~Deck the halls with boughs of holly.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.~
Jim Ellison strode through the campus grounds
on his way to Blair's
office. He had promised to bring a book the younger man had
accidentally
left
at the loft and needed for a later lecture. A group of students
stood in
the square, caroling. He mostly ignored them, the song just
background
noise. As they started the second verse, he caught one voice
softly singing
alternate lyrics:
~Deck the halls with poison ivy.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.
'Tis the season to be naughty.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.~
He scanned the crowd, finally focusing on a young
lady standing off
to one side. She was watching the carolers, a grin on her
face. He
wouldn't have even heard her if he hadn't been listening for anything
unusual.
~Break a window, pop a tire.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.~
Strangely enough, there was no bitterness apparent
in her voice. In fact,
Jim could have sworn he heard a hint of laughter as she sang.
She sang with
enthusiasm and cheer - just, not the right lyrics.
~Kick your Granny in the fanny.
Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la.~
As she finished, she gave a wave to the other
carolers, hitched her
backpack higher on her shoulder, and walked off towards the Student
Union
Center as the others swung into a third verse.
Jim shook his head, muttering to himself as he
increased his pace,
"And a Merry Christmas to you, too."