He’s having a new Veggie Tale, and then he’ll go to bed. I’ve told Tom (and I’ll keep telling him!) not to bother Mom about the snake, even though it’s his Christmas present and he’s terribly excited about it. She doesn’t like rodents or reptiles!
Maybe Tom just needs to know Old Tax-Lady has lived long enough that she knows what she doesn’t like, and snakes are at the top of the list. ;o]
Perhaps if he just told her how excited he is about it, without the “show” part...?