24-I SAID NO

I SAID NO I opened the door. And there she was. My beautiful, charming, sweet-smelling countess, Stephanie oon Sugarfur. Only now, for some reason, she didn't seem so amazing anymore. She sauntered up to me. "Oh, Geronimo, darling," she whispered. "I'm so glad you're home. Thank you so much for the roses. And the chocolates were delightful." I blinked. Oh, yes, now I remembered. I had sent the countess flowers and that huge box of candy. How

STRANGE. It seemed like ages ago. So much had happened to me since then. "I want to hear all about your trip," Stephanie went on. "Every last detail!" I twirled my tail. I had been talking to reporters all morning. I just wasn't in the mood to tell the whole story again. "Well, we went and then we came back," I mumbled. "It was no big deal." The countess frowned. I could tell she was waiting for me to fall all over her. But the truth was, I suddenly wasn't interested in her anymore. Oh, she was still a beautiful mouse. But my heart wasn't beating wildly like before. My paws weren't sweating. And I didn't feel the least bit dizzy when I looked at her. So I told her. I didn't love her anymore. Stephanie turned pale. I think no one had

ever turned her down before. She was used to getting her mouse. First she yelled at me. Then she cried. Then she tried inviting me to a dinner party at the mayor's mansion. But I said no. Want to know why? I couldn't care less. Maybe I was just tired. Or maybe I was just tired of the countess. Now that I'd helped discover the Eighth Wonder of the World, she didn't seem so special anymore. Oh, well. I guess that's love for you. One minute you're in it. The next minute, you're not.