The joeys were nestled in pouches all snug,
Dreaming of sugar cubes and gross little bugs.
When all of a sudden there arose such a crabbin',
I turned on the light to see what was happenin'.

When to my surprise I am startled to see,
Four cages are empty and EIGHT GLIDERS ARE FREE!!!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh with my gliders for deer.
With a little old driver, St. Nick, I could tell,
I knew in a moment, I must not be well.

He crabbed and he chattered and called them by name:
Now Sonny, Now Cher, Now Scarlett and Rhett!
On Boris, On Natasha, Robin and Marion, you bet!
From the floor to the cage to the top of the wall,
Dash away, Dash away, Dash away all!!!

So up to the house-top, the gliders they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys and St. Nicholas too!
And then in a twinkling St. Nick exclaimed from the roof,
"They'll be back by morning!" I wish I had proof!

So, all of these years I believed it was deer
Who made St. Nick's sleigh fly around giving cheer.
When all of this time it's been gliders...WHO KNEW!
But then it figures, they fly and they're night creatures too.

So next time you hear sleigh bells ring just remember;
It might be your glider's turn next December!!

Now my message to you, hold your gliders very dear,

And Merry Christmas to all and to all a Happy New Year!!!

story by Pamela East