23-THIRTY MINUTES TO PARTY TIME!

THIRTY MINUTES TO PARTY TIME! A few minutes later, there was another knock on my door. I opened it. Eight workmice stared back at me. One had a ladder. A couple had toolboxes. Another had rolls of wallpaper. "We're the paws brothers!" they all shouted as one. "You name it, we can fix it! Yesirree,

you're in good paws with the Paws!" shrieked the fattest one, whose name was Plumpy. He let out a high-pitched squeak of laughter. I jumped. Then I smiled politely. "You must be Trap's friends," I said. Plumpy shook his head. It seems the Paws Brothers had never met my cousin until that day. "He came into our shop, The Repair Rat," Plumpy explained. "He said you were desperate. You needed new wallpaper and new CARPETING. He said it was an emergency job. A big emergency. He said you would pay us a ton of money." I shook my head. Trap was right. This was an emergency job. But did he have to say I would PAW over big bucks? I wasn't made of money. I was going broke by the hour! I was going to

have to break into my mousey bank if this kept up! Still, what could I do? My guests would arrive in less than thirty minutes. Yes, I was desperate. I gave the Paws Brothers the go- ahead. They got to work right away. Ten minutes later, they were done. That's right, I said ten minutes! And I mean completely done! My house had NEW PAPER ON THE WALLS. And the floors were covered with brand-new wall-to-wall carpeting. It was amazing. It was astounding, It was the most expensive carpeting on the planet!