be less inclined to be afraid of him. Henry was to directed to choose twelve children from different cultures and parts of the world on Christmas Eve and instill in them the beauty of the story, glory, and spirit of Christmas. Henry devised a plan on how he would accomplish this by taking the children back in time to the Nativity, and make it happen. When he had completed his task, both Henry and the Almighty were pleased and Henry started eagerly planning for the next year.