❄Christmas in Saren❄

     "'Twas the night 'fore Christmas, 'n' all through the castle,

The servants 'n' cooks were in quite a hassle.

The stockings were hung by the fire with care,

In hopes that the laundry-woman soon would be there.

Sharon and Jack still hadn't gone to bed,

And took turns punching each other in the head."

    "Lil, is this really the best bedtime story?" Sammy groaned. Sharon and Jack eyed each other as if my story might come true.

    "Fine," I huffed. I amended, "And bounced up 'n' down on their beds.

Daddy in his shoes, and I in a gown,

Snuck 'way from the ball to yet 'gain save the town.

Over Valeria, a dragon was flying,

And the people were 'fraid they soon'd be dying.

So over the drawbridge we flew like a flash,

Cuz a ball is boring and I needed something to smash."

    "Lil...." Sammy said.

    "Aw, c'mon, ya hated it too!" I said. Sharon and Jack clamored for me to continue, and Lavender crawled sleepily into my lap. I went on:

    "The moon showed off the town below.

Not one dragon, but eight, gliding over the snow!

Not only that, but there also appeared

A dwarf in a sleigh with a long bushy beard!

The dragons pulled the sleigh, lighting up the sky,

And terrified the late-night passerby."

    "Mommy, why are people walking 'round so late?" Sharon asked.

    I shrugged. "Cuz it's Christmas Eve, 'n' there's no bedtimes on Christmas Eve." The kids' eyes lit up, and Sammy gave me a what-did-you-just-do look. "So,

Daddy 'n' I rushed onto the scene,

To see what info we could glean,

When the dwarf and the dragons suddenly descended

Upon the castle wall, which was not well defended

Cuz it was Christmas, 'n' the guards were at the ball.

So I dragged Daddy up the wall."

    "Lil, that ain't what happened!" Sammy protested.

    I raised an eyebrow. "If I remember right, Sammy dear, ya weren't so keen on leaving the ball. Now,

When we reached the sleigh, to our disappointment,

The suspicious dwarf had already unboarded.

We found 'im in the guardhouse with a fairly large bag,

Smiling as sneaky as a humanoid Mags.

He was dressed in white furs, from head unto foot,

And he was covered all over in chimney soot.

'Halt! Who goes there!' I bravely cried,

Then giggled as I noticed that the dwarf was rather wide.

Daddy snuck round the intruder's back,

To get a good look at what was in the sack.

He gasped when he saw what our perp had lifted:

Every gift that had ever been gifted!"

    "Given, not gifted," Sammy mumbled.

    "I've heard it both ways, Sammy, and you're messing up the rhyme. Well,

I pinned the little thief to the wall by his neck,

And yelled very lady-like, 'Well, what the heck!'

'I was giving, not taking,' the fat old dwarf cried.

'Then prove it!' I said. The crazy thief sighed

'N' just disappeared, nowhere to be found!

He was back in the sleigh, when we turned 'round,

And off he flew, into the night- "

    "Sayin', 'Merry Christmas t' all, an' t' all a good night," Sammy yawned. "Good night."

    I smiled. "Ain't done yet."

    Jack protested, "But that's how the story ends!"

    I shook my head. "Not this one." I finished:

"And off he flew, into the night,

Looping and swerving in his flight.

So Daddy 'n' I went up to our room,

Cuz we were a mess and the ball would be doom.

But guess what we found, sitting on our bed?

A wrapped up gift, 'n' a note that said:

'I am no magpie, no common thief,

I am Saint Nick, if you choose to believe.

But if you still have want of some proof,

See what I've left here, under your roof.'

So I opened the box very gentle with my dagger,

In a way that made Daddy think I was overeager,

And in the box was a crystal ball full of snow,

Falling softly on a miniature castle below.

We set the snow globe in the window, in the moonlight.

Now Merry Christmas, little ones, 'n' have a g'night."

🎅The End🎅