Micaela cared for Ziggy with an enthusiasm that surprised her mother and amused her grandfather. She spent all of two days looking for a sturdy branch he could cling to. She changed his water every day before going to school and made sure he had a steady supply of mosquitoes and flies by setting him up right by an open window despite complaints from the rest of her family. Ziggy’s talent for catching insects was awesome. With just a flick of his long sticky tongue, he caught his unsuspecting prey.

By the time Christmas vacation rolled by, Micaela and Ziggy were inseparable. His favorite perch was on top of her shoulder from where he could view the world. And even when it was time to bring out the Christmas tree, the colored lights, the balls, baubles and whatnots accumulated over the years, Ziggy stayed perched on Micaela’s shoulder.

This Christmas was especially exciting for Micaela. Her mother had announced that Micaela was now old enough to do her own shopping. She even set aside several days for shopping and a weekend to decorate the tree.

Decorating the tree was always a special family affair and Micaela was in charge of the lower fourth of the tree. Mother further announced that Ate Mia and Micaela would help with Noche Buena. This year, all the grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles and cousins were coming over to their house for the most special meal of the year.

In the hustle and bustle that Christmas always brings, Micaela forgot all about changing Ziggy’s water every day or making sure he had a steady supply of mosquitoes and flies. She didn’t even notice that he no longer perched on her shoulder or on the sturdy branch she had taken two days to find.

Over Christmas dinner, Micaela’s cousin Martin asked to see Ziggy. She looked over her shoulder and realized he was no longer there and hadn’t been for a while. When she ran to the now closed window, Ziggy was not on the sturdy branch either. Micaela, with her cousin Martin close behind, ran to Ate Mia, who was clearing the dining table.

"Have you seen Ziggy?"

Ate Mia shook her head. "Maybe Mom knows where he is."

Micaela ran to her mother, who was preparing hot chocolate for later.

"Have you seen Ziggy?"

Micaela’s mother shook her head and said, "Maybe Lolo knows where he is."

Micaela ran to her grandfather who was settling into his favorite armchair waiting for the gifts to be distributed and opened.

"Have you seen Ziggy?"

Micaela’s grandfather shook his head and said, "You need to get ready to distribute the gifts."

Micaela looked at her cousin sadly and said, "I think Ziggy’s run away."

With a heavy heart, Micaela sat under their Christmas tree and reached out for a gift. "For Cousin Jeb!" she announced in what she hoped was a happy voice. Micaela continued to pull gifts out from under the tree. "For Cousin Martin! For Lolo! For Mom! For Mia!"

As she crawled deeper under the tree for more gifts, Micaela saw two familiar eyes turning in their sockets staring at her. Comfortably perched among the plastic branches was Ziggy!

"Ziggy!" Micaela screamed. Martin and some other cousins dove under the tree. They watched in fascination as Ziggy turned green, yellow, blue, red violet and orange all at the same time-just like the colored lights encircling the tree. "Wow!"

THE END