15-TRICKS FOR TAILS

TRICKS FOR TAILS The next morning, I found Trap sitting at my desk again. This time he was munching on cheese-flavored popcorn. "Let me guess," I said. "Is that your after- after-after breakfast snack?" "No, it's my after-after-breakfast pre- lunch snack," Trap replied. He grinned. "I got a call from Slick. He told me you have a weak stomach. I hope you didn't ruin my good reputation." "GOOD REPUTATION, MY PAW." I muttered. "Where do I go to find the seventh clue the Arched Ceiling?" "Head to the Tricks for Tails joke shop in Fastrat Lane," Trap said. "I work there sometimes, so the owner is a friend of mine."

This time I went alone. I headed to Fastrat Lane and found the store, just as Trap had said. I pushed open the glass door and stepped inside. And then... a huge cat leaped on my head! "Putrid cheese puffs!" I screamed. terrified. A plump mouse wearing red-and-blue- striped pants walked up to me, chortling. He took the cat off my head. "It's stuffed, see?" he said. "I just love that trick." The mouse put down the cat and held out his paw. "Paws Prankster, owner of Tricks for Tails," he said. "Have a seat." Paws pointed to a stool with a red pillow on it. I sat down gratefully.

Snap! A mousetrap hidden in the cushion pinched my tail. "Cheese niblets!" I shrieked, leaping up. Paws laughed. "Sorry," he said. "You look rather pale. Maybe a nice morsel of cheese would help." He handed me a piece of cheese, and I took a bite... ...and spit it right out. It was rubber! Paws clutched his belly. He was laughing so hard, he was crying. "I love customers like you. You fall for it every time," he

said, wiping away his tears. "How can I help you? We have quite a selection. Maybe you'd like a nice stinky cheese bomb? Or a cat in a can? Or how about a surprise sugar cube? As it melts in your cup, it reveals a rubber worm!" He wiggled the WORM in front of my face. "No, thanks," I replied. "I'm here because—" "Look out!" Paws screamed, pointing to my jacket. "There's a rattlesnake on your shoulder!" I looked at my shoulder and saw a snake! I jumped, screaming. The snake fell to the floor. That's when I noticed it was only rubber. Paws began slapping his knees. "Hee- hee-hee!" he howled. "You aren't an actor,

are you? Nobody could really be such a CHEESEBRAIN!" I had had enough. I started to storm out —but the rug slipped out from underneath my paws, and I went flying! The next thing I knew, I was rolled up inside it! "I can't take any more," I wailed. "My cousin Trap sent me. I need some information." "Why didn't you say so?" Paws asked. "Trap is one of my best friends. He always tells me the funniest stories. He has this ridiculous cousin named Geronimo Stilton...." "That's me, I am Geronimo Stilton!" I cried, untangling myself from the rug. "I would like to see the

ceiling in your cellar. Will you please help?" Paws shook his head. "Why is everyone so interested in my cellar all of a sudden?" he wondered out loud. "Just yesterday, a cute mouse dressed up like Little Red Riding Hood came to see it." I sighed. Someone had beaten me to the clue again! Paws opened a small door leading to a narrow, dimly lit spiral staircase. I went down slowly, checking each step to make sure there were no booby traps. I didn't think my heart could take any more tricks! When I got to the cellar, I looked up at the old, arched ceiling. The letter L was carved right in the center!