The Night Before Chicken Friday

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHICKEN FIRDAY

“Twas the night before Chicken Friday

and all through the Det.

Not a buffer was turning,

Oh no, not quite yet.


All the mops and the brooms

were hung up with care

In hope that the teams

soon would be there.


The officers were nestled

all snug in their beds,

When the beepers went off

right next to their heads


Soon there were shouts

and groans of disgust.

Chicken Friday had begun

and we’d dust, dust, dust.


Team one had the stairway,

team two had the hall,

Team three had the classroom,

and as usual, four had the stalls.


Team six was on duty

and doing real fine,

While five was out training

and drinking fine wine.


When what to my wondering

eyes should appear

But a miniature SMAJ

with a lecherous sneer.


“All right all you yahoos,

you’d best fall right in.

And start up the cleaning,

let the scrubbing begin.


Clean the latrines

and dust off the walls.

When you’re finished with all that,

put a shine on the halls.”


“On Fowler, on Storer,

on Turcotte, on Platz.

If you don’t move much faster,

you’ll be explaining to Katz.”


A bundle of cleaning tools

was flung over his back

And he looked like a peddler

just opening his pack.


His eyes, how they twinkled,

his dimples – how merry.

His cheeks were like roses,

his nose like a cherry.


His droll little mouth

was drawn up in a scowl.

If you looked at him cross-eyed,

he’d let out a howl.


He inspected all day

and everyone dreaded

The appearance in the door

of that bald little head.


When he was through inspecting

he said with a grin,

“There’s nothing more to clean

we won’t’ do it again.”


The SMAJ came downstairs

and said with great glee,

“The bar is now open,

the first one’s for me.” (and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th……)


The beer was abundant.

for those who were there.

Chicken Friday as usual

was a drunken affair.


The SMAJ was heard to say

as he staggered out of sight

“Happy Chicken Friday to all,

and to all a good night.”