A Michigan Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas 

and all through the halls

There's just one little problem:

Bears sleep through it all.

So, Yooper sets an alarm and 

he wakes up all right.

When his parents ask why

he says, "Because Santa comes tonight!"

Yooper the bear wants to see Santa face to face. There's just one little problem: Bears sleep through Christmas.

Yooper gets around the problem by waking everyone up a few months early. Papa isn't one bit happy, and tells him Santa doesn't visit bears. Ever! But Yooper remains hopeful. He knows he's been a good cub all year - well, except for that alarm clock - but hey, you can't blame a guy for trying.

Santa must have received Yooper's letter, because when he gets to Michigan's Upper Peninsula he adds one more stop to his itinerary. Yes! In the end, even Papa is a believer!