[With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, Dr. Seuss, and any living
 poets who go into catatonic shock upon reading this.]

'Twas three days before Christmas and all through the mall,
the shopping had turned to a grim free-for-all.
The Muzak was shrill, and annoyingly loud
to ensure you would hear it while trapped in the crowd.

The children were dashing, their parents in tow,
from storefront to storefront (all doused in fake snow);
"I want this, I want that, I want all those and these!"
they would point here and there and knock over fake trees.

The parents, their eyes filled with fear and exhaustion
would write down each thing, eyeing pricetags with caution;
and wonder "when will I return here to buy?
I really just wish I could go home and cry."

When inside the toy store arose such a clatter,
the crowd turned as one to see what was the matter:
as shoppers zipped 'round in concerted attack,
a pile of boxes came out from the back.

And then, in a twinkling, a riot broke out,
as a guy read a box and then said with a shout:
"Playstation 2s!  I'll buy all, here and now!"
but each parent nearby showed a darkening brow;

and fists got to flying, and feet went to rumps.
Everyone went home that night with new bumps; 
"be nice to your neighbor" rings honest and true,
but it goes out the window for Playstation 2.

So if you're still here in the lab this fine night,
remember it beats being in a mall-fight;
so join your good friends for a brew and a sit
and some great conversation at tonight's Girl Scout Benefit.

****************** G I R L  S C O U T  B E N E F I T ******************
******************        5:30pm  7AI Playroom       ******************