Dyne

You know, when this got started I never imagined that this project would continue on for so long. I thought it would go for a year or two and then folks would lose interest. And that would've been okay, because I knew someone else would've picked up the torch and kept it going, or started a different project around the same themes. But sixteen years is a long time. I was 25-years-old when this project started. That it's still going now that I'm 41, and with so many folks still contributing year after year, it's really a special thing here. Even though I only build the page for each new volume, I'm still proud of the work being done by everyone, especially The Coop, who keeps it all going and manages to write his own songs each year.
So, I want to thank each and every one of you. Seeing this continue, sixteen years and counting, speaks to the power of the music and to the community.
Thank you for keeping this going, every single one of you.
 

You know, when this got started I never imagined that this project would continue on for so long. I thought it would go for a year or two and then folks would lose interest. And that would've been okay, because I knew someone else would've picked up the torch and kept it going, or started a different project around the same themes. But sixteen years is a long time. I was 25-years-old when this project started. That it's still going now that I'm 41, and with so many folks still contributing year after year, it's really a special thing here. Even though I only build the page for each new volume, I'm still proud of the work being done by everyone, especially The Coop, who keeps it all going and manages to write his own songs each year.
So, I want to thank each and every one of you. Seeing this continue, sixteen years and counting, speaks to the power of the music and to the community.
Thank you for keeping this going, every single one of you.
 

You know, when this got started I never imagined that this project would continue on for so long. I thought it would go for a year or two and then folks would lose interest. And that would've been okay, because I knew someone else would've picked up the torch and kept it going, or started a different project around the same themes. But sixteen years is a long time. I was 25-years-old when this project started. That it's still going now that I'm 41, and with so many folks still contributing year after year, it's really a special thing here. Even though I only build the page for each new volume, I'm still proud of the work being done by everyone, especially The Coop, who keeps it all going and manages to write his own songs each year.
So, I want to thank each and every one of you. Seeing this continue, sixteen years and counting, speaks to the power of the music and to the community.
Thank you for keeping this going, every single one of you.
 

SynaMax's "remixes" were essentially re-creations of music from Metroid Prime, going as far as using the same hardware as Kenji Yamamoto. AFAIK, he wasn't doing the same type of interpretive, from-scratch arrangements that we do here. That may have factored into Nintendo's decision to contact him specifically. I haven't seen any instance of Nintendo contacting any other artist, so it's hard to agree with "Nintendo is going after remixes now."
There's always the danger of a company like Nintendo coming down hard on fan communities. If Nintendo issues takedowns to us, then we'll have to figure out what to do when that happens. OCR very specifically doesn't allow submissions that sample the original game audio, but that might not mean much to Nintendo's legal team. There's an argument for Fair Use, but that's a legal defense that you present to a judge or jury, not a response you give to a Cease & Desist.
As far as being concerned about being able to listen: once something is posted to the internet, it never truly leaves the internet. There are remixes that have been removed from this site that you can still download at various places. Nintendo has issued C&Ds against things like AM2R (the incredible Metroid 2 fan-remake) and you can absolutely still find those projects without too much effort. If Nintendo wants to play legal whack-a-mole, that's on them.
When it comes to the music you'd like to remix and arrange: do what you want. Remix the hell out of Mario and Metroid and Zelda and Kirby if those are the soundtracks that inspire you. Even if the worst happens and we can't feature them on OCR anymore, that shouldn't stop you from making something.

Well ladies and gents, it's the time of year again. The time when a group of ragtag remixers comes together and makes a Christmas album for everyone to freely grab and (hopefully) enjoy. This year, we're offering up 14 remixes of both traditional Christmas carols and video game songs, all done up to give that holiday vibe to everyone. So feel free to hop on over to the website and grab yourself a copy of An OverClocked Christmas v.XV. A big thanks goes out to Dyne for once again hosting the album, and to those who made the mixes this year. And of course, Merry Christmas from all of us involved in this project!
https://williammichael.info/aocc/

Well, here we are. The final 24 hours. I was going to send a final PM, but most people who signed up for this have submitted something. Hell, we even had one person who didn't sign up that still submitted  something. One person had to drop out due to illness (you know who you are... slacker ), which just leaves Argle... and they haven't read any of the updates sent via PM. I'm guessing that means they're no longer involved with this, so, I'll just post in here.
For anyone who didn't sign up that is still working on something, you have until 11:59 P.M. EST tonight to get it done and sent to me. That is all.

