by Brenda Shaw

T’was the night before Christmas, and all across facebook
The gamers were all taking one last little look.
The status’s were posted with the utmost of care,
In hopes that our Jackie would read them there.

Our wee frontier babes were nestled snug in their beds
While dreams of playing, ran wild in their heads.
The parents… that’s us…had just finished our games.
Frontierville, Farmville, and all of those names.

When onto our desktops there was a great clatter
We sprang back to our chairs to see what was the matter.
Away to the mouse our fingers flew like a flash.
Clicking and clacking we made a mad dash.

The light from the monitor flickered and waned.
Hurry up and show us!…our eyes were so strained.
When what to our wondering eyes did we see?
A little red wagon and who could THEY be?

The little old driver, fast asleep in the sack,
We knew in a second, it had to be Jack.
His helpers were slow and dragging their butts
Oh no, can it be?… eight facebook nuts!

Now Norma, Now Nancie, Now Lynne and Kay.
On Richard, On Denny, On Dora and Rae…
Get up, get moving..you laggards so slow,
Don’t you know that it’s Christmas and we gotta go?

In that moment when time seems to stand still
That strange little group gathered their will.
And up to the house-top the laggards they flew…
With the wagon full of toys, and our Jack too.

And then in an instant, they crashed to the roof…
A thud and a crunch…we knew was no spoof.
We ran to give help…but alas were too late.
Jack screamed as he landed on the cookie plate.

He was dressed all in red, and so were his eyes…
We wondered how many of those ginger and ryes
He downed while he carried those toys on his back.
No wonder his helpers were looking so slack.

His eyes didn’t twinkle, his dimples weren’t merry;
But his cheeks WERE like roses…his NOSE WAS a cherry!
His cute little mouth was twisted like so  ~~~
His cheeks were all covered with twigs and snow.

The stumps of his teeth showed when he cried!
He tried to sit up…honest…he tried and he tried!
Oh, he looked quite a mess…his suit all bunched up!
He sure wasn’t laughing….and then he threw up!

He lay in a heap, disheveled and sad…a poor little elf!
And we laughed when we saw him, in spite of ourselves.
He tried to wink and give a twist of his head
But all THAT did was give us something to dread.

He didn’t bother to talk and he sure couldn’t work.
He dropped all the presents, then gave up with a jerk.
Seeing the mess littered about, he sped out the door,
While we all lay laughing on the living room floor.

He staggered in pain and fell into his wagon.
His strength and humour were definitely flagging.
But we did hear him say as he rolled out of sight…
“MERRY CHRISTMAS YA GAMERS AND A FACEBOOK GOODNIGHT!”