Twas the night before car repairs

‘Twas the night before Christmas,

And driving my car,

The engine was quitting,

It did not go far.

The drivebelt had slipped

Off the tensioner pulley.

The motor stalled out

Like a cast-iron bully.

I shifted to park

And turned the start key.

With the roar of the engine

I shouted with glee.

The light on the dash

Of the new running car

Was the battery light…

It would not get far.

With no force applied

To the dead alternator

I had to get home

Immediately, not later.

Away down the road

I flew like a fawn.

But turning was hard-

Power steering was gone!

More rapid than eagles

My curses they came.

And I grumbled and growled

And loudly complained.

“You bucket of bolts!

You big useless car!

I’m taking you into

the used scrap junkyard!”

The van made it back

To its parking spot home.

Then I Googled “drivebelt”

And watched Youtube videos.

Then taking a 15mm

Chrome box-end wrench

I pulled back on the tensioner

Until my teeth had to clench.

And slipping the drive belt

Back into its spot

I cranked up the car

Till the engine was hot.

My advice to you all

‘fore you drive out of sight:

Take a look at your belt

And make sure it’s on tight.