Another year, another Twas. Yes, it's that time yet again, where I go off on a rhyming spree and concoct a tale of Christmasy stuff. This one's a long one... seriously. It's the longest one I've written to date. If you have to pee, do it now. And if you don't have to pee, you probably will by the time you reach the end.  So get comfy and here... we... go!
'Twas XX: Head 'Em Off At The Pass
by
The Coop
Twas two days before Christmas
and throughout the hall,
a small-ish group of people
were enjoying all
the food and atmosphere that
had been set up for
the big end of year party
for Toby's Decor.
The small hall had been rented
just outside of town
for the employees to
have some fun and get down.
The ten people who worked for one
Toby McGlare,
chatted and mingled as some
music filled the air.
Among those who had gathered
was one Bert Deline,
who talked with his colleagues and
sipped on the cheap wine
that had been provided for
those in attendance;
wine not too good or bad,
so it straddled that fence.
But as he talked to Fred,
who he'd worked with awhile,
Toby came up to Bert
and gave Bert a big smile.
“How are ya, Bert my boy?”
Toby asked as he slid
an arm around Bert's shoulders,
and walked as he did.
“I'm good,” Bert replied as
he strolled with Toby. “You?”
Toby said, “I'm fine, thanks.
You know, I wanted to
“come by and say thank you for
helping make this year
one that ended up being
a truly top tier
“stretch for my company.
It couldn't have happened
if it weren't for people
like you, Bert my friend.
“In Phoenix Arizona,
we are the top place
to go to when folks want
to decorate their space!”
“You're welcome, Toby,” Bert smiled.
“And thank you as well
from both myself, and of course,
from my wife Michelle.
“I've really enjoyed getting
to come to work here.
And I hope I can help
do this again next year.”
Toby laughed a bit and said,
“Don't worry about
what's to come with this place.
Just enjoy this blowout.”
With a pat on Bert's back,
Toby walked away and
spoke with someone else nearby
as he shook their hand.
With a big shit-eating grin,
Bert walked back to Fred
and took the time to repeat
what Toby had said.
When Michelle soon returned
from her trip to the loo,
Bert told her all about
what Toby had said, too.
But after another hour,
the party wound down.
Everyone said their goodbyes
and drove back to town.
Twas a fun night with
coworkers that ended well
for everyone there,
including Bert and Michelle.
The next morning saw Bert
sleep in a little bit.
But soon Michelle called out,
“Get up you lazy shit!”
“Yeah yeah,” Bert replied before
he let out a yawn.
“God forbid that I'd sleep in
a little past dawn.”
Michelle entered the room
as he sat up in bed.
She leaned down and kissed him with,
“Mornin', sleepy head.”
“Now you're nice to me?” he grinned
as she did the same.
“Get your cute butt up,” she said,
“or it's you I'll blame
“if we end up missing
our flight this afternoon.”
“We've got eight hours,” he said.
“Why get ready so soon?”
“Because you procrastinate,”
she said as she stood,
and added, “and don't give
yourself the time you should.”
“I'm not that bad,” he chuckled.
“Uh huh,” she replied.
“You couldn't be on time
for something if you tried.”
He repeated what she'd said
in a mocking tone,
making her laugh as he
stood up with a small groan.
The morning continued as
they got dressed and ate,
packed their clothes and supplies,
then proceeded to wait.
It was just 9 A.M.,
and their flight was at three.
That left plenty of time
to kill, which Bert took glee
in pointing out as he
poked fun at how Michelle
sat on the sofa and looked
very bored as hell.
“We could still be sleeping,”
he said with a large smirk.
She tried to look grumpy
as she grinned, “Quiet, jerk.”
As the noon hour drew near,
she asked Bert, “Will you see
if there's any mail out there
for you or for me?”
He did as she'd asked
and found that there was indeed
a single letter there
for him to get and read.
He tore it open as he
reentered the house
and was asked “What's that, hun?”
by his beloved spouse.
“A note from work,” he said.
“Not sure what it could be.”
“A bonus check?” she put forth.
He replied, “Maybe?”
With the envelope opened,
he began to read.
As his eyes skimmed the paper,
she could see how he'd
looked down with some confusion,
and then with dismay.
When she saw this, she asked,
“Honey, what does it say?”
“I've been let go,” he uttered,
his voice filled with dread.
“Wait, what?” she asked as if
she'd misheard what he'd said.
“They just... fired me,” he said with
much disappointment.
“And after how well Toby
said that the year went.”
“Did they say why?” she asked
as she came up beside
her husband, who continued
to read, teary-eyed.
He said, “They say it was
a performance issue.”
With ire in her voice, she said
“That's why they canned you?”
Bert looked over at his wife
and saw her vexed stare.
He said, “I worked my ass off
each day I was there.”
“Are you sure?” she said with
disbelief in her eyes.
“Because I've heard that before
with some of your lies.”
“I did!” he exclaimed.
“I swear on my mother's grave!
Everyone there will tell you
that I always gave
“them a hand when they needed
it once I had done
the work I'd been given
by Toby or someone.
“I didn't slack off or
do a shit job with what
I'd been asked to do.
I always worked off my butt!”
“Uh huh,” she said with snark
as she stared hard at him.
“The chances of that being
true are really slim.”
“I'm not lying!” he stated,
his voice filled with dread.
“If I am, you can smack me
right upside my head!”
“Don't tempt me,” she said as
she turned and walked a bit
away from him and uttered,
“I'm sick of this shit.
“It's barely been over
two years since you got hired.
And now right before Christmas,
you got yourself fired!”
“I didn't!” he yelped.
“So they lied?” she hollered back.
“It's the truth!” he pleaded.
“Can't you cut me some slack?”
She said, “I told you that
if you got fired once more
for slacking off at work,
that I'd walk out the door!”
“Baby, please!” Bert said as
he came up to her and,
with an almost panicked look,
took hold of her hand.
She pulled her hand from his
and went to their bedroom,
where he could hear her
as she continued to fume.
She was swearing a lot,
all directed at Bert.
And some of what she said
had clearly left him hurt.
She called him a screw up.
That she didn't know why
she continued to stay
with him or even try.
It took her a minute
before she came back out
with her luggage in hand
and said with a stern shout,
“I'm going to my parents
and you're staying here!
You better find a new job
before the new year
or I'm kicking you out
of my life and my place!”
Her words pulled a puzzled
sadness onto Bert's face.
“But everything's closed
for the holiday's,” Bert said.
She spat, “Find a damn job
or our marriage is dead!”
She left the house in a huff,
got into her truck,
and drove off as Bert uttered
a dejected, “Fuck.”
Now alone in the house,
Bert sat down on the couch
with a forlorn expression
to go with his slouch.
All his emotions
were reflected on his face.
And it was clear that they were
all over the place.
“I don't believe this,” he said
with confused dismay.
“How'd it get to this point?
Things were good yesterday.
“And why'd Michelle talk like I
was some kind of bum?
Sure, I've screwed up before,
but where'd all that come from?
“Just cuz I lost one job
as a parking valet
when I parked a jeep and
dozed off in it all day.
“I was so tired and cold,
and the jeep was so warm.
It only happened twice,
so it wasn't the norm.
“And yeah, then I got fired
from the diner in town.
I didn't know egg shells
could also be light brown.
“I thought they'd all gone bad,
so I threw them away.
No reason to ban me
from that place to this day.”
Bert sat there for a bit
with a sad, forlorn stare.
“Guess I best see if I can
find a job somewhere.”
He got up from the sofa
and grabbed his car keys.
“Let me find something so I
don't lose Michelle, please.”
He went out to his car
and hit the mall, where he
checked in every store.
From Boscov's to FYE.
Not one store was in need
of a new employee.
They all turned him away
after hearing his plea
about the situation
in which he was stuck.
And he left the last store
with a disheartened, “Fuck.”
As he walked through the mall,
headed for it's entrance,
he spotted a section
that was lined by a fence
which had been painted to look
like candy cane rows.
And each of them was adorned
by green and gold bows.
Inside that colorful fence,
the floor had fake snow
through which a short path of
golden bricks did go.
They went in a straight line
to a big wooden throne.
And on it was Santa,
who sat there all alone.
When Bert looked all about,
he saw no kids in line.
Santa had no elves who stood
at the “entrance” sign.
The mall was pretty crowded,
which made it seem weird
to see a bored Santa
just stroking his white beard.
Bert stared at the odd scene
for a minute before
he went to the path that
ran through the snowy floor.
He walked down the gold road,
headed for the one that
then let out a rather loud
yawn from where he sat.
“Bored?” Bert asked to the man
on the Christmasy throne.
“I've never been this bored,”
Santa said with a groan.
“Where's everyone?” Bert asked.
“Wish I knew,” Santa said.
“The only one to come here
in two hours is you.”
Bert grinned with, “Guess ebay
took some business from you.”
Santa grinned as well and said,
“That's probably true.
“I guess kids don't need me
for their holiday cheer.
But what's on your Christmas list
that you'd like this year?”
Once Bert stood before Santa's
big, fancy old chair,
some sadness then began to
creep into Bert's stare.
“A new job would be nice,”
Bert said with some dismay.
“I just found out that
mine's gone, earlier today.
“Also, a way to convince
my wife Michelle to
not break up with my ass,
like she's about to do.”
Bert gave a saddened smile,
coupled with a small shrug.
“Those would do,” he added
as the smile left his mug.
Santa looked at Bert with
a puzzled sympathy,
then said, “That's a lot to ask
of someone like me.
“The folks I work with make toys
and some clothing too.
I'm not sure what kind of help
I could give to you.”
 
