By Chandra Howard, Assistant Editor and Staff Writer, Age 16

"'Twas the night before Christmas,
Or that's what they said,
But you wouldn't have guessed it;
My Christmas tree was dead.

My stockings had fallen
From the fireplace there
After hanging on the mantle
And positioned with care.

My ham was destroyed
And the house was a mess,
The boughs were unboughing,
I couldn't find my new dress.

My dog was just sitting
In front of the fire
With pork on his breath
And a grin like a liar.

We were gone for a week
On a trip to Seattle
To see my grandmother
Who once herded cattle.

My neighbor would watch him He said,
"Don't you worry!
Fido'll be great!
You'll miss your flight, so go hurry!"

Well my neighbor had left him
(Forgotten his job)
Either my dog had gone crazy
Or we were wanted by the mob.

He ran through the house
(He was chasing my cat)
And had pulled down the lights
And other things like that.

He opened our fridge,
Just how, I don't know,
And pulled out our ham,
Then let in the snow.

He destroyed our new carpet
And turned over the plants,
He discovered the chocolate,
This brought in the ants.

My mother, distraught, And I a bit cranky Decided that Fido just might Need a good spanky.

We sent him outside
And out of my sight
vAnd called him some names
That are improper to write.

My mother, she wept,
And my father was pacing,
But we picked up the pieces
Of my dog's latest chasing.

My mother was cleaning
Some torn up white lace
When I saw the queerest
Bright smile on her face.

With a grin, she proceeded:
"Fido's been bad,
But even after this,
I can't stay that mad.

"Sure, there's no ham
And the stockings are wrecked,
Our presents are ripped
And our halls are undecked.

"We still have our health,
I know it sounds silly,
But there are clothes on our backs
And we're never that chilly.

"There's food in our tummies,
And stars, and the moon,
And Santa will come,
And we'll forget all of this soon."

My father stopped fuming
And I made a giggle
Then Fido poked is head in
With a whimper and wiggle.

"You a very bad dog,
" My mother had started,
Then responding to this,
Fido panted-and farted.

We let him back in
To share our lost joy
To find pieces of ham
And bits of a toy.

So the moral is this:
Though it may sound unreal
Christmas is about love
And how it makes you feel "

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