Every Christmas for the last seven years, I've written a story or poem to go in my cards. This is the offering for this year.

I hope everyone is having a great holiday, and that all of you are looking forward to a wonderful New Year.

(For those who have not read any of the previous six Aristotle holiday stories, you might want to read at least the first one: http://lazette.net/ari1.htm . Links to the other ones are at the bottom of that page.)

And here is this year's piece:



SEVEN LITTLE TEDDY BEARS

Seven little teddy bears, all sitting in a row
Looking out the window, hoping it will snow.
Oh how can it be Christmas Eve, each one cried aloud
The yard is brown and ugly, and the sky without a cloud!

Aristole watched them, wondering what to do
How do you make it snow? He hadn't a single clue!
So instead he got the little bears to decorate their tree
And oh it was a fun time, on that they did agree!

They hung the boughs with pretty lights, all of them aglow
And on the very top they placed a very pretty bow.
They ate Christmas cookies, and sang a few sweet songs
And now it's late, he told them. You know where bears belong!

The night was now very dark, and the stars so very bright
But they still couldn't see a single cloud in sight.
So seven sad little teddy bears, all curled up in a bed
Aristotle stood a moment, and sat with them instead.

Once upon a time, he said, in a land so far away
They never knew a snowflake, nor even a cloudy day
The teddy bears at Christmas, celebrated in their way
By making lovely sand castles, and swimming in the bay

And then one year it happened, right on a Christmas Eve
A stranger passing through their town decided not to leave
I am far from home he said, with a sad little sigh
I'd like to spend my holiday here, before I say good-bye.

The teddy bears were happy to make him feel at ease
Tell us about your home, they said, if you kindly please
It's not at all like your town, he said as they sat among the trees
You've not a single icicle, nor snow upon the leaves!

Are these important things? They asked with some dismay
We've never had snow here, not even on Christmas Day!
The stranger looked quite startled -- they are important to me,
But if you need them for Christmas -- well, we'll just have to see!

Then, much to the bear's surprise, he lifted his hands
And spinning magic brought them snow from very far off lands!
With many sounds of surprise, and laughs of true delight
They all ran about and had their very first snowball fight!

Then they looked around and said, "This is very pretty, it's true,
But now that there's snow around, we don't know what else to do!
So the stranger showed them snowmen, and a snow fortress to build
But when they realized how cold it was, I can't say they were thrilled

Yes the snow is lovely, and fun for just a day
But how can it be Christmas, with no swim out in the bay?
And as the snow had melted, all in the bright warm sun
The teddy bears showed the stranger their own holiday fun

They covered all the bushes with many tinkling bells
And decorated palm trees with lovely sea shore shells.
They wrapped up presents in bright green palm tree leaves
And hung colorful fragrant flowers from every house's eaves.

And when it came to dinner, oh there was a true delight!
They had a Christmas luau out in the warm bright night!
Figs and nuts and berries, and sweet coconut milk to drink
By the time they were done, they were too stuffed to think!

And all about the firmament, the stars were shining bright
The best of all the decorations on this perfect Christmas Night
And as the stranger laid down on a mat out by the shore
He felt the Christmas spirit like he'd never felt before.

The seven little teddy bears, all snuggled in their bed
Forgot about snowmen, to dream of sand castles instead.
When they awoke next morning, their laugher was so bright
Even before they opened the window to a wondrous Christmas sight

A thousand snowflakes glittering, all in the soft cold breeze
And frost like powdered sugar coated all the lovely trees
And though they were as happy as little bears can be
They decided it might not be so bad to have Christmas by the sea.

They went outside to run, frolicking through snow and ice
And when they came in later, the hot chocolate was very nice.
They gave their little presents to each and every one
And oh they had a wonderful day filled with joy and fun.

Late that night they snuggled, seven little bears in a bed
We had such a perfect day, the sleepy bears all said.
But Aristotle was fairly certain that they had meant to say
They hoped that everyone had as perfect a Christmas Day!


Happy Holidays from Zette, her bears, cats and even her husband...