'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house There was deafening silence but for the click of a mouse The computer and TV screens were lit up with care In hopes that a good friend might pull up a chair

I should have been nestled all snug and asleep
But I had Bejeweled and a high score to beat
Because of all the causal games from PopCap
I couldn't settle down to my long winter's nap.

When upon my computer screen arose such a beep
I sprang from my chair to fold or to keep
The cards in my window of poker online
I raised and all folded (better luck next time!)

The moon was so high and it started to gleam
When I suddenly got an alert from Steam!
What to my wondering eyes should appear
But a limited offer on games held so dear.

I knew in a moment that I simply must buy
So I jumped for my credit card to give them a try
More rapid than eagles my hands hit the keys
For all of the games only for me!

For Portal, for Torchlight, for casual hobbies!
Gyromancer, Diner Dash and Plants Versus Zombies!
To the download cue, to the top of the cue!
Now pay for them, pay for them, pay for them all!

As big as the high score on Peggle I had
A warning popped up: "REJECTED" egad!
So up to my wallet for the backup I flew
Like I was unearthly possessed or being chased by a Grue!

And then, in a twinkling, I heard from the den
The ping from my computer again
The sale had ended before I got back
And all of my games I would now simply lack.

My sad bottom lip began to quiver
And due to the cold, my body did shiver.
But my eyes were red with a sun's fury rage
And I hurriedly tried to refresh the page.

I clicked and I yelled and I kicked at the wall,
But nothing I did would change things at all
When suddenly I saw a jolly old site
Illuminate the room in the darkest of nights.

A blink of my eyes and a twist of my head
Soon gave me to know that my prospects were dead.
I spoke not a word as I scrolled down The Clik
And prayed that there would be some news that would stick.

The top story that day? "YOU'RE DREAMING, YOU DOPE!"
I wondered what it could mean...

...and then I awoke.

My games were all downloading, my credit was fine
And soon I would be playing games with others online
But I said to myself as I recovered from fear
"Merry Christmas to Gamers and a Happy New Year!"