Hammy to the Rescue

"...As we look ahead to Christmas Day, there will be a heavy snowfall which means we will have a white Christmas..."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your weather report, Mike, but we have breaking news.  The Christmas Thief has struck again.  Let's go live to Julia Anderson, who is at the residence of the latest robbery.  Julia."

Julia nodded her head in sympathy as she heard the anchor's voice come to her ear.

"Yes, the Christmas Thief has indeed struck again, making this robbery the third this week.  Now, I briefly spoke to the homeowner, who wanted her identity kept anonymously, so I will share what she said."

"Mrs. Thompkins, I cannot imagine your devastation with all of your Christmas presents stolen.  I know how much love goes behind purchasing the perfect gifts for family and even close friends.  And so for a heartless stranger to break in and steal...for what gain?"

"Exactly, for what gain.  I know the media is referring to this person as the Christmas Thief, but I would prefer to call him - or her - a real life Grinch.  A Grinch that ruined the holidays not just for me or the other homes, but for this community entirely.  Oh gosh, I'm sorry.  I can't talk anymore."

"That is what Mrs. Thompkins was able to share just a few minutes ago.  Now, the police are still searching for the Grinch...I mean, Christmas Thief.  One potential possibility the police have is the suspect wearing a Santa costume.  Of course, being the holidays, anyone could look like Santa.  At this point, all the police can do is go door to door with the hope of a holiday miracle.  Back to you in the studio."

"And off," said Jim as he turned off the living room television.

Jim deeply yawned and stretched his arms.

The time was half past ten on this Christmas Eve.  Jim's wife and two young daughters were at his wife's parents' home in the city.  Her parents were leaving for Europe in two days, so she wanted to enjoy some time with them.  Jim spent his time alone in the house decorating along to "Deck the Halls" and displaying presents under the tree while listening to "Winter Wonderland."

As the holiday music played, Jim heard a sleepy yawn from his one-year-old German Shepherd pup, Hammy.  Hammy was stretched out on the living room sofa, barely able to move from his grogginess.

Jim lightly laughed at Hammy's laziness.  Hammy was not one to follow in his breed's natural instincts.  He was young and still growing, so he took full advantage of being cute and adorable.  

As Jim turned off the house lights and locked all of the windows and doors, he wished Hammy a good night.  Hammy apparently had no intention of leaving his cozy position.

The Grandfather clock chimed at midnight.  Jim was fast asleep upstairs.  Hammy was fast asleep in the living room.  Silent night...

...Until there arose such a clatter.  Hammy sharply woke up to sounds coming from...the chimney?

Hammy glued his focus to something or someone slowly falling down the chimney.

Plop!  Someone fell to the grate and seemingly appeared to be Santa Claus.  To Hammy, this person was a stranger...who was quickly grabbing all of the presents under the tree.

Hammy let out a vicious bark that woke Jim with a start.

Jim raced down the stairs to find the one and only - the Christmas Thief.

"Put down the presents and raise your hands above your head!  I am a police officer and will have a full squad of backup with one call to 9-1-1!"

"But I'm Santa Claus!  Don't you have any Christmas spirit?!"

Jim didn't answer as blaring police sirens responded on his behalf.

"You heartlessly stole Christmas from this entire neighborhood, so I don't have any Christmas spirit for you.  Get him out of here, guys."

The police handcuffed the Christmas Thief, placed him in a squad car, and left.

Hammy stood just outside with Jim, who looked to him with a beaming smile.  He knew his pup had German Shepherd instinct in him.

Hammy came to the rescue.

Bedtime Tails Favorite

After the first ten Bedtime Tails stories, I am excited to share Hammy the Hero as the most well-received story to date.

Hammy is a German Shepherd puppy who rarely shows signs of his breed's nature...until his home is in danger by a suspicious burglar eluding police for some time.  Follow the link above to see just why Hammy the Hero is so popular on Bedtime Tails.

Hammy the Hero

As police officer, Joe Smith, glanced at his watch for the millionth time in this final half hour of his shift and scribbled notes in paperwork he files on a daily basis, his mind drifted to the news report heard earlier in the evening.

"Compact Flash has struck again.  I am outside the home of the latest victim, who miraculously fought against the jewel thief and received only a few scratches.  I tried to speak with the victim, but he was too shaken up to tell me his story."

The reporter continued,

"As this once quiet and peaceful neighborhood - Porcelain Lakes - well knows, Compact Flash is infamous for stealing only diamonds and pearls - "compact" in what he is after - and fleeing the scene in just a few minutes - in a "flash."  The street I am standing along - Magenta Avenue - has suffered the worst from Compact Flash, with a robbery every night last week.  Police warn all residents to keep their doors and windows locked securely and to be vigilant at all times."

