The Night Before
Christmas
(With Apologies to Clement C. Moore)
By B.J. Tandarich

'Twas the Night before Christmas
And through the Firehouse
Not a creature was stirring
'Cept for Slimer (the louse!)

The stockings were hung on the mantle so near
But not mine--it was hidden, the spud ate it last year!

Ray was all snuggled nice and warm in his bed,
And Egon? He dreamt of equations instead.
Winston had dropped off in the midst of his book,
But me? I crept down the stairs for a look!

The tree glowed in the rec room--all tinsel and light.
Anticipation you see, made me sleepless this night.

When all of a sudden, I heard such a crash,
That I jumped up and slid down the pole in a flash.
The ground floor was dark, Ecto-1 was okay.
On second thought...Maybe it could have been Ray.

I climbed up the stairs to reach the next floor,
When a sight met my eye as I glanced throught the door.

He stood by the tree with Slimer in tow,
He seemed to be ringed with an unearthly glow!
There was no mistaking that suit of bright red
Or the cap with a ball that he wore on his head.

The sack at his side bulged with goodies galore,
So I just stood quietly and watched from the door.

He filled up the stockings--Egon's, Winston's, and Ray's,
Then Slimer's--the spud watched with a rapturous gaze.
As he turned to the tree, my face kinda' fell.
Would he find my sock and fill it as well?

He opened his sack and bent to his task.
Would there be things for me? I so wanted to ask.

Soon the gifts were piled high all 'round the tree.
Who would get what--that I wanted to see.
When he finished his work, he swund 'round my way.
He winked, then vanished in a glittery spray!

I saw gifts for Winston, for Egon and Ray.
"But there's none for you, Pete," I heard myself say.

I went to the sofa and sat down with a thud,
For I had even seen one for the spud.
I must have dozed off, I was filled with such gloom;
I neglected to hear my friends creep into the room.

"Hey, Peter," Ray whispered, "Come see this instead.
You'll never believe what we found in your bed!"

At first I wouldn't, but they made me rise.
In the bedroom, I found a terrific surprise.
for there on my bed were gifts just for me!
And on my nightstand, a miniature tree!

I found my stocking and on it a note.
And I had to laugh when I saw what he wrote:
"Merry Christmas, Dear Peter, Never let it be said--
This would have been easier had you gone to bed!"

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