09-YOU'RE AS PRECIOUS AS A CHEDDAR CHEESE PUFF!

YOU'RE AS PRECIOUS AS A CHEDDAR CHEESE PUFF! Creepella opened her closet. She gave us some ideas for Halloween costumes. Benjamin took notes. She showed us her special scary makeup. She pulled out some horrifying wigs. Then she reached over and tickled my chin. "You have gorgeous fur, Geronimo," she crooned. "Has anyone ever told you you're as precious as a cheddar cheese puff?"

I broke out in a sweat. Don't get me wrong, I love female mice. But Creepella was just too creepy for me. Where would we go on a date? The CAT CEMETERY? "Um, well, I..." I began. Creepella cut me off. "Hey, I have a great idea!" she squeaked. "We'll have a HALLOWEEN PARTY here at my crypt!" Benjamin was all for it. I wasn't surprised. What little mouse doesn't like a PARTY? "Yippee!" he cried, waving his tail in the air. I wasn't half as excited. A party at Creepella's? I was creeped out just thinking about it! But I couldn't tell Benjamin. He would be so disappointed. "G-G-Great idea," I stammered instead. In the meantime, Creepella was already busy making plans. "Let's see. We'll definitely

need some special party food," she said. With that, she punched a button on the wall. An enormous skull on her desk opened with a whir. Inside sat a funky new computer complete with a webcam. Creepella giggled. "Thanks, Skully," she said, then she began to surf the Web. After a while, a rodent's face appeared on the screen. It was Saucy Le Paws. He was the most popular chef in New Mouse City. "Good eeeeevening, Creepella, darling," he said in his funny accent. "What eez it you weeesh for me to do?" Creepella batted her eyelashes. "Oh, Saucy, I was wondering if you could make some food for my horrifying HALLOWEEN party," she asked.

Saucy curled his waxed whiskers. "So sorry, my sweeeeet," he said with a sigh. "I'm about to leeeeave for the Hamster Islands. It eeez the annual Cheese Ball Bake-off." Creepella said good-bye to Saucy. I could tell she was disappointed. Just then, Benjamin jumped to his paws. "I have an idea!" he shouted. "Let's ask Tina for advice!" Tina Spicytail is my grand- father's cook and housekeeper. She is a tough old mouse who runs a tight kitchen. She's all business. Tina gets along fabumously with my grandfather William Shortpaws. Grandfather is all business himself. In fact, he's the founder of my paper, The Rodent's Gazette.