Baa Baa “Sangfwa” 

By Deborah Holt Williams
Glenwood Spring

The brave border collie was all in a lather.
He circled the sheep and insisted they gather.
The collie smelled wolf! He went through his paces.
The wolf crept in view, and his fangs gleamed with …
BRACES?
His wolf teeth were covered in silvery wire.
His mouth was too sore for his lambchop desire.
His tiny turquoise rubber bands
Ruined his chomp and his dinner plans.
The sheep giggled nervously. Baaa ha ha ha!
The collie relaxed with an air of sangfroid.
He kept his cool knowing the wolf wouldn’t bite.
He calmed down his sheep and relaxed for the night.
He wondered, when wolves got their new braces tightened,
Was the brave orthodontist a little bit frightened?


A Christmas Tale

By Tom Mercer
Carbondale-ish

Larry was a small man in stature, but he was blessed with a big heart. Every year, just before Christmas, he contacted the holiday stores’ and shopping malls’ Santas. 

He talked to them about what children in the town requested for Christmas, and the Santas were happy to provide the information to Larry. The various Santa photographers were extremely helpful, too. 

Having gathered the list, Larry could deliver gifts to the children’s doorsteps on Christmas Eve, just as he had done in years past. Larry bought toys, dolls and games in preparation for his Christmas deliveries. 

He simply wanted to help bring some magic to the holidays. He even tried to find specific gifts that some children had requested. A few parents in the community were aware of Larry’s project, but they kept it a secret in order to preserve the magic of the season.

Unfortunately, Larry came down with a terrible cold just before Christmas and he was just too sick to make his intended deliveries. But on Christmas morning, one of Larry’s neighbors — who assumed Larry had made his usual deliveries — called and thanked him for the gifts his child had discovered Christmas morning. The caller’s child had received the gift he most wanted for Christmas, as had many other children in Larry’s town.

Larry was astounded. He could think of only one way the gift deliveries could still have been made: Santa Claus!