Written and illustrated by Dr. Nicholas Petkas one year at Christmas for his grandson. In it's whimsy, I share it with all in the hopes of a Christmas filled with the wonder of this time of the year. This little booklet is pulled out and plunked down on my coffee table year after year, and it is amazing how many adults enjoy it, flaws and all...:).

Twas a night on toward Christmas. The night it was cold. As I sat by the fire feeling stiff and so old. Boy, I sure did sleep.

When all of a sudden a dream it did come about Christmases gone by when bright was the sky and gold was the sun.

Just then my mind a thought it caught, what if things were not what they were not. What then I thought...hmmm.

Then cats they would bark and dogs they would bray, and fish they would walk all this way and that over the trees..awsome.

And pelicans would talk and their bills would be flat, and moles that would actually see, and birds they would dig, and ducks they would ski, and mice grow as big as elephant...oh my.

And grownups would smile...And clowns they would frown.

And up would be down and yonder way all turney or topsey around.

And reindeer would skate, and rhinos could dance, and eagles would hatch way down in their holes way down underground. Goodness.

And the sky might be green and the grass could be blue. And you might be him and I would be you or him or her...how strange.

And sleds they would roll, and ostriches fly, and rocks would fall up and nothing would die ever, ever, ever, terrific!

Then I jumped 'bout a yard, and I woke up and sat up and looked all around. And I stuck my hands out and the floor was still there and I gave a great shout, nothing had happeed a'tall. Terrific!

The sun it did rise, the clouds went away, the birds flew about all this and that away...

And it was a beautiful wonderful, wonderous Christas day. Yea!

vermillion