‘Twas the Night Before Christmas . . . and Ronald’s Awake
A creature was stirring, but it wasn’t a mouse . . .
December’s all about feeling festive, and this month’s story is a candy cane twist on an old Christmas classic!
Remember the tale ’Twas the Night Before Christmas? Supposedly everyone was snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. BUT . . . the truth is, there was someone who was not so snug in their bed that night. Someone who was wide awake and causing gift-wrapping, tree-tipping havoc. Someone far worse than the green Grinch himself . . . it’s Ronald! Ronald may be just a little rabbit, but he certainly knows how to make a gigantic mess. What will happen when the big man in the red suit catches Ronald red handed?!?
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas . . . and Ronald’s Awake!
by caitlin nicole evans
Dedicated to my Mom, for always hanging the stockings with care . . .
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
and all through the house.
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse.
Well, actually, that story isn’t quite right . . .
There WAS someone awake in the house on that night.
The humans were snoring.
The dog twitched in dreams.
The cat lay there purring,
all asleep, so it seems.
BUT . . .
If you listened real close, you could hear tiny paws.
The twitch of a nose, and the rustling of straw.
It was Ronald the Rabbit, awake as could be.
He was sat in his cage filled with Christmas eve glee.
Now, Ronald was not trying to spy on St. Nick.
Instead, he was up to his usual tricks.
In the wee morning hours, he loved sneaking about.
He would push off the lid of his cage to sneak out.
Most nights Ronald would try to steal treats.
Get his paws on whatever a rabbit could eat.
He liked chewing on couches, and pooping in plants.
He liked being alone to just party and dance.
(Rabbits, I’ve heard, love to party a lot – but, they do it at night so they never get caught! After all, they’re nocturnal. They stay up all night. Then sleep in the day when there’s just much too light.)
So, in darkness he crept down the stairs . . .THUMP, THUMP, THUMP . . .
and what Ronald found made his little heart jump.
“PARRRRTTTTYYYYYYY”, he yelled, like a sugar high elf.
His eyes were alight by the scene on the shelf.
Stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
Filled with tasty new treats for the family to share.
Santa had come and filled up each one.
In fact, ALL the presents were already done.
The tree underneath stuffed with boxes and wrapping.
Ronald thought, how convenient, the whole house is napping!
(You see Ronald was young, just 6 months and 5 days. He knew nothing of Christmas and Santa Claus’ ways.)
He ran ‘round the tree, too excited to pause.
No wonder the kids loved this famed Mr. Claus!
They had left him some milk and some cookies, unfinished.
In no time at all, all that food was diminished.
Ronald ate the reindeer carrots and each cookie crumb,
then turned to the tree when the feast was all done.
He climbed up the branches while it wobbled and rocked.
He hopped toward the mantle straight into a sock.
Those big giant socks were filled up with treats.
Chocolates, and oranges, and good books to eat!
(Rabbits like paper, it’s perfect to chew . . . so hide all your books when a rabbit’s with you!)
Ronald dove in each stocking. He chewed every inch.
Oh, Ronald the Rabbit was worse than the Grinch!!!
When he finished he hopped down the tree ‘til it crashed.
Every trinket and lightbulb impeccably smashed.
“Now, what’s in these boxes?” He started to wonder.
Yet, with no time to spare it made no sense to ponder.
Instead, he just hurried and chewed every box.
Straight through the wrapping, as sly as a fox!
If something was tasteless, he tossed it away.
So busy with greed, he did not hear the sleigh.
It turned out the reindeer were waiting on Clause.
Something, it seemed, must have made Santa pause.
St. Nick was downstairs, still inside Ronald’s home.
He’d forgotten to leave poor Donald a bone.
Donald the Dog had been such a good boy.
In fact, everyone else got some small treat or toy.
Connie the Cat got a new box to pee.
Even, Mitchell the Mouse got a small wheel of brie.
Santa left gifts for every last pet.
Except one small rabbit. Did Santa forget?!?!?!