“Was worth a try,” Bert said
with a small, unsure laugh.
That was when a PA
was made by the mall's staff.
“The mall will close soon, folks”
rang out for all to hear.
“You don't have to go home,
but you sure can't stay here.
“You've got fifteen minutes
to buy your stuff and bounce.
If you're not done by then,
then I'll have to announce
“we're unleashing the dogs
to chase you all away.
Thanks for shopping with us.
Enjoy your holiday.”
Bert let out a small laugh
and said, “Guess that's my cue.
Have a good one, and sorry
if I bothered you.”
Without another word,
Bert turned and walked away
as Santa looked on as if
unsure what to say.
Bert returned to his car
and drove back home, to where
he plunked down on the couch
and quietly sat there.
Seconds became minutes.
And as each minute passed,
it saw him slowly get
angrier than the last.
He stewed in his juices
and his stare became stern
as his emotions clearly
continued to churn.
“I never slacked off,” he griped.
“I was there each day.
I don't care what that
fucking letter has to say.
“I worked hard moving all
the furniture around,
and getting it all there in
one piece, safe and sound.
“Toby always told me that
I worked really well.
Now they tell me I didn't?
What the fucking hell?”
He fell silent for a time
as he sat alone.
But soon, he continued
in a still angry tone.
“My life's falling apart
because of that damn place.
That prick had to know when
he smiled right to my face
and told me how I was
just such a great asset.
Toby knew that I'd
already been fired, I bet. ”
He tried to relax and
calm himself for a bit.
At times, he'd mill about.
At others, he'd just sit
and brood on what happened
'till hunger made him eat.
He had a small dinner of
some noddles and meat.
But as he did the dishes,
his frustration grew.
And once he was done, he sneered,
“I know what to do.”
He went into the bedroom
and got out a box
that was made of metal
and tucked under his socks.
He used a small key to
unlock the box's lid,
then opened it up to
reveal what the box hid.
The black metal of the gun,
while far from pristine
thanks to scuff marks and scratches,
still gave off a sheen.
Bert took out the gun and held
it for a short bit,
then said, “Let's see you smile
when you see this, you shit.”
He took out the clip that had
been stored with the gun,
slid it into the weapon,
and once that was done,
he made sure that he had
his keys and his wallet
as he mumbled, “I've got me
some answers to get.”
He grabbed his jacket and
put the gun out of sight
in one of the pockets,
then stepped into the night.
He got into his car and
pulled out his smart phone.
He dug through his emails
until his phone had shown
him what he had looked for;
an old email that showed
his ex-boss' address.
With that, he hit the road.
It took a good half hour,
but he soon pulled up to
the nice two-story home
that Toby did accrue.
The home's lights were all on.
Faint music could be heard.
Bert mumbled to himself as
his anger was stirred,
“I lose my job and most
likely lost Michelle too.
While my life goes to shit,
what does this fucker do?
“He parties like what he did
was nothing to him.”
It was then that Bert chose
to run with his dark whim.
He got out of his small car,
walked across the road,
and up the driveway of
his ex-boss' abode.
He came up to the front door
with an intent stare.
But instead of knocking,
Bert just simply stood there
with a look on his face
that mixed ire and unease.
It was then that he felt
a light but chilly breeze
kick up from behind him
which gave him a small chill.
“What the-?” he said softly.
“It's 60 degrees, still.”
He turned and looked at
the dark and clear Phoenix skies,
when a small and white object
moved before his eyes.
What looked like a snowflake
drifted toward where he stood.
“60 degrees with a snowflake?
This can't be good.”
He watched as the snowflake
meandered through the air.
Soon it stopped near his face
and simply hovered there.
It tumbled and turned as
Bert brought up a finger
and reached for it where
it continued to linger.
As his finger closed in,
the snowflake moved away.
Bert looked dumbfounded and
unsure of what to say.
The snowflake continued
to move away until
it reached the edge of the house,
where it became still.
It hovered again
as Bert kept his eyes on it.
After a moment,
he uttered, “What is this shit?”
He began to walk over
toward the snowflake that
seemed as if it was waiting
where it hovered at.
When he got close again,
it drifted to the right
around the corner,
which took the thing from Bert's sight.
With a little urgency,
he quickened his pace
and peaked around the side
of his ex-boss' place.
He saw the snowflake
continue along the wall
and followed after it,
like a dog would a ball.
The snowflake then drifted
around to the home's back.
And when Bert did the same,
he was taken aback.
Before him was a man,
dressed in Santa attire.
This caused Bert to jump slightly,
and made him inquire,
“Who the hell are you?”
as the fat man dug around
in the large sack before him
that sat on the ground.
“I could ask you the same,”
the man said just before
he looked up with, “Ah!
Just who I was looking for.”
Bert's surprise could be seen on
his face and raised brow.
What looked like the mall Santa
stood before him now.
“What the-?” Bert said with
great confusion as the man
looked back down and uttered,
“Help me out, if you can.”
“With what?” Bert then asked
as he saw the fat man dig
out an outfit that didn't
look overly big.
“Here, put this on,” Santa said
and held out the clothes.
“I need a helper tonight
and I don't suppose
“you'd be willing to lend me
a hand for a bit?”
Bert said to the fat man,
“This a joke or some shit?”
“It's no joke,” Santa said
“My helper called in sick.
The kids are waiting, so please,
do put that on, quick.”
Bert lifted the clothes up and
gave them a look-see.
His face then went slack
as he said, “You're shitting me.”
He held light green tights and some
dark green, curl-toed shoes.
There was also a dark green,
pointed hat to use
along with a jacket that
looked long enough to
reach down to his knees that was
the same dark green hue.
And what rested on top
of the seasonal clothes?
Some points for his ears and
a long tip for his nose.
But on top of all that,
was the fact he could tell
that the clothes looked too small...
by quite a bit, as well.
“You want me to be an elf?!”
Bert yelped with dismay.
“That's the plan,” Santa said.
“So help me out, OK?”
“I didn't come here to
play dress up,” Bert stated.
“I know,” Santa said, “but
just think of how each kid
“inside of that home will smile
when they look at you.”
With a straight face, Bert said,
“Laugh at me's what they'll do.”
“Nonsense,” Santa said
with a small mischievous grin.
“Just go put that stuff on
and then we can begin.”
Bert wasn't sure what to say
as he looked around
for someplace he could change clothes.
But none could be found.
“Not to be a dick,” Bert said.
“or come of as rude,
but I'm not undressing
right in front of you, dude.”
“Just use the bush there,”
Santa said and pointed to
the small bush behind him.
“It's big enough for you.”
Bert looked past the guy.
And with a puzzled stare,
he looked to the bush
he was sure hadn't been there.
With a slight shake of his head,
Bert let out a sigh
as he went to the bush
that was about waist high.
From behind the bush,
Bert mumbled, “This is deranged.”
And for the elf's outfit,
his street clothes were exchanged.
“Dear God, this is tight!”
Bert grimaced as he got dressed
and felt his junk be
uncomfortably compressed.
Once done, he hid his clothes
under the shrubbery,
then stepped out into
the open for all to see.
“Jesus Christ,” Bert uttered
as he stood and looked down
at himself and his attire.
“I look like a clown.”
Santa chuckled a bit,
then quickly cleared his throat.
“More like an elf,” he said
and brushed off his red coat.
“Now come on, my helper.
We've got kids to go see.”
Bert let out a groan
and grumbled, “Someone shoot me.”
With a small laugh, Santa said,
“You'll be just fine, son.
Put on a Christmas smile
and let's go have some fun.”
The two of them went in through
the sliding glass door
and heard the party
farther in on that ground floor.
The chatter of children
and music filled the air
as they looked around
and saw they were alone there.
The dining room table
that they stood before
had already been set
with fancy plates and more.
“Must be their dining room,”
Bert said while sounding irked.
“Can't put one past you, huh?”
Santa said as he smirked.
With a glance at Santa,
Bert looked around a bit
and said, “I can't believe
I'm here doing this shit.”
“Why is that?” Santa asked
as he looked back at Bert.
“Long story,” Bert answered,
his reply somewhat curt.
“That so?” Santa said.
“I've love to hear this long tale.”
A moment later,
Bert spotted Toby's wife, Gail
as she slid open the
dividing door that gave
the dining room privacy
from the would-be rave.
“Dear God I hope they don't
recognize me,” Bert said
as he kept his voice quiet
and lowered his head.
“Don't worry,” Santa smiled
as Gail noticed them there.
“The nose will throw them off.
There's no need for despair.”
Gail slid the door shut and
walked over to the men.
“Wonderful,” she whispered.
“You're all set to go then?”
“We're ready,” Santa smiled.
“Take us to the children.”
“They'll really love this,” she smiled.
“Let's go gentlemen.”
Within one minute's time,
Santa and Bert were in
the living room surrounded
by Toby's children.
The adults all smiled as
the kids loudly exclaimed
that Santa had come with
an elf that was unnamed.
Santa greeted each child
with a big and warm smile,
as Bert kept himself out
of the way for a while.
He stood off to the side
and kept watch on the sack
that Santa had had with him
when they were out back.
But soon, Bert found himself
pulled deep into what felt
like a whirlwind of chaos
that made his brain melt.
Kids laughing and yelping
as Santa did his best
to make sure that every
child there had been addressed
as question after question
came repeatedly
from the kids who had asked them
so excitedly.
But Santa wasn't alone.
Bert too found himself
asked many a question
about being an elf.
What's it like at the north pole?
What he did for fun
during the six months when
the north pole had no sun?
Did his big ears get cold
around all of that snow?
Do they all use toilets,
or an outhouse to go?
What's it like wearing tights?
What's up with the weird shoes?
If he could play just Dark Souls,
which one would he choose?
What color was his blood?
Did he have a girlfriend?
What happens to Santa's elves
when they meet their end?
Where do baby elves come from
and how small are they?
How do the reindeer poop
as they pull Santa's sleigh?
These questions and much more
flooded Bert as he tried
to entertain the kids
and fight the urge to hide.
Several of the children asked
why was he so tall
when all the pictures they'd seen
showed elves that were small?
Bert told the kids that he'd had
a thyroid problem
as a child, and that's where
his growth spurt had come from.
But that led to more questions
from the kids because
none of them knew just what
the hell a thyroid was.
For an hour, Bert and Santa
mingled and talk to
all those who were there;
the children and adults, too.
At the end of that hour,
Bert and Santa then got
a chance to take a break...
which they needed, a lot.
So Toby distracted
all the kids with a tale,
as Bert and Santa were
smuggled away by Gail
into the kitchen where
both men could catch their breath
as Bert uttered, “I was
almost questioned to death.”
Santa laughed a bit with,
“Kids are like that you know.
Once they get talking, they'll just
go and go and go.”
“Especially ours,” Gail smiled.
“Like a chatterbox.
But for now, just stay here
and let your brains detox.”
“Thank you, Gail,” Santa said.
“We appreciate it.”
“You're welcome,” Gail replied.
“I'll be back in a bit.”
Once Gail left the kitchen,
Bert looked to Santa with,
“I don't drink, but holy shit,
I could use a fifth.”
“Of what?” Santa asked him.
“Anything,” Bert replied.
“I feel like part of my brain
just crawled off and died.”
“Now now, they're just kids,”
Santa said with a small smile.
“They calm down over time.
It just takes them awhile.”
Bert said nothing for a bit
and rubbed his forehead.
“I have a question,”
he eventually said.
Santa turned to face him with,
“And what would that be?”
Bert asked, “Why are you doing
all of this to me?”
“You said you needed a job,”
