'Twas the Night

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the place
Two toddlers were setting a frightening pace.

The stockings were hung by the A/C with care,
So they wouldn't fall down, and young kids couldn't tear.

The children were finally put in their beds,
Where visions of Fisher Price danced in their heads.

And Mom in her sweat suit, and Dad in his briefs
Had just settled with books for a night with no griefs

When in the front room there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from their bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window they flew like a flash.
They moved back the curtains and threw up the sash.

For what could that scratching and tearing sound mean,
But that ignorant cat climbing up on the screen.

More rapid than eagles frustration, it came,
Dad whistled and shouted and called the cat names.

As dry leaves that before the wild Okie wind fly
Dad ran to the sink with a frightening cry.

Then back to the window the mighty man flew
With a glass full of water and steely gaze, too.

And then in a twinkling Mom heard in the hall
The patter of feet and small hands on the wall

As Mom turned to look, from their bedrooms they came.
Happy young children thinking this was a game.

Their eyes were so bright and their PJs so warm,
Mom moved them away, to protect them from harm.

Dad spoke not a word, but went straight to his work.
Dousing that cat, through the screen, with a smirk.

And picking up children, and kissing their heads
The two parents snuggled them down in their beds.

They went back to reading, this Mom and this Dad
Hoping the cat would no longer be bad.

You could hear feline meows as it shivered, all wet.
“Merry Christmas to you too! I'll get that screen yet!”