07-RATZIKISTAN, HERE WE COME!

RATZIKISTAN, HERE WE COME! I was flabbergasted. "What? we are leaving for Ratzikistan? Why didn't anyone tell me?" I shouted. No one squeaked. What could they say? They knew they were wrong. Instead, Thea shoved a chocolate Cheesy Chew into my mouth. "Don't get your tail in a twist," she soothed in a honey-sweet voice. I was still fuming. But I must admit, I do love those Cheesy Cheese. There's nothing like a yummy piece of chocolate to PERK me up. Still, I wasn't giving in so easily. I was tired of being overlooked. "I will not be ignored!" I spluttered with my mouth full.

Trap rolled his eyes. "You're such a drama queen, Germeister," he chuckled. He glanced at his watch. "Better shake a paw, Cuz. You have exactly seventeen and a half minutes to pull yourself together, pack your suitcases, and put on the alarm system before we're off!" he added. Then he pinched my cheek, causing the Cheesy Chew to go down the wrong pipe. "Argb! Argb!" I gagged. Grandfather clapped a paw on my back. The candy flew across the room. "My dear grandson, quit complaining. We'd never ignore you!" he insisted. "Now stop dillydallying and close your suitcases." I gnashed my teeth together. I took a deep breath. Then I explained in a very small voice why I couldn't close my suitcases. I didn't have any!

"Even better!" Grandfather William concluded. "Then you can leave without them! Let's go! Call a TAXI!" By now, I was beyond mad. I was a raging ball of fur. I dug my paws into the carpet. "I'm not leaving! And you can't make me! I squeaked. Yes, I sounded just like a five- year-old mouslet. But I didn't care. Grandfather William STARED at me for a moment. Then he told everyone to leave the room.

"I need to be alone with my dear grandson," he exclaimed. As soon as they left, Granddad slumped against me. Then he limped over to my chair. Since when did he have a limp? I wondered. "Ah, Grandson, getting old is such a horrible thing. You are so lucky to be young and strong," he said in a feeble voice. I blinked. I had never thought about Grandfather William being old before. He was so loud. And tough. And, well, obnoxious. "Are you OK, