Thomas Pumpernickel was a familiar name in his neighbourhood on Dondonald Street in the city of Hamilton, Bermuda. Thomas was a quiet child, but some of the things he had done in the past labelled him mischievous.

The Pumpernickel family took their drive to look at the winning entries from the Festival of Lights Competition. The houses in the Frog Lane complex made Thomas feel as though he was in Disneyland. The display of lights on the houses was a spectacular sight to see. It was magical in Thomas' imagination. He loved the Christmas season.

The following day, although it was December 24, and Thomas was playing alone in his backyard, he didn't mind at all as he was an only child, so he really didn't have a choice. After all, the nearest neighbour who had a child his age lived a few blocks from his house. He lived near a busy intersection within the city of Hamilton, so naturally he was not allowed to play in the street, as traffic was always a problem in the area. He was fascinated with the lights within the city of Hamilton, how they lit up the trees and zigzagged across the busy streets.

Even though Thomas was confined to his back yard for outside play, he always found some form of entertainment for himself. He was banned from taking his water gun outside without his mother's supervision, especially after shooting it at passing pedestrians and motorists and nearly causing an accident. He would spray the gun in the air and let it fall on pedestrians to make them think it was raining. Some would even put up their umbrellas.

Tommy, as his Mama and Daddy called him, was quiet but very inquisitive. He loved to explore.

“Dweep, dweep . . . dweep, dweep . . . dweep, dweep !”, was the sound Tommy heard coming from behind the garbage can. Each time Tommy would go near to examine the noise, it would stop.

“Where's the noise coming from?” asked the puzzled six year old.

Suddenly, he had an idea. Tommy stood over the garbage can with his ear almost touching it. “Ah, Hah !” Tommy located the source. Such a big sound was coming from a tiny, greenish, brown tree frog. “WOW !”, said an amazed Tommy. His discovery to him was like finding a gold mine.

Tommy loved Christmas Eve because he always had the opportunity to hear the Salvation Army Band playing his favourite Christmas carols. He was especially fond of “Jingle Bells” which he heard the band playing loudly on the sidewalk in front of their home on Dondonald Street. As the band marched down the street and the sound faded in the distance, Tommy heard another sound to his delight. It was the sound coming from the gombey drummers who were practising for their Boxing Day performances. Tommy liked to do his little jig to the rhythm as he bobbed up and down, shifting from one foot to the other, in beat with the tune he heard.

As it was getting dark and Tommy's mama was busy putting her finishing touches to the Christmas tree, Tommy was outside a little later than usual, enjoying the sights and sounds. His Daddy was in one of the nearby bars having a cocktail. Before Tommy finally went indoors, he placed his little friend froggy inside the empty garbage can.

As he entered the house and saw his Christmas tree lit up with the bright lights and colourful decorations, and smelled the aroma of freshly baked farine pie, he was immediately filled with the Christmas spirit. Actually, he couldn't wait to go to his bed because he knew after Christmas Eve, came presents.

Tommy with his curiosity asked his mama, “Mama, what's the chirping noise I hear in the Christmas tree?”

His mama replied, “Oh, that's my Christmas robin ornament, I almost forgot I had it . . . that bird is older than you, Tommy !”

“But mama, it still chirps !”, was Tommy's response.

Ah, Tommy suddenly remembered his little friend outdoors in the garbage can. He quietly stepped outdoors with his little flashlight and captured his pal. Tommy took the frog indoors and placed him on one of the inner branches of the Christmas tree. Tommy finally went to bed.

Tommy's mama had no clue that a tree frog had joined in with her chirping bird, adding to the festive atmosphere. She was in a jolly mood, singing the only Christmas song she knew all the words to, “The Little Drummer Boy”. She put all the presents under the Christmas tree and unplugged the Christmas tree lights to prevent any fire hazards. She didn't want to repeat the previous Christmas, with a Christmas Eve visit from the Fire Department because she put the wrong lights on her artificial tree and melted some of the branches. Of course when Tommy smelled something burning, he called 9-1-1 without his parents' knowledge to say his house was on fire.

When Tommy's mama felt When Tommy's mama felt comfortable that everything was in order, she retired to bed for she was exhausted.

As dawn arrived, the light peering through Tommy's shutters was an indication that it was time to open his presents. Full of excitement and like a flash of lightning, Tommy was kneeling beneath the Christmas tree ripping open the wrapped packages that were for him. Tommy didn't even remember his friend froggy. Tommy was excited that he had a new soccer ball and some football boots to go with his new Dandy Town soccer uniform. He put them on right away to model them. When Tommy was finished opening his presents he said to his mama, “It's your turn to open your present that Daddy and I bought for you !” When Tommy handed his Mama the present, there was another surprise. The tree frog had made itself comfortable on Mama's present. She thought it was a decoration, until . . . “EEEEK !” The frog had leapt off the present onto his Mama's nightshirt. Mrs. Pumpernickel was shaking like a leaf and it was obvious that frogs were not on her list of favourites.

“Oh, No !”, whispered Tommy under his breath. “I'm in trouble now !”

But wait, no one else knew how the tree frog got inside, so Tommy kept the secret to himself. He immediately went into action and caught the little frog. After his mama's reaction, he knew not to ask if he could keep it, so he took it outdoors and set it free.

“Mama, did you like your present?”, asked Tommy after the excitement.

Tommy and his Daddy had bought Mrs. Pumpernickel a beautiful gold chain that had a pendant of a longtail with a diamond eye.

“Oh thank you, this is a wonderful surprise, Tommy . . . this chain is absolutely gorgeous, I'll cherish it . . . and I will never forget to check to make sure that there are nothing but bows or ribbons on the presents and NO FROGS !”

Little Tommy chuckled and buried his secret in his memory bank. He then thought to himself, “Maybe we should have gotten a tree frog pendant instead of a longtail!” “Oh well, her birthday is next month and already I have an idea.”