12-CAT DOO-DOO

CAT DOO-DOO Thea was busy studying Pinky's map. "It looks like we have almost reached the end of this pipe. That means we should be crossing the number 7 line soon," she said. "Then we're off to Singing Stone Plaza, the beginning of the line." We marched along slowly in the dark. Our flashlights made GHOSTLY SHADOWS on the walls. Suddenly, I slipped on a dark spot. "Got to watch out for that CAT doo-doo, Cousinkins," Trap joked. I shuddered.

The liquid flowing in the canal gave off a horrible stench. "It really smells like CAT doo-doo, doesn't it, Geronimo?" my cousin chuckled. I ordered myself to stay calm. "Please do not say that word again," I begged. Trap snickered. "What word, Gerrykins?" he giggled. When I didn't answer, he screeched, "What's wrong, has the CAT got your tongue?" I shuddered again. "Come on, let the CAT out of the bag, Geronimoid!" my cousin shrieked. Then he stuck his snout up to mine. "Gee, you look beat, Gerrykins. Maybe you should take a little CAT nap!" Finally, I snapped. "Ehooooooooooooogh

Ehoooooooooooooogh" I squeaked at the top of my lungs. My cousin looked shocked. You see, I am usually a pretty mild-mannered mouse. I don't like to make a big squeak about things. Still, even I have my limits. I mean, I'm a rodent, not a ROBOT. I have feelings, too. I was sick of Trap teasing me. It was time for me to put my paw down. Yes, this was the moment of truth. The moment I had been waiting for since I was a young mouselet. I would finally put my cousin in his place. I cleared my throat. Then I gulped. Two enormous yellow eyes had appeared out of nowhere. They glowed in the inky blackness. They were staring right at us! I let out a shriek of utter terror.

"Heeeelp!!! It's the phantom cat!!!"

I cried. I closed my eyes. When I opened them, the cat was gone. How odd. Still, I heaved a sigh of relief. Seconds later, Trap was up to his old tricks. Three times he pointed to a spot over my shoulder. "Geronimo, a CAT!" he cried. But he was only teasing. We trudged on. Trap tried to trick me again, but I wasn't falling for it. When he yelled CAT, I brushed him off. But this time, he had a strange look on his face. My heart leaped to my throat. Slowly, I turned around. Behind me loomed the shadow of a monstrous CAT! Its claws shot out, reaching for us. Was this it? Was this how my life would end? Was I about to become just another dead rodent clogging up the drain? "Good-bye, mouse friends!" I sobbed.