(At Tate’s Day Camp)
by Chris Strevel, Santa’s Favorite Camp Director
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the camp
not a creature was stirring, not even an ant.
The stockings were hung by the oak tree with care,
in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
Taboo the squirrel was snug in his bed,
while visions of candy canes danced in his head.
And Chris in his office, and J-Ho in the hall
had just returned from shopping at West Town Mall.
When out in the woods there arose such a clatter,
Taboo sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the pond as the Gecko Bird flies,
he stood on the dock not believing his eyes.
The moon on the glass of the just frozen lake
gave the lustre of July under a warm sun’s bake,
when what to his wondering eyes did he see
but a hole in the ice — what could it be?
With a little old driver that swam to the shore,
he stood there watching, but man there was more!
More rapid than eagles from the pond creatures came,
the man whistled and shouted and called them by name:
“Now Dasher! Now Dancer!
Now Prancer and Vixen!
Get Comet! Get Cupid!
Where’s Donner and Blitzen?
Turn loose of the catfish!
Turn loose of them all!
Dry yourselves boys!
We’ve taken a fall!”
As they paraded around like lost campers in June,
Taboo started singing the jolliest tune.
“Hey little squirrel,” I heard the man say,
“It sank like a rock, I can’t see my sleigh!”
Taboo said, “Don’t worry, don’t be afraid.
I’ll take out my cell phone and call a mermaid.
She’ll bring us some rope, a wrecker or truck,
Back up the reindeer and hope for some luck.”
And then in the twinkling, on that Christmas Eve night,
what happened before me was an incredible sight.
Santa just laughed and touched his red nose
and out of the pond his Christmas Sleigh rose.
It was like magic before him, or was it a dream?
As Taboo watched Santa, he hooked up his team.
“Thank you squirrel stranger,” he said with some cheer,
“if we hadn’t of crashed I wouldn’t be here.
My toys are for children not squirrels you see,
but because of your help I have something from me.”
He turned to a bag in the back of his sleigh,
took out a small box, and I heard the man say,
“Merry Christmas Taboo! It’s just what you need,
plant it in the spring, it’s an acorn tree seed.”
Santa then chuckled a great big HO HO,
“Next summer you’ll have a new Oak Tree Condo.”
And then to his team he gave a loud cheer,
“Don’t forget your sunscreen! I’ll see you next year!”
And as fast as they came, they flew out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!