Santa said flatly.
“So I gave you a job,
working right here with me.”
“So you are the Santa
from the mall,” Bert stated.
“You got your Christmas wish,”
Santa smiled. “Elated?”
“I came to get answers,
not this,” Bert did reply
and tugged on his green jacket.
“I want to know why
“I was fired, when I worked
my ass off for Toby.
I want to know why that
damn prick did this to me.”
“Calm down,” Santa said,
his tone firmer than it was.
“You should be glad I found you
when I did, because-”
It was then that the sound
of footsteps could be heard,
which made Santa stop talking
almost in mid-word.
It took a few moments,
but Santa and Bert found
that they were joined by Toby,
who was kitchen-bound.
“Ev'ning, gentlemen,”
Toby said as he went to
the refrigerator
and got himself a brew.
“My wife and I really
appreciate you two
coming here tonight.
And I know the kids do too.”
“But of course,” Santa smiled.
“It's my job, as it were.
Giving kids Christmas cheer
is always a pleasure.”
“You know, speaking of jobs,”
Bert chimed in with some snark
as he looked to Toby
with a stare that was dark.
“I would like to know why
you took my job from me
after you thanked me for
helping your company.”
Santa looked to the man
who'd been his helper elf.
“Not now,” he said sternly.
“Get a hold of yourself.”
Bert looked to Santa with,
“And when would the time be?
After I'm homeless and
Michelle's gone and left me?”
“Do I know you?” Toby asked,
his gaze questioning.
Bert grabbed his nose's tip with,
“I'm sick of this thing.”
He gave the thing on his nose
a good, solid tug.
But it wouldn't come off,
as it's fit was quite snug.
“What the hell?” Bert uttered
as he tried once again.
He gave it a much harder tug,
and that was when
he felt a pain shoot through
his nose as he sucked in
some air through his teeth with,
“Damn thing's stuck on my skin!”
He then tried a third time,
but the pain was intense.
It made his eyes water
as he became more tense.
“What's going on?!” Bert exclaimed
as his eyes grew wide.
The tips on his ears were
the next thing that he tried.
He gave those ear tips
he'd put on a solid yank.
When they didn't come off,
he yelled, “Is this a prank?!”
“Calm down,” Santa stated.
“No!” Bert yelled in return
as his expression filled with
even more concern.
Bert then tried to take off
the shoes that he had on,
yet they wouldn't come off
as he used all his brawn.
He tried to remove the
elven jacket he wore,
and grumbled “I'm not
wearing this thing anymore!”
Toby watched with alarm
as he saw a grown dude
and the elf clothes he wore
get into a big feud.
Then behind all the noises
Bert made as he fought,
a small creek came to be,
which only Santa caught.
Just a moment later,
a loud clang could he heard,
and Bert fell to the floor
like a bag full of curd.
Toby's eyes got big as
he watched the elf-dressed man
go limply to the floor
just as a frying pan
hit the floor with a clunk
right against the man's head.
Toby looked up a bit
and noticed that instead
of a shut cabinet door
where the pan had been,
was a wide open door
that hadn't kept it in.
“How'd that fall out?”
Toby asked rhetorically,
to which, Santa shrugged with
a grin and said, “Beat's me.”
Gail came in quickly
with, “What was all of that noise?”
When she saw the knocked out man,
“Care to explain, boys?”
“The pan just fell out,”
Toby explained, bewildered.
“It and the guy hitting
the floor is what you heard.”
“Well, get him up off the floor,”
Gail said with a sigh.
“And I'll get an ice pack
ready for the poor guy.”
“Tell you what,” Santa said.
“Why don't the two of you
go out and keep everyone
from coming into
“the kitchen for a bit
while I take care of this.”
“Are you sure?” Gail asked.
Santa nodded, “I am, miss.”
“Alright,” Gail replied
before she and Toby went
and rejoined their kids
with a distractive intent.
Once she and Toby had left,
Santa then looked down
at the unconscious Bert
with disheartened frown.
“Sorry, son,” Santa said
with his voice quieted.
“Hope you won't have too big
of a lump on your head.”
Santa snapped his fingers
and the room filled with light.
Once that light had faded,
Bert was nowhere in sight.
Santa waited a bit,
then rejoined everyone
who had thrown the small party
for Christmasy fun.
The next morning arrived
and found Bert in his bed.
His head was quite sore,
as was to be expected.
He opened his eyes and
grimaced a bit at what
felt as if the back of
his head had quite the knot.
He could tell that it was
still early morning since
sunlight still came through
his window, which made him wince.
With a groan, he sat up
and could feel his head throb.
“Dear God,” he sighed. “Feels like
I got mugged by a mob.”
He rubbed the soar back
of his head for a short time,
then out from under the
thick covers, he did climb.
He went into the bathroom
and relieved himself,
then looked in the mirror
and saw he was an elf.
“What the hell?” he exclaimed
as he started a bit,
just as his memories
of the night before hit.
He recalled going to
his old boss' home and
met a mall Santa,
to whom he'd given a hand.
Of questions from kids that
seemed to not have an end.
How he'd run into Toby,
who Bert did intend
to confront with the way
he'd been fired from his job.
But that was where his
memories became a blob.
He focused on his
reflection in the mirror
while memories of the
night before grew clearer.
With a hint of panic,
he grabbed hold of his nose
and pulled off the end bit
as his confusion rose.
“Oh, now it comes off,” he said
and stared at the bit
that wouldn't let go back
when he'd struggled with it.
He took off the ear tips
he'd worn and then did choose
to remove from his feet,
the dark green curl-toed shoes.
Every last thing came off
without any issue
as he removed the jacket,
hat and the tights too.
He put on his bathrobe and
began to look for
the stuff he'd had on
when he went to Toby's door.
But those clothes were missing,
as was the gun he took.
“Bet that mall Santa kept them,”
he griped. “The damn crook.”
He went out into
the living room and sat down
on the couch with a rather
noticeable frown.
“That was a fucked up night,”
he groaned as he reached back
and rubbed the spot where
something'd given him a whack.
“Wish I knew what hit me
on the back of my head,
or how I got back home
and wound up in my bed.”
It took a second before
he saw the off white
envelope on the coffee
table to his right.
“Where'd this come from?” he asked
as he reached over to
pick it up so that he
could get a better view.
It's front just said “Bert”
in a handwriting that he
didn't know at all.
He asked, “Who gave this to me?
“It wasn't here when I left
last night, that's for sure.”
He opened it and
over its text, he did pour.
“Dear Bert,” it began.
“I hope that you're doing well.
You're back home and safe now,
in case you couldn't tell.
“I'm sure that you have
more than a question or two
about how you got home
and what happened to you.
“But rather than tell you
how all that came to be,
here is a bit of advice,
courtesy of me.
“The path that you wanted
to head down just last night,
was one that was dark and
born of malice and spite.
“What you went there to do
would not have ended well.
The result would have been
you being in a cell
or worse if things had taken
a darker-still turn.
What laid down that dark road,
be glad you didn't learn.
“I know you lost a lot
in a short bit of time.
It was a big mountain
that felt too steep to climb.
“Anger, pain and frustration
had filled up your mind,
and the path to get out
seemed much too hard to find.
“For as bad as it seemed,
it could still have been fixed.
Yet there you were, set to
make sure that chance was nixed.
“I know you lost your job
by means that felt unfair.
Your wife got angry and left,
like she didn't care.
“That was a lot to have
dumped on you in one day.
But it's no solution to
throw your life away
“or take someone else's
in a bid to strike back
at the world when it felt
like it cut you no slack.
“Last night, you came too close
to losing any way
of regaining some of
what you lost yesterday.
“I get you felt anger,
along with great despair.
That what happened had to
feel so very unfair.
“It was bad, what your ex-boss
decided to do.
It was callus, unfeeling
and cold-hearted too.
“But if you had done what
you'd been thinking about,
you'd have found yourself
in a hole, with no way out.
“Take this chance to learn from
what nearly cost you all
of your future plans,
and the upcoming phone call.
“Your clothes and gun are gone,
so don't bother to look
for them in your home.
And please, don't call me a crook.
“You're home despite how
you'd tried to cause a ruckus.
And rest assured that last night
will stay between us.”
A moment later,
the letter he held was lit
like a hundred light bulbs
had turned on within it.
The bright light made Bert gasp
as he turned his head so
he was not blinded by
the letter's intense glow.
With a pop, the light vanished
and Bert looked at how
his hands were empty,
which made him cock an eyebrow.
“Um, what the hell?” he muttered
as his phone began
to go off from his bedroom,
into which he ran.
He couldn't find it
as it continued to ring,
which prompted him to blurt out,
“Where is the damn thing?”
And once he found it
where he kept his underwear,
he grumbled, “How the hell
did this thing get in there?”
As he shook his head,
he pressed the green button on
the screen and brought the phone
to his face with a yawn.
“Hello?” he said as he tried
to fight the yawn down .
“Hi,” came a woman's voice,
which made him sadly frown.
He could hear how pensive
her voice sounded as he
uttered, “Michelle?” and
she answered with, “Yeah, it's me.”
His face was a mask of
wariness and unease
as he remained quiet,
and in place, seemed to freeze.
At first, neither spoke,
as if unsure what to say.
But in time, it was Michelle
who asked, “You OK?”
“Um, yeah, I am,” he answered
with uncertainty,
before he asked her, “So uh,
why did you call me?”
She said, “I wanted to talk
with you this morning,
before we both got busy
doing anything.”
“I'm still looking for a job,”
he said with dismay.
“I must have checked four
dozen places yesterday.”
“It's not about that,” she said.
“I called you to see
if you'd be willing
or able to forgive me.”
Bert looked like he didn't know
how he should reply.
But Michelle continued,
“I didn't mean to fly
“off the handle or to
threaten you with divorce.”
“You still want me?” he asked,
and she answered, “Of course.”
Bert said, “But the all things
you told me, made it sound
like you wanted to burn
our marriage to the ground.
“I was telling you the truth,
but you didn't care.
You just seemed to be
done with me, right then and there.”
“I know, and I'm sorry,”
she said remorsefully.
“I overreacted and
it was wrong of me
“to shit on you after
what had happened that day.
The thing is, I'm sorry's
not all I need to say.
“Last night, while I was
lying in my bed alone,
all I wanted to do
was call you on the phone.
“'Cuz the more I thought
about the things that I'd said,
the more I felt like I
wasn't right in the head.
“How I'd left you behind
began to eat at me.
It just bothered me
to a serious degree.
“I knew you were asleep,
but still wanted to call.
See how you were and
apologize for it all.
“But above all, to say
that I really miss you.”
Bert began to smile and
replied, “I miss you too.”
As they talked on the phone,
they began to work through
what had happened and how
that moment went askew.
She told him that tomorrow,
she would book a flight,
after he told her what
went on Christmas Eve night.
He left out the part where
he'd brought along a gun,
and instead focused on what
had been strangely fun.
The questions the kids asked,
the outfit that he'd worn
which made his dignity
something he had to morn.
He smiled as he listened
to who he ' nearly lost.
He thought about his life,
which he had nearly tossed
away with his actions
due to where his mind went.
Of how grateful he was
for the Santa-like gent
that he'd run into
at Toby's the night before.
And how he still had
the woman he did adore.
So much went so wrong
in just a few minute's time.
Like his life hit the brakes
and just stopped on a dime.
He'd gone to a bad place,
filled with disdain and rage;
almost brought someone's story
to it's final page.
But now he could see that
his actions almost cost
him the chance to regain
what he'd felt had been lost.
And as Bert and Michelle
worked to make all alright,
Merry Christmas to all.
And to all, a good night.

