25-HELO？GERRYKINS, DEAR

HELLO? GERRYKINS, DEAR... That night, I was so happy to be home. "ALONE AT LAST," I said with a sigh. I unplugged my phone. Being famouse was harder than I'd thought. Reporters called me all day long. And my female admirers were everywhere. They followed me to breakfast. They followed me to lunch. I was tired of mice staring at me while I ate. All of those beady little eyes watching my every move. They giggled when I slurped my soup. They sighed when I dropped my napkin. It was enough to make a mouse quit eating altogether. I decided I needed to unwind. I made myself a yummy mozzarella milk shake.

Then I took a steamy hot bubble bath. I had just climbed out of the tub when my cell phone rang. "Hello," I squeaked, annoyed. I wasn't really in the mood for chatting. All I wanted to do was relax. All by myself. "Gerrykins, dear, it's your beloved sister," Thea's voice shouted. "I wanted to invite you to my place. Will you come? OK, I'll be waiting. Byyyeee!" I stamped my paw. "No, wait a minute!" I shrieked. "I don't want to go out!"

But it was too late. She had already hung up. I dragged myself to my sister's place. She lived close by. You probably think I am one lazy mouse. But I'm not. I just needed one lazy night. Of course, now I was stuck waiting outside my sister's front door. She better make this quick, I thought. I knocked on the door. Inside, I could hear lots of excited giggles. Then someone murmured, "Shhh!" Everything fell silent. I pushed on the door. It opened. I blinked. The room was completely dark. "Anyone home?" I asked warily.