Christmas Notes from the General Manager by Diane Jacoutot
It’s time for the Christmas break, here at Teachanywhere, though as usual there will still be a number of staff working over the holidays – because jobs are coming in even as I write this. But it is time for me to shove off, and so to celebrate my last blog, I thought I would write a holiday poem for you.
Twas the night before leaving, I was sat working late. Last I looked at my watch, twas a quarter past eight.
And thus startled was I when a man did appear, stood fast in my doorway with a bushy white beard
Dressed all in red with round cheeks that were rosy. Was I seeing things? Was I getting dozy?
I rubbed at my eyes, but it was no folly. The old man stood his ground, with a smile quite jolly.
“Are you lost?”, I inquired as I rose to my feet. “You’re likely not far – the pub’s just down the street”.
“Well no”, he replied, “I came down for a chat. I was just passing by and your demeanour looked flat”
I replied, “I’m just busy, there’s much to get done. Next week I am leaving, so there’s no time for fun.
I have budgets and projects with deadlines, you see. I’ve been working since sunrise but I just can’t break free”.
He sat as he heard this, and pondered my case. I needed some help. He could tell from my face.
He seemed lost in thought; he was deep in the zone. Then his smile appeared and he whipped out his phone.
He barked out some orders as I sat by myself. “It’s Nicholas here, get me the Head Elf!”
“Send me Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. I want Comet and Cupid and Donner and Bitzen!”.
“There’s a woman right here who needs all of our help.”. Then a knock at the doorway. I let out a yelp.
‘Cause there to my wondrous eyes did appear a sight quite amazing- twelve full sized reindeer.
“Don’t you fret”, he then smiled, “They are here to assist. What do you need doing? Let’s make out a list!
My deer are quite clever, they can add and subtract. They can type with their hooves. It’s a little known fact.“
So he set them to working, he started with Dancer. “Take that monthly report, and you write it with Prancer
Cupid, you take the emails, and then do the budget. If you don’t have the figures, don’t sweat it, just fudge it.
China jobs, that’s for Blitzen -you can do it with ease. Your writing’s quite good and you speak Cantonese.
Donner there’s something for you –don’t get your tail in a fluff. I want you to work on that database stuff. “
Soon the deer were all busy, quite a sight did I see, when the man finally turned his attention to me.
“You now should be going. I’ll stay and patrol. We are quite good at this, it’s all under control.
Go off on your trip and don’t ever look back. If we find any problems, we’ll take all the flack. “
I didn’t know what to say as I gave him my key. “If you need some refreshments, the kitchen’s got tea.
I am ever so thankful. This has been a great gift”, there were tears in my eyes as I stuttered and sniffed.
The deer looked quite grateful, with their typing hooves flashing. And old Nick gave a smile that almost made him look dashing.
Said I to them all and to all who could hear, “Merry Christmas to all. And a Happy New Year!”
