This notebook also contains some inane crap--like statistics for the Fake Purdue Boilermakers that I used to (seriously) write newspaper-length stories about, complete with pictures and sometimes video clips (again, seriously).
But I realized something the other day when I was flipping through the notebook. It's actually from high school. It contains a few aborted attempts at homework assignments, an unfinished journal entry or two, and some random scribblings from my ill-spent youth.
One particular stretch of light pencil scratches needed to be preserved and shared with the masses. It involves my reworking of "The Night Before Christmas" adjusted for the cartoon show "The Tick." I know...it's weird (though perhaps not as weird as writing about a video game football team AT LENGTH -- see here and here).
"The Tick" was a fantastic, early/mid-90s cartoon on Fox. It followed the adventures of a doofy, moronic, well-intentioned, and nigh-invulnerable superhero named the Tick. Along with his sidekick Arthur, the Tick fought evil and usually won. The show poked fun at almost every imaginable superhero cliche and I absolutely loved it. One of my high school buddies and I (you know who you are) were OBSESSED with the show.
And so that obsession turned into the following shoddy verses of rhyme. For the first time in more than a decade, I present to you: The Tick's Night Before Christmas.
And all through the City
No criminals stirred
The night inherently giddy
Evil was off for the night
This was for certain
But curious children
Still peered through their curtains
With the citizenry nestled
All safe in their beds
Sweet dreams of Christmas
Abuzz in their heads
Die Fledermaus in his black cape
And I in my Sewer Urchin cap
Had just finished arguing
Which one was the sap
There arose a great noise
I sprang from the sewer
With my crime-fighting toys
And stepped onto the street
Then mightily struggled
To stay on my feet
When what to my Urchin goggles
Should be taken aback
But a flying mothman
With a large man on his back
With a big rider
So blue and so thick
I realized that moment
It’s my friend, the Tick!
“On Arthur, keep going!
It’s Christmas Eve, pal!
We’re keeping evil away
And packing some holiday wow!”
“We’re bringing justice
To each house and each hall”
And then Arthur whimpered
“We’re gonna fall!”
Came to a stop
Then hit the ground
With a thunderous PLOP!
The Tick wiped himself off
And to his sidekick’s chagrin
Ran to a light pole
And started to spin
His azure streak
Flew ‘round the pole
To which Arthur exclaimed
“Watch out! The manhole!”
Quickly I sidestepped
The high-flying Tick
Who dropped into the manhole
His fall shockingly quick
“I am unhurt”
He said in a hurry
“But let’s give out the presents
Before my vision goes blurry”
He was dressed all in blue
From antenna to feet
His blueberry tights
Form-fitting, not quite indiscreet
His pectorals flexing
His height was immense
And inherently vexing
Tall, blue, and strong
Far from an elf
I laughed when I saw him
In spite of my self
With a big blue thumbs up
And Arthur’s pained sigh
He gave indication
Once more they would fly
That’s what we’ll be
So let’s start performing
Maneuver Fifteen-C”
He climbed onto the moth’s back
And ignored Arthur’s pain
Telling his glum sidekick
Not to complain
They rose into the twilight
Past the Chairface-marred moon
“Merry Christmas!” he thundered
“And to all I say SPOON!”