@Dyne and @The Coop you're awesome! Let's keep the tradition going even though we all get older and busier. Please know it's much, much appreciated.
Sending my track now in DM.

You know, I almost entirely forgot about this. It's...it's been a long year. That said, I'll be ready to build the new page and update the site. Though, to be honest, it's really time to update the design, too. I've been rather lax with it. Maybe I'll add a sidebar. Maybe not... Anyway, It'll be fun to post the project again this year. I'm looking forward to it.

You know, I almost entirely forgot about this. It's...it's been a long year. That said, I'll be ready to build the new page and update the site. Though, to be honest, it's really time to update the design, too. I've been rather lax with it. Maybe I'll add a sidebar. Maybe not... Anyway, It'll be fun to post the project again this year. I'm looking forward to it.

You know, I almost entirely forgot about this. It's...it's been a long year. That said, I'll be ready to build the new page and update the site. Though, to be honest, it's really time to update the design, too. I've been rather lax with it. Maybe I'll add a sidebar. Maybe not... Anyway, It'll be fun to post the project again this year. I'm looking forward to it.

You know, I almost entirely forgot about this. It's...it's been a long year. That said, I'll be ready to build the new page and update the site. Though, to be honest, it's really time to update the design, too. I've been rather lax with it. Maybe I'll add a sidebar. Maybe not... Anyway, It'll be fun to post the project again this year. I'm looking forward to it.

You know, I almost entirely forgot about this. It's...it's been a long year. That said, I'll be ready to build the new page and update the site. Though, to be honest, it's really time to update the design, too. I've been rather lax with it. Maybe I'll add a sidebar. Maybe not... Anyway, It'll be fun to post the project again this year. I'm looking forward to it.

You know, I almost entirely forgot about this. It's...it's been a long year. That said, I'll be ready to build the new page and update the site. Though, to be honest, it's really time to update the design, too. I've been rather lax with it. Maybe I'll add a sidebar. Maybe not... Anyway, It'll be fun to post the project again this year. I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks. Yeah, nearly 20 years of this. I may have to try and come up with something special for 'Twas XX.
Heh. Sure, blame it on me
 
To all those who made their way through this 25-page beast of stanzas, hope you enjoyed it. And of course, Merry Christmas

With Christmas Eve nearly over, and Christmas Day about to hit, hope everyone enjoyed the music this year

I have uploaded the corrected version of the back cover as well as updated the .rar file as well. 

I have uploaded the corrected version of the back cover as well as updated the .rar file as well. 

And with that, this album project is finished. I've sent it to Dyne to put on the official website, so now it's just a matter of waiting. Once he has it all set, I'll post a link to the thread for the album release in here. While we wait, for those who didn't get their tracks done, feel free to continue working on them and send them to me. They can go on AOCC v.XV next year. You'll just get them done waaaaaaaaaay early .

And here we are again, good people of OCR. It's December 18, one week before Christmas, and the next poem in this little tradition of mine is ready to go. So relax, grab a stiff drink, and something to munch on. Here... we... go!