NOPE!
Santa had simply watched Ronald all year,
sneaking out of his cage when the coast was all clear.
Thumping downstairs to be naughty at night.
Bouncing around, chewing all things in sight.
Now, everyone knows about “naughty” and “nice”.
The supposed long list that Santa checks twice.
But, the truth is St. Nick has a real open mind,
and he knows that deep down we are ALL rather KIND.
Santa decided that Ronald the Rabbit,
was not really naughty – he just had a bad habit!
These parties at night would just have to quit,
and Santa it seemed had his own set of tricks.
He snuck to the room where he’d left gifts and toys.
Which now, thanks to Ronald, was completely destroyed!
St. Nick cleared his throat and gave Ronald a scare.
The young rabbit looked up to a sight rather rare.
A man with a beard dressed in red velvet silk?!?
This was the guy they left cookies and milk?!?!?
“Santa?!?” he asked, (because rabbits can speak, by twitching their noses, and saying, “squeak, squeak”.)
“Hello, Ronald,” the man said, with a small, loving smile.
“I’ve been meaning to meet you for such a long while.
All year I have waited for this day in December.
I’m so glad it’s here. Now, just let me remember . . .”
He patted his toy sack and pulled out a box.
Ronald prayed to himself that it wouldn’t be socks.
He lifted the lid with a small furry paw,
chewed through the tissue, and inside he saw . . .
A tiny machine, the first part of the present.
It made soothing sounds that were really quite pleasant.
The sound of the waves, or a soft bubbling stream.
“You’ll love it,” said Santa. “It’s a sleeping machine!”
Just next to that, was a lavender candle.
Enough melatonin a bunny could handle!
A small sleeping mask, and some chamomile tea.
A tablet with a note that read: LISTEN TO ME.
“I downloaded apps from a recommendation.
The elves are all into this new meditation.
You just follow your breath and sit like a lotus.
You’ll sleep like a dream, and have extra sharp focus!”
Lastly, the box had a soft rabbit bed.
“It’s better than straw! You can use this instead.”
Ronald liked gifts, but it all seemed unclear.
THIS was why Santa had waited all year?!?
A lavender candle . . . ? Some tea, and some apps . . . ?
Was St. Nick concerned Ronald needed more naps?
“With all of this stuff, you should sleep through the night.
You’ll awake in the day – and oh, what a sight!
You’ll have pets you can play with, and humans to cuddle.
You won’t wreak so much havoc, or cause so much trouble.
No more late nights, or parties, or just feeling bored.
The daytime, my friend, has much more fun in store!”
Ronald then realized he had been quite down.
It was awfully lonely with no one around.
Christmas was all about caring and giving.
These antics at night were no way to be living!
He wanted more love, time with family and friends.
For his late night bad habits to come to an end.
“Thank you, St. Nick,” Ronald said with a squeak,
and took his new gifts to his cage for some sleep.
Then Santa used magic to clean up the room.
(It was really much quicker than using a broom!)
With the stockings re-stuffed, and each box with its bow,
Santa was finally all ready to go.
He went up the chimney and back to the sleigh.
With a flick of the reins, they flew off on their way.
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.”
He hollered to everyone snuggled up tight.
Including young Ronald, who was dreaming sweet dreams . . .
of lavender fields with soft bubbling streams.
THE END
New addition - Every month I’ll be including a recommendation of a silly, funny. all-around-awesome book I’ve found for children and parents alike!
Recommended Reading: In the spirit of the holidays (and naughty little pets), check out Pig the Elf, by Aaron Blabey. Shout out to Wendy Shepherd for getting me hooked on this Australian children’s book author.
If you’d like to send a gift subscription for the holidays, click the link down below. Thanks to everyone for sharing, subscribing, and all the support. It makes ME want to party like a sugar high elf!
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for next months B-Side Story coming to your inbox on New Year’s Day. Happy holidays to all, and to all a GOOD NIGHT!
