09-HOLD ON TIGHT!

HOLD ON TIGHT! The next day, Thea marched into my office. "Listen up, miserable mousey," she announced. "I've got the answer to all of your problems." I looked up from my desk. My sister was grinning at me like she had just swallowed ten grilled cheese sandwiches. Uh-oh, I thought. That look could only mean one thing. Thea had some CRAZY and MYSTERIOUS scheme up her sleeve. My sister loves adventure. She probably wanted to take me rock climbing. Or even worse skydiving. Before I could squeak, she grabbed me by the paw. "Come on, sad sack!" she cried, dragging me out of the office. A few minutes later, I found myself sitting

on the back of Thea's motorcycle. Did I mention my sister is a bit of a DAREDEVIL? She loves fast bikes. Fast cars. And fast boats. In fact, the only thing she doesn't like fast is her food. Those McRatburgers can be a little hard on a rodent's stomach. Now I shut my eyes tight as we roared down the road. "Hold on TIIIIIGHT!" Thea shrieked happily. The wind whipped by us. When we stopped, I stared down at my fur. It was a tangled mess. It would take me weeks to comb through it. Oh, how I hate motorcycles! Just then, I sniffed the air. I looked around. We were parked in

a dark and smelly alley. My sister pushed me off the bike and into a small doorway. "Someone is waiting for you on the tenth floor," she told me. "You'll have to take the stairs. There's no elevator. I'll wait down here with the bike." What could I do? I had to go. My sister was only trying to help. Maybe I would meet a friendly psychiatrist on the tenth floor. Or a beautiful female mouse. That got me thinking about the countess. Sobbing, I began to climb.