Twas XIX: One Night At A Time
by
The Coop
 
Twas the night before Christmas
and from where she stood,
Liane stared thoughtfully at
her old neighborhood.
The bridge that she stood on
stretched across a river
that was running some
one hundred feet below her.
It was just outside of town,
not far from the mall.
It gave her a good view
so she could take in all
the sights and colors that
lit up the cold night air
as she looked off with a
somewhat despondent stare.
Yet for a brief moment,
she let a small smile come
to her, 'fore it went back
to where it had come from.
Her eyes left the scene of
distant colorful lights,
for she wasn't in the mood
for such thoughts or sights.
Her stare lowered a touch
as she stood in place and
looked at the falling snow
as she held up her hand.
The snowflakes landed on
her dark jacket and she
took in the six-sided flakes
she could clearly see;
each flake's lovely design
and tiny, fragile form,
created by the impending
winter snow storm.
She watched as more flakes
collected on her dark sleeve;
something that gave her a
brief moment of reprieve
from the thoughts that had been
taking root in her mind;
ones that were not of the
“merry” or “good cheer” kind.
It was then that she heard
footsteps off to her right.
She looked over and saw
a peculiar sight.
A man in a long coat
that was colored deep red,
with black boots on his feet
and white hair on his head,
was walking toward her
with a smile on his round face,
from which hung a white beard
that was not out of place.
He had quite the belly,
and deep wrinkles that told
of the many years behind him,
in each one's fold.
“Good ev'ning young lady,”
the man smiled as he neared,
bringing up his right hand
and stroking his thick beard.
He turned his head and looked
off at the same lights that
the woman he'd spoken to
had been looking at.
“Lovely, aren't they?”
he added. “They're such a sight
to behold as they glow
so brightly on this night.”
“Usually,” she said,
her voice rather subdued.
The man asked, “Why are you not
in a jolly mood?”
“Don't you have something else
to be doing?” she spat.
“The last thing I want is
any idle chit chat.”
“My apologies,” he said
as his good cheer fell.
“I was just on my way back
from my work, and well...
“I saw you standing here
and just wanted to say,
that I hope you have a
wonderful Christmas Day.”
Liane looked him up and down,
then nodded a bit.
“You a mall Santa?” she asked.
“You'd be a good fit.”
“Something like that,” he smiled.
“But, if you would prefer,
I'll leave you alone and
give you space, as it were.”
“I'd appreciate that,”
she said in a flat tone.
“I really just want the chance
to be left alone.”
“Then I'll be on my way,”
the man said quietly.
Without another word,
he left and let her be.
It wasn't long before
the man was out of sight,
which left her as she felt;
all alone in the night.
Her thoughts about him
gave her pause for a moment.
Her gaze drifted down,
and a grin came as it went.
But this pause did not last
and soon she began to
revisit dark thoughts of
what she'd gone there to do.
With it just shy of midnight,
no one was around.
Just the slowly falling
snowflakes that were abound.
She remained there, alone,
as she stood on the bridge
motionless until both
her feet moved just a smidge.
Her grip on the cold handrail
soon grew more intense
as she continued to stand
in complete silence.
No one was there to see
the resigned look that grew
in her saddening stare,
and her expression too.
It was then that Liane
climbed over the handrail,
then felt dizzy enough
that she began to flail
one arm in the air as she
used her other hand
to steady herself with
the rail where she did stand.
Her face filled with panic
as she looked down below
at the dark void where she
could hear the river flow.
With one hand on the railing,
she let out a sigh.
She looked to the colored lights,
then uttered, “Goodbye.”
Liane leaned toward the void,
let go of the handrail,
then fell through the cold air
without a word or wail.
The wind rushed past her,
growing louder as she fell
for what felt to her like
an impossible spell.
But soon the cold water
was approaching her fast.
She then took in a breath;
one she hoped was her last.
A moment later,
a hard slap rang out and she
felt a flash of great pain
as she thought, Now I'm free.
It was for just a moment,
that all had flashed white
and taken what she'd seen
on this Christmas Eve night.
But soon, that white began
to fade to a deep gray,
one that surrounded her
and did not fade away.
It was like a dense fog
that shifted and slowly
swirled all around her,
and made all seem quite murky.
She looked down at her feet
that saw what she stood on.
It was the only spot
where the fog was all gone.
In its place, was what looked
like a deep frozen lake,
covered in ice that seemed
too thick to ever break.
She took a small step and
heard the ice give a CRACK!
which startled her and made
her take that step right back.
“Where am I?” Liane asked.
“Did I survive the fall?”
She heard her echo,
as if off a distant wall.
“Hello?” she called out.
“Is there anybody here?”
“Just me,” came a reply.
“I'm here with you, my dear.”
Liane looked around at the
ever shifting mist.
“Show yourself!” she cried out,
then heard, “If you insist.”
From off to her right,
she could see a shape start to
come through the thick fog,
and she asked, “Um, who are you?”
“You don't know me?” came the voice.
“You should. After all,
you've known about me since
you were just two feet tall.”
With each step, the figure
began to grow clearer.
More details stood out
as each step brought it nearer.
Red and white fuzzy patches
began to congeal
into someone that
seemed familiar, yet unreal.
A red coat with white fur
that lined its waist and cuffs.
Shiny black boots that had
no dull spots, cracks or scuffs.
A red pointy hat that
had white fur on its base
and a fuzzy white-balled top
that hung by his face.
His gloves were pure white.
His black belt hugged his belly
that jiggled as he walked,
as if made of jelly.
His long hair and his beard
were as white as fresh snow.
She knew who it was and
let out a baffled, “Whoa.”
“Hello, Liane,” the man said,
he tone soft and kind.
“This isn't real,” she said.
“I think I've lost my mind!”
“I'm quite real,” he said
as he walked up to her and
gave her a wistful smile
as he held out his hand.
“We've met before,” he smiled
with a warmth in his stare.
“It was on the bridge, yes?
I'm quite sure it was there.”
She took a step back and
kept her hands at her chest.
“Don't touch me!” she uttered
to the man who was dressed
like a rented Santa
from some nearby big store.
With a panicked stare,
“Who the fuck are you?” she swore.
“Do you really need to ask?”
he said with a wink.
“My attire make's it pretty
obvious, I think.”
“You're not him,” Liane spat.
“There is no way in hell.
You're some kind of mind trick
that came from when I fell!”
She took a second step
and again heard the CRACK!
of the ice, which brought her
to stop taking steps back.
“About that,” the man said
as he moved up to her.
“Don't move too much, please.
You're on thin ice, as it were.”
“I'm what?” she asked as she
looked utterly confused
at the analogy
that the man had just used.
He took her right hand and
held it up in the air.
That was when Liane noticed
the bad bruising there.
“This isn't a dream,” he said,
“or some kind of ruse.
I'm very much real,
just like what's causing this bruise.”
“Wait,” Liane said. “The fall.
Does this mean that I'm dead?”
“Not yet, but that time isn't
far off,” the man said.
“I don't understand,” she said.
“What the hell is this?”
He gave her a sad smile
and asked, “What happened, Miss?
“What brought you to this point?
What went so very wrong?”
When she gave no reply,
“Please, I can't stay for long.
“Your time's running very short,
so please talk to me.”
She pulled her hand away with,
“Look, just leave me be.”
She looked down at her hand
and she was clearly pissed.
The bruise there was bigger
and it spread to her wrist.
“What the hell?” she uttered
with a vexed, puzzled tone
as she began to feel pain
that dug to the bone.
She looked to the man
with some panic in her eyes.
He said, “This is what happens
before someone dies.”
“I'm dying?” Liane asked
as she watched the bruise grow
over her whole forearm,
then up to her elbow.
“You are,” the man said.
“And your time is running out.
Please talk to me, Liane.
What brought this all about?”
Liane watched as the bruise
slowly grew larger still.
And panic in her, this
sight did greatly instill.
“Who the hell are you?” she asked,
her voice filled with fear.
He then simply smiled with,
“You know who I am, dear.”
For a moment, her words
could no longer come out,
and she winced as the pain
that continued to sprout
from the growing bruise
that had covered her whole arm.
“Where am I?” she asked,
her voice filled with much alarm.
“You're in the last moments
of your life,” the man said.
“That final bit before
you're gone and truly dead.
“I know you're growing scared,
but I'm right here with you.
But before our time ends,
what I'd like you to do
“is to tell me what pushed
you to reach this moment.
What made you seek this out
as if you were hellbent?”
Liane stood dumbfounded,
unsure of what to say.