Joe's mind raced.  Had he locked his doors and windows securely?  His house was the smallest home on Magenta Avenue, but still all the doors and windows!  His wife was in the city for a weekend-long corporate convention.  Their ten-year-old daughter was spending the weekend at a friend's house, luckily not in Porcelain Lakes.  Their six-month-old German Shepherd puppy, Hammy...

"Hammy!"

A sleepy growl came from the floor next to his desk.  Hammy had been with him on this shift.  Joe sighed in relief.

Joe's boss, Sergeant Gray, urged him to go home after a long shift.

"Joe, go home.  It's midnight.  You're exhausted.  Your shift is down to paperwork.  The next round of on-duty police officers are more alert than Ham, and he is a German Shepherd!  Go on.  Get some sleep!  Your mini-vacation starts now," Sergeant Gray spoke now with more energy.  (Then again, he was sipping on his next who-knows-how-many cup of coffee.)

Joe straightened up his messy desk and thought "Mini vacation?  It's Saturday now.  I have to report back on Monday for my next detective shift.  Oh well.  I won't argue the notion."  He gathered his badge, felt for his gun on his gun belt, and grabbed his wallet and keys.  The jingle sound of the metal keys stirred Hammy into a whined yawn and half-open eyes.

"Come on, Hammy.  It's time to go home.  You - and I - can collapse in bed soon.  Come on, boy."

Hammy was not exactly the textbook definition of the German Shepherd breed.  True he had the color and size of a standard German Shepherd, yet his personality seemed to be stuck in infant puppy mode.  He was eager to please and put a smile on the faces of his whole family.  He was as cuddly as a teddy bear.  He barked only to get attention.  All of his play toys and reason to keep active were indoors.  His only walks were for potty breaks after major meals.  Hammy did not like being left alone.  Hammy did not at all like challenging exercise.  In fact, he preferred cozy comfort over too much activity.  If a German Shepherd is naturally inclined to guard and protect at any expense, Hammy, well, not so much.  His place within his human pack was well defined - be cute, be loved, be taken care of.

Thirty minutes after leaving Police Headquarters in the town of Cedar Woods, Joe and Hammy arrived home - a beautiful, dark-red brick, two-story, six-bedroom large home which had been lived in by every generation in Joe's family.  The house was in fact listed as a historical landmark in Cedar Woods.  Joe didn't always feel comfortable coming home to a dark, historic landmark after a long shift, especially when his family was not home.  This very late night seemed unusually dark.

"Home at last, Hammy," Joe said with a yawn as he pulled into his driveway.

Ham, too, let out a lazy yawn.  Yet when he was let out of the car, something deep within his German Shepherd instinct sharply woke up.  Something was off about his house that he needed to investigate...to protect.

Ham dashed toward the front door and barked wildly.  Every house light on Magenta Avenue was turned on within seconds.

"Hammy!  Stop it!" Joe yelled out.

When he approached the front door, Joe noticed that it was ever so slightly open.  He was too exhausted, though, to quickly realize what Hammy sensed.

As Joe unsuccessfully fumbled for the entryway light switch, Ham's internal radar skyrocketed.  He growled deeply and paced toward the base of the spiral staircase.  He growled angrily and his eyes focused on something only he could see.

A nervous voice spoke from the staircase.

"G-Good boy.  I-I'm..."

Joe found the switch.

"Freeze!!  Drop your bag!  Put your hands up in the air...Now!!"

The strange man, within two feet of Hammy, slowly let go of the bag he was carrying...and quickly reached for his back pants pocket.

Ham pierced the tense air with a screaming bark and lunged for the strange man, baring teeth that looked more dangerous than the man's weapon and Joe's gun.

"Down boy!" Joe ordered as he slowly approached the terrified man.

"So you're..."

"Yes!  I'm Compact Flash!  I was about to steal your diamonds and precious pearls!  My gun is just a toy!  Honest!  Arrest me, arrest me!  Just get me away from your dog!"

The beautifully soft colors of the sunrise dawned.  The last of the police cars drove off.  The last neighbor to thank Joe and hug Ham for his fearless courage and protection walked back to their house.  Joe sat on the step just before the front door.  Ham was falling fast asleep in his lap.  Joe laughed lightly.

"Hammy, you saved the day!  And now you are back to being my puppy.  Hammy the hero."