20-HEAVENLY CHEDDARELLA!

HEAVENLY CHEDDARELLA! We were all feeling depressed. It was clear Ratzikistan wasn't exactly a great vacation spot. "Who would want a guidebook to this place?" my sister said with a sigh. I shrugged. what could I say? Who would want to visit a place that was forty degrees below zero? A place where the sun never shines? A place where all the fish are stinky? Thea switched off her LAPTOP COMPUTER. It was time to go home. For once, even Grandfather William agreed. BEFORE WE LEFT, I TOOK A SHORT WALK. I HEADED TOWARD A NEARBY VILLAGE.

I passed a house. Through the window, I saw a Ratzikistani family having dinner. They were happily munching on a very tasty-looking golden-yellow cheese. Right then, one of the mice saw me at the window. She invited me in. I tried to say no, but she didn't understand. She pulled me inside. Immediately, I was hit with the most amazing scent. It was coming from the golden-yellow cheese. The mouse cut me a slice. This time, I didn't refuse. I took a nibble. Then two. Then three. CHEESECAKE! It was the best cheese I had ever tasted in my life! It was more delicious than the chunkiest cheddar. It was more tasty than the best blue cheese. I

was in heaven. I had to find out the name of that cheese. "What do you call this?" I asked the mouse who had invited me in. She grinned. Then she said, "CHEDDARELLA." I shook my head. Was she making fun of me? It sounded like she'd said "cheddar," but it didn't taste like any cheddar I'd ever eaten. "No," I tried again. "The name. Can you please tell me the name of this cheese?" "CHEDDARELLA," she repeated in a louder voice. Now I didn't know if she meant cheddar or mozzarella. Oh, why do mice like to tease me? Do I look like a pushover? "Please, madam," I insisted. "I don't have time for jokes. I just want to know the name of this cheese."

This time she pounded the table. She picked up the cheese and held it under my snout. "CHEDDARELLA! CHEDDARELLA! C-H-E-P-P-A-R-E-L-L-A!" she squeaked at the top of her lungs. I slapped my forehead. Now I got it. It was called cheddarella cheese. Who would have thought such a scrumptious cheese would have such a funny name? I ran to tell the others.