The night before the night before Christmas

[Steven]

Severex told me stories about how visitors would drive up to his display and turn the radio all the way up so that his Christmas music could be heard to the end of the block. Dave said he had a mic hooked up to the transmitter so he could tell these visitors to "Turn the volume down!"

But Dave has a big, popular display with rock music playing. It couldn't happen to our display, could it? We're not as well known as Dave. We don't get crowds of hundreds of people.

But it happened. At about 9:30 on the 23rd (a Wednesday!). I heard our Christmas light show music, but it was a lot louder than my 3 Watt audio amplifier could do.

'twas the night before the night before Christmas...

Out on the lawn [street] there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from the [kitchen] to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash.
Tore open the [window lace] and threw up the [mini blinds].

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear.
But a [large van].
With a ... driver [who had the music turned up] so lively and [loud].

For all I know, he may have been whistling and shouting, but he wouldn't have been heard over the van's radio.

Fortunately, it didn't last too long, and our show ends at 10:00 on Wednesday nights, so when he heard The Demented Elf saying it's time to shut down for the night:

he drove out of sight.

At least he liked the show, I assume.