04-FIVE DOZEN RED ROSES

FIVE DOZEN RED ROSES I left work and ran to the florist. I had to order flowers for Stephanie. Lots of flowers. And not just any flowers. Oh, no. A mouse as breathtaking as the countess deserved only the best. I settled on five dozen long-stemmed red roses. The roses were perfect. Now I just had to write something on the card. "Mousey regards," I tried. No, maybe something more personal. I tore up the card. "Hugs and kisses," I wrote next. No, that wasn't right, either. "Rodently yours," I scribbled. Hmm, that seemed a little too formal.

I stared into space. Then I noticed the florist staring back at me. Well, he wasn't just staring. He was shooting me dirty looks. "Have you finished yet? You are using up all of my cards!" he squeaked. "Why don't you just write your name?" "M-My name?" I asked in a daze. "Yes, your signature! I take it you do know your own name!" he burst out impatiently. Then he closed his eyes. "I need a vacation," he mumbled. "These lovesick mice are such nitwits!" Normally, I would mind if some mouse called me a nitwit. But today, I couldn't care less. So what if I was acting like a nitwit? Stephanie oon Sugarfur as worth it. Full of excitement, I signed the card. Then I stuck it under the silk bow tying up the gigantic bunch of red roses.