18-SOAKING WET PAWS

SOAKING WET PAWS At last, the fire engines left. I stood in front of my beloved mouse hole. Snout up, Geronimo, I told myself. I opened my front door. Whoosh! I was hit by a flood of WATER. "Heeelp!" I cried as the current swept me away. Benjamin grabbed my tail before I ended up back on the street. I went around checking out the damage. What a mess! The place was sopping wet. I stared at my precious belongings as they floated by. I spotted a burned-up yellow object. It was

Benjamin's gift. In the kitchen, WATERY cheese slices stuck to the walls like glue. I felt like crying. All of my hard work. All of my decorating. It was all for nothing. I stared glumly at my watery living room. I noticed that the window was wide open. The charred curtains twisted in the breeze. The ornament from my great-grandma Tanglefur lay on its side. Yes, that is what started the fire. A gust of wind must have blown the candle FLAME onto the curtains. I sighed. What is it that Sparky the Firemouse always teaches young rodents in school? Never leave a burning flame unattended! How could I have forgotten? I sighed. I found two BUCKETS. I gave one to Benjamin. We began scooping up water. We tossed it outside. The doorbell rang. I dragged myself to

the door. It was Thea and Trap. "Big brother! What's happened?" my sister squeaked. Trap stared closely at me, then at my home. "Genykins!" he cried. "Why did you start a CAMPFIRE in your home? And what's with the casts? You look like a furry MUMMY!" I was so depressed. I HUNG MY HEAD. "First the truck, then the old mouse, then that rotten bully, then the candle I sobbed. "This is the worst Christmas Eve ever!" I waited into the kitchen. It was completely flooded. I cried and cried. I cried so hard. I began filling up the bucket with my own tears!