‘Twas the night before Christmas at Out & About.
The Holiday Issue was yet to get out,
And Ed was frenetically editing copy,
Cursing the writers who’d sent it in sloppy:

“I tell them to spellcheck before they submit,”
He moaned to Moretti, who gave not a whit.
“Get a grip o’ your knickers,” Ed heard Mike declare.
“Who cares if their there is the same as their they’re?”

Ed rolled his eyes and said, “You’re a lost cause,”
Knowing he couldn’t let Mike make him pause
His Christmas Eve duties. Some parties awaited.
And Ed won’t miss those, even if he’s sedated.

He turned to his labor to give it his best –
The sleepy get no slack, the weary no rest –
Proofing each paragraph, honing each headline,
Racing to upload the issue on deadline.

But just when he thought he could edit no more,
He thought he heard something … a knock at his door.
He crossed the floor slowly and slid the bolt back,
And what Ed saw next caused his hair to grow back.

A little old man in a red woolen suit
Stood by a gunnysack loaded with loot.
He talked up to Ed but looked down at the bag,
“You think you could help me deliver this swag?”

Ed wondered aloud, “How will we get around?
I know it’s one bag, but we’ll pay by the pound.”
The jolly old elf said, “We won’t fly commercial.
“Their prices and work ethic rate as inertial.”

“This is one shipment best flown on the hoof.
Go put on your coat. Meet me up on the roof.”
So, Ed grabbed his coat and his scarf and his cap
And climbed to the roof to rejoin the old chap.

And there in a shimmer of moon glow Ed saw
A craft to leave engineers gaping in awe:
One shiny red sleigh, with one fat guy to steer,
All pulled by a team of a dozen reindeer.

“I thought that the reindeer team maxed out at eight,”
Ed thought. “Well, I guess we must have extra weight.
After all, this is my first time taking this ride.
And as I remember, the trip is worldwide.”

Ed clambered aboard and yelled, “Where’s our first stop?”
The pilot replied, “We have presents to drop
For all of your friends on the shoreline this year.
You’re serving them well. And they know it. Look here.”

“A good man is measured by – not what he says –
But rather the thoughts he keeps under his fez.
And yours are as gracious as any might be.
And all of your friends on the shoreline agree.”

“But what will we give them?” Ed wanted to know.
“It’s hard to come up with a gift apropos
Of people committed to making life better.
It can’t be just one big community sweater!”

“Oh, no. It’s not merchandise,” laughed the old elf.
“If it were that simple, I’d do it myself.
I’ve brought you along because you are the gift.
Your smile and your spirit give people a lift.

You’ve transformed the shoreline one heart at a time,
One person, one town, from Cos Cob to Old Lyme.
You’ve helped them discover the joy where they live.
There can’t be a more precious present to give.”

Ed sat back and smiled, as only Ed can.
He looked at the elf and asked, “Who are you, man?”
The elf thought, “Oh, boy. This dude really is slow.”
But he said, “Ask your readers. I’m sure they’ll all know.”

He prompted his reindeer, “Come on, now! Let’s fly!
We’ll have to get Ed to the bar, by and by.”
Then Ed and the crimson elf both shouted out:
“Happy Holidays from Shoreline Out & About!”

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