04-BIG-TIME FUN!

BIG-TIME FUN! Finally, we arrived. A tall, lanky mouse with red shorts, curly fur, and a PURPLE ponytail greeted us. "Welcome to Club Mouse!" he yelled. "Are you ready for some big-time fun? We've got big-time volleyball! We've got big-time water polo! You name it, we've got it— big-time!" He was jumping up and down like an aerobics instructor. I rolled my eyes. Oh, how I hate these types of resorts. I'm not into organized activities. I just like to do my own thing. I couldn't wait for the professor to show up. Then I noticed Ponytail Mouse was staring at me. "You need to turn that pout inside out, Stilton. Big-time!" he said.

Before I could stop him, he began tickling the bottom of my paws. I rolled on the ground in a fit of giggles. Can you guess why? I am very ticklish! "Excellent! Now you've got it, Stilton!" Ponytail Mouse shrieked. Then he waved his tail in the air. "THEME SONG!" he called out. Five sweaty mice appeared out of nowhere. They began to dance and sing.

"Here at the club we're into big-time fun. We like to swim and dance and sing. We like to do most anything. So join on in now, don't be shy. Give snorkeling a big-time try. Yes, at Club Mouse we never frown. And if you do, we'll track you down!" When the song ended, Ponytail Mouse clapped his paws. "Hello, rodents and gentlemice!" he yelled. "I am the head of this club! My name is Rowdyrat Bigtime! I'd like to remind you that our

HEE-HEE HA-HA lessons start at six o'clock!" Hee-hee ha-ha lessons? What were they? Probably some ridiculous Club Mouse ritual. I shook my head. Did I tell you I hate organized activities? I glanced at my watch. It was exactly six o'clock on the snout. Just then. Rowdyrat grabbed me by the tail. Slimy Swiss balls! He was dragging me up to a big stage. I turned pale, I hate dancing. I hate singing. But most of all, I hate making a fool of myself. "Let me go, PLEASE!" I squeaked. But Rowdyrat didn't listen. He forced me to dance. The crowd roared with laughter. Then Rowdyrat tickled the bottom of my paws. I rolled around in the sand in a fit of giggles. Oh, why did I have to be so ticklish? "Stilton, you're going to have big-time fun

even if it kills you!" Rowdyrat insisted. I groaned... big-time. Meanwhile, Rowdyrat was busy making more announcements. "I love you all, Club Mousers!" he yelled to the crowd. Everyone cheered. "And now it's time for our water polo tournament!" he continued. "Last one in the pool is a rotten rodent!" The crowd made a mad dash for the water. I made a mad dash for my room. I'd had enough of this big-time nonsense. Enough to last a lifetime! I couldn't wait for Professor von Volt to arrive.