THE five-year-old woke up early in anticipation of the much awaited Christmas gift from his father.

For several days, the mysterious box with its colorful wrapper and bright red ribbon could not be opened. Every now and then, the lad would shake the box to listen for a clue as to its contents but to no avail. He had even tried to make a little tear on the edge of the wrapper to take a peek but he was quickly admonished.

The farmer and his wife had visited the town two market days ago to purchase the special gift. They went on the designated market day for only then would the special toy be available from the street hawkers.

So on that Christmas morning, the little boy was jumping with ecstatic excitement as he opened the gift. He tore through the wrapper with savage energy. And out came the wondrous toy. A marching drum complete with a shoulder strap and a pair of drumsticks.

He quickly strapped on the drum and beat it with gusto. The loud noise sent a tingling thrill all over his body. From then on, he banged on the drum the whole day through. From his waking hours until his sleeping time. He even slept with the drum by his side and tapped on it lightly as a way of lulling himself to sleep.

After two days everyone was fed up with the noise. They were willing to do anything to get rid of the toy drum.

The sister offered to buy the drum but the boy would hear nothing of it.

The father dangled a tempting exchange of several toys, including a toy gun, a truck, and a robot with blinking lights. The boy stopped to examine the toys, but quickly returned to his rhythmic drumming.

The uncle promised a trip to the zoo and the gigantic mall in the big city if the boy would give up the drum. But the boy could not be swayed.

An aunt offered to cook his favorite pastries. The delicacies prepared only for the fiesta. But the boy showed no appetite for such. His only hunger was to bang on his amazing drum.

Then his eldest brother invited him into the room. And suddenly, silence descended upon the place.

As the elder brother came out, his mother asked in a whisper, "What did you do? We tried everything but without success."

"Simple, Nanay," the teenager answered. "I lent him my Boy Scout knife and suggested that he look for the mysterious fairy that produced the wonderful sound