04-OFF TO THE NORTH POLE, GERONIMOUSE？

OFF TO THE NORTH POLE, GERONIMOUSE? At last, I reached my office at The Rodent's Gazette. "Good morning, everyone!" I said as I came through the door. My secretary, Mousella MacMouser, rushed up to me. "Mr. Stilton, I didn't know you were coming in today," she squeaked. "I thought you'd be getting ready for your Christmas Eve party." I smiled. "I've just come in to sign a few papers," I said. Mousella straightened her glasses. I noticed she was staring at me strangely. "Um, don't take this the wrong way," she mumbled. "But aren't you hot in that outfit?"

Before I could answer, the door flew open. In raced Benjamin. He was followed by Thea and my cousin Trap. As soon as Thea saw me, she burst out laughing. "Gerrykins!" she shrieked, pointing to my getup. "Who dressed you this morning? You look like a giant puffy cheese ball!" Then she collapsed in a fit of giggles. Trap stuck his snout right up to mine. "Off to the NORTH POLE, Geronimouse?" "When are you leaving?" I rolled my eyes. "First of all, I'm not going to the

North Pole," I squeaked. "And second, my name is Geronimo!" That made my cousin roar with laughter. Soon, he and Thea were both rolling around on the floor in hysterics. I sighed. Those two are as different as a carton of cottage cheese and a box of caramel Swiss Cheesy Chews. But they have one thing in common. They love to tease me. Only Benjamin didn't crack up. Instead, he gave me a hug. My parka was so puffy, he sunk right in. "We just came by to say hi, Uncle Geronimo," he explained. Then he leaned close and whispered in my ear. "Good thing you dressed up warmly," he said. "It's colder than the FREEZER at The Icy Rat. Perfect for building a SNOWMOUSE!"