‘Twas the night before finals, when all through your home,
Not a roommate was stirring, not even a moan.
Your stockings were carelessly tossed to the floor
In hopes you’d have free time to clean up some more.
Your roommates were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of higher grades danced in their heads.
And you with your laptop, and caffeine-free Coke,
Had just revved your brain to study, with hope.
When atop your desk there arose a large panic,
As 12 ounces of Coke tipped down, you felt manic.
Away to the laptop you flew like a flash,
Grabbed up your laptop from a sugar-filled splash.
The moon marked the spot of your laptop’s last breath,
And lit up your terror and filled you with dread.
With all of your notes in a shared Google Doc,
You woke your drained roommates and left them in shock:
“Now Kayla! Now Katie!
Now, Kirsten and Lizzi!
Wake, Elizabeth! Wake, Court!
Wake, J.J. and Whitney!
To the tops of your desks!
To the keys may you fall!
Now type away! Type away!
Type away all!”
As tired, but faithful, young Cougars they arose,
Took a look at your bearing, few questions they posed.
So up to the kitchen the courses they flew,
And grabbed paper towels and tidied the zoo.
And then, in a twinkling, like magic above,
Handed you a laptop with mocking and love.
As you thought in your head and were turning around,
You noticed your laptop in your hands could be found.
It was dry as a bone and working much better,
Just a scratch on the top and a missing black letter.
This was its usual state and condition,
A miracle cure, a near death remission.
Its screen — how it twinkled! Its new glow, how merry!
Its background displayed a picture of a cherry.
Its black, little keyboard, clean on inspection,
Ticked and tacked with you in lively procession.
A tack of the keys pulled up your old paper,
And a breath of fresh air floated up in vapor.
You had a broad grin and a little loud chuckle,
You chose to sit down as your knees felt to buckle.
The paper was finished, well written and revised,
You’d lived through the scariest moment and survived.
With a wink of your eye and a twist of your head,
You knew this sad moment was now nothing to dread.
You spoke not a word, but your roommates could tell,
The best Christmas present was sitting right there.
And laying the laptop aside of the mess,
You all went to bed and laid there feeling blessed.
You sprang to your bed, to your friends gave a call,
You thanked them profusely and sent love to them all.
May these finals not find you in such a plight,
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
Allie McCoy is the opinion editor for The Daily Universe. This viewpoint represents her opinion and not necessarily that of The Daily Universe, BYU, its administration or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
