The Fright Before Christmas

The Fright Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through her house

not a present was wrapped, who cared about the mouse

She was panicking alone, she had no escape

The stores were all closed – and she’d run out of tape.

Stockings needed hanging, the tree needed trim

No decent toys to assemble was always quite grim

A widowed mom on her own with two little boys was tragic

But somehow, someway, she needed to make magic.

Since such little to go around, she made each item count

Everything her boys got was either free or on discount

So, she bought used books, a gift you can open everyday

Even if they raised their eyes, “Oh, but it is true,” she’d say.

Socks, gloves, and warm coats, always things that they’d need

Wanting to give them the world, she had no budget for greed

She began to glue, yes glue, wrap, ribbon, tinsel and bow

And slowly but surely, a pile of presents started to grow.

She found herself humming tunes Bing Crosby once sang

Imagining her late-parents, dancing as New Years’ rang

At three in the morning, sleepy after a spiked, eggnog drink

She settled in bed, said her prayers, and tried catching a wink.

Suddenly, from above came a pounding but familiar sound

She sprang from her bed to the window to have a look around

The streetlights and colorful bulbs illuminated the ground below

She must be dreaming because if not, she didn’t want to know.

A blood-red suited, white-bearded man stood on their lawn

This was not a dream – and it definitely was not yet dawn

Of course, it was a fake Santa, or a tipsy, lost hire

She went back to the window after stoking the fire.

He just stood there staring up at her; should he not go away

She’d call the police, as there were no reindeer, no sleigh

After grabbing her cell-phone, she looked back at the lawn

But it was too late, the Santa imposter was suddenly gone.

She descended the stairs, and at the bottom she turned

There was not a real Santa, a fact she’d long since learned

It was a perfect set-up, a burglar as a Santa clone

Or worse a serial killer; so she readied her phone.

She raced back to the fireplace and grabbed the poker

The only closest weapon she could think of at the time

She would need to thwart this Christmas interloper

before he could commit any sort of horrid crime.

Armed by her front door, for her boys she needed to be strong

But hard as she tried, she knew something was very wrong.

There was suddenly a noise, lifting the poker, she silently cried

That man was no longer outside her home, he was already inside.

The boys being her very first thought, she checked they were still asleep

Quietly, poker still in hand, she made her way to the den for a peep

What she saw made her grip tighter on the poker and her phone

Because although all was exactly as she had left it, she was not alone.

She caught the back of the imposter Santa, so he hadn’t noticed she was there

So, she crouched down low, then realized, the man didn't really seem to care

As she observed him cautiously and curiously from the far end of the room

A strange sense of trust and benevolence began to emerge from her doom.

He gently placed presents under their tree, more than her meager display

She prayed for her boys wishes, for what she hadn’t the money to pay

Speaking not a word, he hummed White Christmas, her curiosity full-blown

She was most certain at that point, her presence had always been known.

As he laid down the final box, under their tattered fake Frazier fir,

She noticed there was not one present, labeled under the tree for her.

Santa helped himself to cookies; pocketed carrots the boys left on a tray,

She’d taken bites of the treats earlier, preserving the myth of the holiday.

Finally, she stepped out and demanded what this was about

There was no commotion, no need for a poker, or even a shout

He glanced over at her, his blue eyes twinkled like ice

And he spoke in a voice that was both hypnotic and nice.

“My dear, I am Santa Claus, the guy with the toys

And I’ve brought some special gifts for you and your boys.”

She told him there was no Santa, but her spirits could use a lift

She said she noticed his sack was empty, so where was her gift?

His grin broadened to laughter, then his round belly shook

So, she glanced around the tree to have another look

He eloquently told her he knew her wishes indeed

Then, he named several items, she surely did need.

“But, you see my dear, your true gifts cost less than a dime.

And though it may surprise you, they’ve been here the whole time

He walked her upstairs, after placing the poker safely on the rack

Somehow she knew he was harmless; this was not some attack.

They walked to a room, where they slept soundly in their beds.

Their faces so innocent, while tomorrow danced in their heads.

When she looked down upon them, such love flowed from the two

She realized at that moment her real gifts didn’t have to be new.

Gently kissing their cheeks she turned, but Santa was no longer in sight.

Racing to her bedroom window, she looked back out into the night

She wanted to thank him for Christmas, from both she and the boys

And for reminding her that showing love all year round is the truest of joys.

She gazed out as thick snowflakes began to fall and Santa now off to foreign lands

But he’d left her the meaning of the season to be held forever in her very hands.

It would be a white Christmas after all, her boys didn't need Elf on the shelf

They'd run out there in their pajamas, a special gift from Mother nature herself.

One last tuck-in and kiss on their cheeks as she gently closed their bedroom door

Glancing back at their tree one last time, it seemed to twinkle brighter than before.

As she fell upon her pillows, she knew it was not what it had seemed

It would've been wonderful, if it hadn't been something she'd dreamed.

Nearly asleep, her eyes shot open and she sat up.

Wide-awake, she clearly heard his voice from above.

A statement she will remember all the rest of her life

and forever equate with real holiday love.

“Never stop dreaming,

especially on Christmas eve,

and always remember;

if you don’t believe, you don’t receive.”

May you recognize the true gifts of the holiday season,

even if they don’t come in packages.