‘Twas The Night Before Christmas

Tara Lee Davis is our third place winner for the LIVE Twisted Christmas Story Contest. Not only did she win $50, but you also get to read her story. Enjoy, and congratulations Tara!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, every creature was stirring because of a mouse! The stockings had been hung by the chimney with care, but with screaming little children running they quickly flew through the air. The children not nestled but twirling to and fro, like sugarplums pouncing on the mouse they did go. And momma with her handkerchief standing on the counter, I with the broom yelling at my family now asunder. 

There happened a large shaking up on the roof, almost as if the world was quaking under the bright, full moon. Startled and frozen with our eyes wide in wonder, the little mouse scurried into our stockings full of plunder. The running had ceased and the screaming was silenced, when a large boom echoed through the chimney and left us all frightened. Could it be he? That jolly old St. Nick, with cheeks rosy red and belly so plump? What gifts did he bring, what song shall we sing? 

The cookies and milk, oh no! They’ve been compromised….with a little mouse nibble that rotten rodent we now despise! We turn and look, forgoing Santa’s favorite snack hoping to find our favorite with his big red sack. But instead our eyes freeze in terror, for what we had hoped was a welcome guest, is instead a most unwelcome, black and white furry pest! We scream and the mouse scurries and the skunk festively sprays; this just became the most ridiculous ever of our family holidays. 

We laughed and we cried and we huddled together, for even this would not last forever. We loaded up into our rickety family van, grabbing our pillows and blankets and what gifts would fit into our hands. Over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house we went, far, far away from that most awful skunk scent. And now we are all snuggled in our beds, with visions of mice and skunks dancing through our heads.  The lights twinkle softly underneath the vast night sky, hooves pattering on the roof means that St. Nicholas has drawn nigh. 

The morning dawns and the sun creeps slowly; the children yawn and stumble near the tree still glowing. The parents are exhausted and grandma has no clue, what it’s like to spend Christmas Eve telling a mouse and a skunk to shoo. But regardless, it’s Christmas morning and time for no more snoring. The children hover close and the adults wait in anticipation, but quickly notice the room is filled with some hesitation.  For fear of a mouse snuggled up in a stocking, each child would not find that at all very shocking! 

The laughter erupts and grandma still can’t hear, but this is Christmas, filled with family and loved ones so dear. It doesn’t matter who or what comes down the chimney, neither does it matter what lies underneath the tree. For Christmas is about who we find ourselves next to, there will always be the critters that try to ruin it and we’ll forever be telling them to shoo. But in the midst of the chaos and crowds and noise that ensues, Merry Christmas to all, even to you.