Hello, my friends. We find ourselves in a time where many of us are managing the devastating pain of loss. So many people are sick, so many are hungry, so many are in need. The holiday season only seems to bring these unfortunate truths into bold relief.

And this year, in particular, it's magnified exponentially.

What can we do?

Well, if able, we should search our hearts for the spirit of generosity.

It is more blessed to give than receive. Established

charities from St. Vincent DePaul to the Salvation Army all stress this platitude as part of their

mission statement. Yes, it is better to give, especially at this time of year. You can bring all those

items new or used, old or store-bought, to that

honorable place found in nearly every town across this land, the donation center. The following

darkly spiced little serving of suspense was part of our holiday haunt series, which was taped

live in New York City on November 17, 2019.

We hope you enjoy this lump of coal

culled from our archives.

It's actually quite as sparkly,

if somewhat dusky diamond.

It is being presented to you,

our listening audience,

for the very first time.

Good evening. Have your halls been decked? Your tree trimmed, your bells jingled, your chestnuts

roasted over an open fire? Then it sounds like you are ready for some holiday haunts, my friends.

A fireside mystery theater tradition

that dates all the way back to the days

...