But after a second,
she turned her gaze away.
“This is some nightmare,” she spat.
“It doesn't make sense.
You're lying to me
like I'm ignorant or dense.”
“I wish I was, Liane,”
the man said with remorse.
“These are your final moments.
Your life's run it's course.”
“If that's true,” she said with ire,
“then just let me die!”
The man looked heartbroken
and asked her simply, “Why?”
She turned away from him,
as she winced in pain and
looked at the massive bruise
on her right arm and hand.
“My husband cheated on me,
then shifted the blame
and said that I had done it.
So ev'ryone came
“to his rescue as if
I had been the bad guy.
No one believed me,
regardless of how I'd try
“to show I was the one
who been cheated on.
But ev'ryone believed him.
My friends were all gone.
“Then in the divorce,
my husband said that I had
abused my son daily.
Then things got really bad.
“He accused me of being
an alcoholic,
then made up all these lies
to help make it all stick.
“I pleaded and swore what
he said wasn't the case.
But somehow, I had it all
blow up in my face.
“The judge took ev'rything.
My ex-husband had won
the house and full custody
of my only son.
“I was barely allowed
to visit with my son.
Then I lost that too
once that Covid had begun.
“I was just hanging on
with my job as it was.
Then back in November,
I was let go because
“the store I worked at
chose to cut my position.
One day I had work,
and the next day, I was done.
“I tried for unemployment,
but I was turned down.
So I took a hotel room
on the edge of town.
“I got that check for
1,200, but it went fast.
I tried to stretch it out,
but it just didn't last.”
“I was broke and lonely.
I had nowhere to turn.
The world was against me
and just watched my life burn.
“My friends all turned away.
My family did the same.
I really needed someone,
but nobody came.”
Liane brought her bruised hand up
and covered her eyes.
“I was someone they came
to completely despise.”
The man stood quietly and
watched as Liane fought
with ev'rything inside her
that made her so wrought
with sorrow and anger
from all that she'd been through.
In a soft voice he said,
“So you chose this for you.”
“What else could I do?” she asked
through a fought down sob.
“My rent is past due and
I've got no goddamn job.
“I got a note from my
landlord that says I'll be
evicted on the second
of January.
“My family hates me,
and my friends feel the same.
My life went to complete shit,
yet I'm not to blame.
“No one gives a damn and
I can't take anymore
of ev'ryone thinking
I'm some abusive whore.”
With a grimace of pain,
she unzipped her thick coat
with a hand that looked like
it was starting to bloat.
With concern in her eyes,
she pulled up her shirt some,
as she noticed her hand
had started to feel numb.
The large bruise on her arm,
was not just forming there.
She could see it spreading
seemingly ev'rywhere.
It was on her belly
and growing on her side.
And the pain she felt was
impossible to hide.
“What's happening?” she asked
as she looked to the man
she had been speaking with
as her bruised arm began
to feel as if it were
starting to fall asleep.
And into her eyes,
more panic began to creep.
“Where we are is like limbo,”
the man said calmly.
“Time is much slower here,
but not stopped completely.
“It crawls forward so that
things still happen in here
that mirror what happens
in the real world, my dear.”
“I don't understand,” she said.
“What does that all mean?”
The man gave a sad smile
with, “We are in-between
“life and death in this moment
that we briefly share.
You're not dead yet, Liane,
but you are nearly there.
“What you see is a slowed
version of what happened
the moment you hit
the water just one second
“before I brought you here
so we could have a talk
and see if from your life,
you're still wishing to walk.”
“So, I'm not dead, but I'm
not alive,” Liane posed.
“No,” he said. “But you life's book
will shortly be closed.”
“Let it close” she sneered.
“I just don't care anymore.
Just leave me alone and
let me walk through death's door.”
“I can't do that,” he said.
“It's not in me to do
something as callus as
turning away from you.”
“Why should you care?” she asked.
“No one else gives a damn.
They're just as sick of me
as I sure as hell am.”
The man looked at her sadly
and said with remorse,
“If that's your choice, Liane,
you can make it, of course.
“But while I know you're in pain,
in more ways than one,
is what others did reason
enough to be done
“with the world around you
without fighting back for
the chance to reclaim some
of what was taken, or
“to find a way for you
to start your life over?”
He stepped up to Liane
and placed a hand on her
shoulder as his eyes
were filled with much sympathy.
“But please, let me say this,
if you'll listen to me.
“What happened was unfair
and heinous to go through.
It hurt you very deeply.
I know this is true.
“But of those that you lost,
some are not gone for good.
Your life may be painful,
but I think that you should
“not let the man you loved
or your own family
push you out of this world
for all eternity.
“You ache and you're tired.
I understand this too well.
But there's one thing to you,
I can truthfully tell.
“As bad as all of this
has been feeling to you,
I believe that you still
have the strength to get through
“the mess that's swirling
around you at this moment.
You have already survived
so much as you went
“through a divorce and
all that followed after it.
You have made it this far,
taking hit after hit.
“I know things feel much too dark
to continue on.
But I promise, others
will miss you if you're gone.”
“Oh, like who?” Liane spat.
“My landlord or that guy
who peaks out his door,
and gives me the evil eye?”
“I can't really say,” he said,
as he cupped her chin.
“If you want to get back
at them, don't let them win.
“Don't let them define you
and tell you who you are.
Don't allow their vile actions
to push you this far.
“Turn away and just leave if
they won't let you be.
Write them all out of your life
and get yourself free
“of all the reminders
of what they put you through.
Don't worry about them
and just focus on you.
“You were a good person
before things went so wrong.
That much hasn't changed, Liane.
You need to stay strong
“and see that this world,
despite all it's put you through,
would still be a lesser place
if it loses you.”
Liane said nothing as
she stood while what he'd said
hung over them both as it
echoed in her head.
Her body ached more as
the bruising continued
to spread under her clothes
where it couldn't be viewed.
He took his hand from her chin
as the bruising spread
up her neck and continued
slowly toward her head.
“They tried to hurt you,” he said,
his voice soft and kind.
“Show them your great strength and
leave this outcome behind.”
“I don't know if I can,”
she said in a meek voice.
“I do,” he said warmly.
“But you must make your choice
“now if you hope to
take back what you will soon lose.
So please tell me Liane,
what is it that you choose?”
Liane grimaced again
as the bruise reached her jaw.
Pain shot through her body
as she looked down and saw
that her hands were swollen
and split open as well.
She couldn't feel her legs
and had started to smell
a strange odor that was
not unlike rotting meat.
Her body had grown cold
and she felt her heartbeat
had started to slow and
get weaker with each hit.
She knew what was coming
and soon uttered, “Oh shit!”
“Make your choice,” the man said,
his voice filled with unease.
Liane looked to the man,
then said, “Send me back, please!”
With a flash of white light,
she no longer felt pain
and found herself on
that cold, snowy bridge again.
Then a wave of dizziness
swept over her too,
which gave her a powerful
sense of deja vu
as she gripped the rail firmly
and looked down below
at where the cold, dark river
continued to flow.
“I'm back where I was?”
Liane said with some surprise
as her sense of bewilderment
shown in her eyes.
For a moment, she stood
on the handrail's wrong side,
but quickly stepped over it
while she was wide-eyed.
She looked about at the scene
that surrounded her.
At the falling snow and
the distant lights that were
filled with dots of colors
like blue, red, green and more.
At the old neighborhood
that she used to adore
back when her life was
filled with joy and family.
But that stuff felt like such
a distant memory.
She lowered her gaze
and stared down at the river
that she thought would be
some kind of release for her.
Her stare drifted a bit
as her mind did the same.
She then turned and walked off
back the way that she came.
She left the bridge behind
and went back to her pad;
an old run down apartment
that housed all she had.
She looked very drained as
she got herself undressed
before she climbed into bed
with such little zest,
it was almost as if
she wasn't really there.
But she was far too worn out
to pretend to care.
It took barely a minute,
but sleep came for her
and took Liane away
to dreamland, as it were.
The alarm soon went off,
which pulled her from her sleep.
She slapped its snooze button
and didn't make a peep
as she rolled onto her back
and laid there a bit
with a drawn look that told
of her beaten spirit.
But in time, she got up
and got herself some food,
as she tried to shake off
her melancholy mood.
