... ONLINE ...


T'was the night before Christmas, I just couldn't sleep,
So I hopped out of bed and downstairs I did creep;
I went to the kitchen in search of a bite,
If I filled up my stomach, perhaps I'd sleep tight.

The cupboard was empty, the fridge it was bare,
I searched but I couldn't find food anywhere;
I looked out the window: streets covered with snow,
at two in the morning now where could I go?

I spied my computer, I will go bootup that ...
I'll take me online for some Christmas Eve chat!
The modem connected without a delay,
In the blink of an eye, I'd be chatting away.

But, no voice bid me "Welcome" or said: "You've got mail"
And I thought now's a bad time for my sound card to fail!
My buddy list opened with not even one name,
Is everyone sleeping? Well, I'll go play a game.

I couldn't get into Out Of Order or Slingo.
Strike A Match wouldn't work and neither did Bingo!!
The chat rooms were empty! I thought: Wow, that's just great—AOL picked a fine time for another update.

IM's weren't working, my mail wouldn't send,
I felt so alone, couldn't find even one friend;
But wait! What's that sound? Did I hear something chime?
There's someone else out there ... somebody's on-line!

In wonder I read: "Hey — it's 3:53 —
Your friends are all sleeping; that's where you should be!"
"Turn off that 'puter, take your hand off that mouse,
I have a few things to drop off at your house."

"You know I can't stop there while you're still awake.
I have schedules to keep. Come on ... Give Me A Break!"
If you really are Santa (that jolly, old elf)
There's only one present I'd wish for myself.

The folks on my buddy list — those friends far and near —
You just gather them up and bring them right here;
In the flash of a moment, I awoke with a start,
It was only a dream, I sighed, heavy of heart.

I walked down the stairs and there 'round my tree,
Were all of the people I thought I'd never see;
We laughed and we {{{{{hugged}}}}} and we had such a ball!
Hmmmmmm ... maybe it wasn't a dream after all.

~Author Unknown