by: CTX

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Marsten House
Not a creature was stirring, 'cept Jingles the Mouse.
The mallet was hung o'er the mantle with care,
In hopes that Jack Torrence soon would be there.

Ralph and Lois were snug in their beds,
While visions of LBDs danced in their heads.
Sarah Tidwell in her kerchief, and Rhea with her cat
Had just settled down for a short winter's nap.

When downstairs in the house, there arose a loud shatter.
Steve King sprang from his bed to see what was the matter.
Down the stairs he flew like a bat out of hell,
And what he saw then caused him to yell.

SKEMERS had all gathered, packed into his den.
They saw Steve and cheered, these women and men.
"Get out of my house!" said he with a jeer,
"Or I'll do more than just write those things that you fear!"

His mouth rose in a grin, and he made a quick clap.
The SKEMERS now feared they were in some deep crap.
Appearing from nowhere, visions so gruesome.
King laughed and then shouted their names by the twosome:

"Now Devore, now Pennywise, now Tak and now Barlowe!
On Christine, on Space Cowboy, on Flagg and on Cujo!"
From the doors and the closets, the windows and halls,
these horrors all came scaring SKEMERS all.

They cowered and worried, and looked for ways out.
For soon these creatures of evil would get them, no doubt!
Some SKEMERS had been prepared for the worst,
So one pellet of silver, and Pennywise burst.

With two bangs of a gun, down went Devore and Space Cowboy
But not before Cujo had found a new chewtoy.
Now Tak and Flagg were just bored by this scene,
So off they went for a ride in big old Christine.

"I could get you out for a wee little favor,"
Gaunt offered, as Cujo gnawed on, intrigued with the flavor.
"All I'd need is your King stuff, your books and your flicks.
"Yes, and your audios, and magazines, and photos for kicks."

All the SKEMERS gasped, amazed at his gall.
Even Cujo's snack, despite missing nine fingers in all.
"You have to be nuts," said one after another.
"I'll give you my house, or my car, even my mother!"
"I'll sell you my computer, my children, my wife!
"But touch my King stuff, and you'll need to buy a new life!"

"Well, Steve, I tried," said the salesman supreme.
He shrugged and then left, his eyes without gleam.
Cujo gave up, losing taste for the others.
These SKEMERS were too sweet, he prefered unfaithful mothers.

 "Come on now," Steve begged, "Why don't you all go?"
"I'm tired and cold, and it's Christmas, you know."
The SKEMERS thought, and looked at each other.
They had, after all, foiled one villain after another.

As if reading their thoughts with the Shine, the King said:
"There are worse things, you know, still inside of my head."
He laughed as they looked at eachother, then at he.
"You've got ten seconds to scram, or I'll set them all free."

They jumped and ran, to the door and outside.
There were still unknown horrors this man held inside.
Who knew what evil might appear next?
For that mind still held many a text.

As they ran in fear, he stood and he looked
Shouting after them, while down the street they booked.
"Let that be a lesson not to bug me anymore!
I only let Tommyknockers knock on MY door!"