As she sat at the table,
she heard the small squeak
of the mail slot in her door,
which brought her to peak
from where she was sitting
to see if she could tell
whether or not from
that small slot, a letter fell.
And sure enough, there was
a letter on the floor.
She got up from the table
and went to the door.
She reached down and picked up
what someone had slipped in.
She saw that the envelope
had nothing written
anywhere on its front
and not on the thing's rear.
She then muttered, “Now who
in the hell put this here?”
She went to the sofa
and sat down before she
opened the envelope with,
“Who gave this to me?”
She took out a folded
sheet of old, thick parchment.
When she opened it up,
she picked up the faint scent
of peppermint candy
that was mixed with the smell
of burning wood, like from
a fireplace, as well.
“Dear Liane,” she uttered as
she began to read.
“I hope that you're better,
after your time of need.
“We spoke for a short time
while you were in such pain
from how life had become
far too much of a strain
“on your broken heart and
on your world-weary mind.
So much so, that it left
you in a horrid bind.
“I know things seem hopeless
at this point in your life.
That ev'ryone and -thing
is out to cause you strife.
“But please do not forget that,
just like each new day
these bad moment's will pass
and start to fade away.
“Their pain will lessen
bit by bit as time goes by.
And though at times it will seem
far too hard to try
“to push on through it all,
please don't give up the fight.
A new day will follow
each dark, harrowing night.
“It may seem as if there's
no way for you to win,
but don't let those thoughts rule you.
Don't let those thoughts in.
“You're stronger than you know,
even if you don't feel
as if you can face the world
when it makes you reel
“back in anguish or sadness
when it comes at you.
And I hope that last night
showed you what not to do.
“Don't let liars and those who
wrong you have their way.
Don't let those who hurt you
get your life's final say.
“It won't always be easy,
but please, don't give in.
Take last night's dark moment as
a chance to begin
“the next chapter in your tale,
not the final one.
See it as a sunrise
and not a setting sun.
“New days bring new moments
that can be good or bad.
Some will be wonderful,
while others, will be sad.
“But face them all, and know that
you can make it though.
Even if you doubt yourself,
I believe in you.
“I wish you all the best
on this bright Christmas Day.
Stay safe, well and healthy,
and don't forget to say
“'I love you' to her when
she calls you up, my dear.
And say 'yes' when she asks
if Santa Claus was here.”
Liane was confused as she
looked at what she'd read.
There were quite a few questions
that ran through her head.
A moment later, the phone
let out a loud ring
which gave her a fright and
brought her to quickly bring
her attention to her phone
that was sitting on
the table by the couch
as she let out a yawn.
The next moment saw
the room fill with a white light
that made her gasp from how
it was blindingly bright.
It lasted just a second
before it winked out.
She blinked a few times
and said, “What was that about?”
She looked down at her hands
and saw the note was gone.
That was when she uttered,
“What the hell's going on?”
Her phone continued to ring
as she sat with a
confused, annoyed look,
'till she said, “Yeah! OK.”
She reached over and picked up
her phone's receiver.
With it next to her face,
a “Hello?” came from her.
“Hi Liane,” came a voice
that Liane hadn't heard
in quite a few months.
It was one that quickly stirred
her emotions as she sat there,
taken aback.
“Mom?” she managed to say
with her face a bit slack.
“It's me, honey,” came
a somewhat subdued reply.
In just a few seconds,
Liane began to cry.
“Hi Mom,” Liane said,
with her voice cracking as she
let out a sob while her
tears began to run free.
“I've missed you,” she added
as she tried to regain
some control of what was like
a runaway train.
“I've missed you too, honey,”
her mom said as she too
had her own stirred up feelings
begin to shine through.
For an hour and a half,
Liane and her mom spoke.
At first, it was quite rough as
their words did evoke
a lot of bad moments
and feelings in Liane.
But slowly, that had faded,
and over the span
of the time they'd been talking,
some things did improve.
They laughed here and there
and the mood began to move
from one of unease and
uncertainty abound,
to one where some comfort
had finally been found.
It was as they talked about
all things Christmasy,
that Liane grabbed the remote,
turned on the T.V.
and soon found herself watching
the city's parade
as she took in the floats
that volunteers had made.
Her mother was saying
how her father had been,
when the cam'ra on T.V.
began to zoom in
on a float that looked much like
a big Santa's sleigh
as the announcer said,
“And Santa's on his way!”
The cam'ra continued
to zoom in closer still.
As it did so, Liane's mind
had begun to fill
with a strong feeling of
familiarity.
One that brought her to utter,
“Are you kidding me?”
There, on her T.V.'s screen,
she could see Santa's face.
She recognized it well,
which made her freeze in place.
It was the same man she'd seen
on the bridge last night
and in the void after she'd
given up life's fight.
That was when the man
on T.V. turned his head and
looked at her with a smile
and brought up his right hand.
He waved and winked as if
somehow, the man could see
Liane as she sat and watched
him through her T.V.
Her bewilderment swelled,
but after a short while,
her face became graced
with a warm, genuine smile.
She turned off the T.V.
and brought her focus to
what her mother was saying
when she said, “And you?”
“And me what?” Liane asked
as she realized that
she'd missed what her mom
recently said in their chat.
“Did Santa visit you?”
her mother repeated.
Liane smiled a bit and said,
“He certainly did.”
Liane continued to talk
with her mom a while.
They touched on Liane's
ex-husband's spouted revile.
Of all that Liane had
gone through when ev'ryone
wrote her out of their lives
when the divorce was done.
Of the pain, abandonment,
and many a tear.
Of how she felt so alone
for nearly a year.
Her mother then stated,
“This is long overdue,
but I'm deeply sorry
I turned my back on you.
“We walked away when
you needed someone so bad.
We left you on your own
when we were all you had.
“I hope you'll be able
to forgive us someday.
Until then, just know that
we'll help in anyway
“that we can to make up
for all that you've endured.
We'll be there for you.
On that, you can rest assured.”
“Thanks mom,” Liane smiled,
then added, “I love you.”
Her mother replied with
a heartfelt, “Love you too.”
As they continued to chat,
Christmas Day rolled on
until hours later,
when the daylight was gone
and like the night before,
colored lights shined anew
as the night came alive
with their many a hue.
At times, the world can feel
very cold, dark and cruel.
Like it revels in things
that only seem to fuel
the darkest of thoughts in
the minds of some people,
and makes a problem that
feels like a huge steeple
that's too high to jump over
or climb past somehow.
As if it were a cliff
that would never allow
that person to get by
and find some way to heal
from what caused them to endure
a tragic ordeal.
Just when Liane's life was
about to reach its end,
she was given one last chance
to let her heart mend.
To withstand what had been done
to her and her world
and give more of her life
a chance to be unfurled.
This steep cliff had been climbed,
yet still more lay ahead.
Her moment of weakness,
now gave her strength instead.
This step could have never
been taken if her life
had been left to be claimed
by dark moments of strife.
And as her life's new start
gave off its growing light,
Merry Christmas to all,
and to all, a good night.

In case anyone was wondering, I'm still alive, and I'm still watching. I'll be authoring up the page for the new album this week and will be looking forward to finishing it up once the album is finished. As always, I'm happy that folks are participating and I look forward to hearing your tracks as always!

In case anyone was wondering, I'm still alive, and I'm still watching. I'll be authoring up the page for the new album this week and will be looking forward to finishing it up once the album is finished. As always, I'm happy that folks are participating and I look forward to hearing your tracks as always!

AH! THE GHOST OF PROJECTS PAST!
**runs**

In case anyone was wondering, I'm still alive, and I'm still watching. I'll be authoring up the page for the new album this week and will be looking forward to finishing it up once the album is finished. As always, I'm happy that folks are participating and I look forward to hearing your tracks as always!

I did not realize this. I've not been on the forums nearly as much as I used to be. I wanted to suggest link icons that folks could click to go to an artists site or bandcamp page or some social network profile/site/etc. with placement of such under their user name "card" at the left of the posts they make, but, after reading other comments here, that might be a worthless idea anyway. Guess even I need to get with the times.