Hi! My name is Jimmy the mouse and I live with my mom, but I want to move out and live by myself.

I live on Queen Street in Hamilton, Bermuda. I am brown on the top and I have a white chest.

It was becoming dark and colourful lights were being turned on.

I asked my mom what all the lights were for. She said it was for Christmas.

"What's Christmas?'' I asked.

She gave me a whole explanation about a man called Santa and how he brings toys to all the children in the world that write to him on a piece of paper telling him what they want for Christmas.

I asked if mice could get gifts as well. She replied, "Maybe.'' The next morning I was woken up by the sounds of my mom singing, "Honey time to find breakfast I just saw a man throw something in the trash can.'' So I got up and stretched. I wasn't in the mood to go out and get food but I could hear my stomach growl and I knew that mom was hungry.

When I got to the trash can I found what the man had thrown away, a slice of cheese, a drink, and down further I found half of a peanut butter sandwich and took it back home.

I took the sandwich and went outside to explore. I saw a hole in the wall that looked good to live in.

I ran back home and I told my mom that I would be gone for awhile.

I went back to the spot and went over to the hole. I heard something to the right of me, when I looked I saw a black and white, hungry looking cat staring at me.

I ran into the bushes where the cat couldn't get me and stayed there till it was gone.

I ran back to my house on the way I started to get hungry so I decided to stop at the trash can and get something.

All that was in there was a piece of paper and a cracker. I grabbed them both.

When I got home I ate the cracker and asked my mom if the paper that I found was what children wrote to Santa on.

She said yes and that Santa will give the present to his elves and they would make the toys that you put down on the paper.

I wanted a house to live in but I didn't know if he would bring me one so I decided to try and see anyway. I went out and picked some plump, juicy cedar berries and took them home. I stamped on them. My feet starting to turn blue.

On the ground there was a big puddle of blue juice. I dipped my tail in and wrote: Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a house to live in.

From Jimmy the mouse. I live on Queen Street, in a hole in the wall under the Little Theater.

I read at the bottom of the sheet an address. I guessed that it was where I drop it off. I followed the address and ended outside of a shop.

I stood outside till someone went in because I couldn't open the door. It also said to go downstairs. I saw stairs but they were moving. I looked down I was scared because it was a long way down and I didn't want my tail to get caught at the bottom. I jumped on, it wasn't that bad actually I thought it was fun.

When I got to the bottom I saw a big box that had a piece of paper like mine stuck to the box but it wasn't filled out.

When I got there, there was a little boy and he asked his mother when Santa was coming his mother said tonight. I thought to myself Santa better hurry and collect all the letters and give them to his elves so they can make all the gifts.

I couldn't get to the top to put my letter in so I went to the back of the box and nibbled at it till I made a big enough hole to squish the paper through.

Afterward I went over to the stairs that were going up and jumped on. When I got back to the door I waited again, this time it took along time. A man was coming. He open the door and I followed him, the door almost shut on my tail.

I quickly ran back home. At this time it was starting to get dark and the colourful lights were turning back on. I sat outside and admired the lights. I decided to go to bed even though I knew I wouldn't be able to go to sleep. I just sat in my bed. Eventually I dozed off.

In the morning I got up very early and ran down to where I saw the hole in the wall to see if Santa put my house there. When I got there the cat was there sleeping in front of the hole. I panicked and ran home.

I was disappointed. When I got home I looked across the street and saw a hole that I never had seen before. I ran across the street and when I got there above the hole was a nicely varnished wooden sign that said: "JIMMY THE MOUSE'S HOUSE''.

I couldn't believe it I went inside and explored it. In one of the rooms was a big fridge full of cheese.

I went home and told my mom everything. She helped me pack everything and take it to my new house. After that I lived happily over after.

Antique drawing by Thomas Nast: "Twas the night before Christmas, and all the through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse .'' SHORT STORY COMPETITION CPN