Author's note: Thank you to my beta. Acknowledgement/Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore.
'Twas the night before Christmas and up in the sky
Not a creature was stirring, not even a fly
The hospital curtains were drawn against night
And the nurses had snuggled their patients in tight
The children were nestled all warm in their beds,
Some with bad tummies, some with sore heads
Not being home had made them all sad
In wards which were far from their mums and their dads
Then out in the car park arose such a whirring
A little boy, Sam, from his bed he was stirring
He went to the window and looked to the right
A silver/blue rocket, ooh what a sight!
A mighty green aircraft that looked like a frog
Had landed and opened a rather large pod
Sam's heroes, it seemed, must have heard his plea
To be rescued at Christmas from this infirmary
Sam saw a young man with a brilliant blue sash
From rocket to pod, who made a fast dash
He opened the door and a big crane came through
With some people who looked to be part of his crew
"Now Virgil, now Gordon, now Alan and John!
On Father, on Tin Tin, now where has Brains gone?
The mobile crane platform should rise up from here
And we'll get to the third floor without any fear!"
With speed and with sureness the kit was set sound
The platform was lifting away from the ground
Sam could not believe how it happened so soon
How people and presents advanced through the gloom
Sam opened the window as wide as could be
To receive a beautiful small Christmas tree
With baubles and tinsel, with lights and much more
To put in the middle of his infirmary's floor
Then in came the people all dressed quite the same
They were cheerful and friendly in spite of their fame
Sam wanted to cheer but they told him to hush
Because, they said, "Really, we do not want fuss."
They placed lots of presents on everyone's bed
They hung up some garlands with sparkly thread
The last of the gifts went around the small tree
And Sam said, "I want you to leave, taking me!"
"I hate being here, I hate feeling sick
Perhaps you could mend me with some clever trick?
I could ride in your rocket up into the sky
And forget all the times when the pain made me cry."
Then everyone stopped being happy and fun
For a moment the scene became solemn and glum
They turned to the man who was oldest and grey
But he shook his head in a very firm way
"You can't come with us since we need you right here
For some of these children are so ill, we fear
Opening presents might be such a chore
We need you to help all the others, for sure."
As they climbed from the window to make their last dash
One of his heroes gave Sam the blue sash
"Thank you, young man, we've had so much fun
I hope with this hospital, soon you'll be done
You're such a brave hero, please don't forget that."
And he left with a wink and a tip of his hat
Sam heard him exclaim as he went out of sight
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"