Ever since that surgery
when he was very little,
the Ogress’ baby brother
had always been slim as a whistle. 

The realization hit me
            (I mean her)
Right between the eyes
Santa's CLOTHES! Yes:
That is what those clothes
Looked like on her brother!

His shorts—
A haunting image
“Santa’s Clothes”
“Santa’s Clothes”
The words lingered in her mind… 

Now...The Ogress had always been one
who saw a need and then acted,
and seeing how badly her brother
needed a new pair of shorts….
She acted. 

She knew her mother was busy,
but she asked her for cloth anyway.
Her mom told her to go looking
and she found the most perfect thing…
a beautiful olive-green denim!

Next...the Ogress looked for a pattern,
and when she found one,
tried reading—
But when she read it the first time,
 was like, "Huh?"

So, she thought it would be more prudent
to use an old pair of shorts for a pattern.
She saw the seam down the middle,
but could see no need for that bulk...
She knew she could make the shorts better. 

She reasoned that all that was needed
was to cut out a front and a back--
then sew them together with side seams
add a hem and elastic, then, Viola…
She would be done! 

It seemed the perfect idea!
            (until she sewed them together…)
And her brother, as slim as a whistle,    
looked with raised eyebrows at her
and said, “Sis, even I’m not THAT thin!” 

            (Okay, let’s be honest here…
            They looked like it would have taken
            a tornado cooked up by some Stormspinner
            to suck him up and pour him into those shorts!) 

She thought of trying again
but then reality hit again…
For she awoke to the tune of  Blitzen’s Song
and realized why she’d been dreaming
of Santa…

Prologue:
Having dreamed of the tragic demise
of the shorts made of olive-green denim
the Ogress made sure to make careful perusal
of the pattern instructions for shorts. 

And when her task was completed…
-Her sewing was flawless
-Her brother was happy,
and he said those most longed for words…
“Yes: it (they) fit perfectly. Well done! “

Author's Note:  The Ogress Chronicles are based on true childhood  experiences.  

We invite you to play along with our game... The object of the game is to find the title of one of Charlie's poems, the reviewer of her poem, and the review within this poem. 

Happy playing... :~)