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'Twas the Night Before School Starts

By Lisa Ferguson, as a small child (age unknown) August 24, 2021

'Twas the night before school,

and all through the town,

all the children were crying,

and wearing a frown.

The boys were all tidy.

The girls did their hair.

They were begging their parents,

"Do I gotta go there?"

They packed up their lunches,

and put in a treat.

They set up their school bags,

all nice and neat.


Although it was light out,

they sent us to bed.

Mom came and kissed us.

Dad patted our heads.

We tried and tried to go to sleep,

but the thought of school just gave us the creeps.

The light in the window just kept us up longer,

and it made the thought of school seem wronger and wronger.

We asked mom for some water,

but she refused to get up.

So we got up ourselves and got two big cups.

We started going to the bathroom,

beginning at nine,

but we had to get up quite a few times.

At ten and eleven,

At twelve, and at one.

There were many times when we had to run.


We watched the clock all the time.

Hour after hour we heard it chime.

How slowly the time goes when you're always awake.

When our parents walk in, our sleeping is fake.

All we're thinking about is our new teachers.

What if they're like last years ugly, mean, creatures?

What if the kids are all smarter than us?

What if we don't make it on to the bus?

What if the bullies take our lunch money?

What if we starve?

They'd think it was funny.

What if we have no friends in our classes?

What if they make fun of our brand new glasses?

What if we did nothing this summer?

Would the teacher remember us as the dumbest and dumber?

What if our clothes aren't in style?

I bet that they'll stare with an ugly, mean, smile.

Finally, finally, the alarm clock had rang.

We tripped out of our beds with a horrible bang.

Our mother walked in and yelled,

"You two get dressed!

Of course, we all want you looking your best."

We went to have breakfast,

but we didn't reveal,

how we felt about school 'cause we knew mom would squeal.

It was time for the bus,

so we had to move fast, 

or else the bus driver would drive right past.

We were at the door of the school.

We walked right in. Our teacher looked cool.


Our best friends were there, so we started to cheer, 

"It'll be a good year, it'll be a good year!"


Wishing everyone a wonderful, new, school year!