“It’s Christmas Day tomorrow,” the Ferret sang happily, skidding across the table and knocking some ivy onto the floor in the process.

“Do you mind,” Poley muttered, pushing the ivy which had landed on her head to one side.

“Sorry! And there’s going to be lots of lovely food. Plum pudding and Christmas cake and mince pies and so many wonderful things.”

“Mmm,” Mouselet agreed, “and cheese!”

“Mouselet!” Aemelia Vole called, as she felt the ribbon they were winding go slack.

“Oops!”

“Carols to sing!” The Ferret wasn’t going to be distracted.

“You don’t need to practice them now,” the Sloth said firmly.

“All right.” The Ferret looked momentarily downcast but quickly brightened up again. “And presents underneath the tree.”

There was a moment’s quiet while they all wished very hard for something they really, really wanted.

“Christmas Eve has to be one of the best days of the year.” The Ferret could contain his joy no longer and started to dance round the table, knocking more of the greenery off.

“Be careful,” the others shouted.

“So what’s the best day?” Poley asked.

“Christmas Day of course!” The dancing grew faster with the inevitable result that the Ferret fell off the table.

They all laughed and then Mouselet, Aemelia and Poley went to join him in a dance around the Christmas tree, because it was Christmas Eve and they too were feeling joyful.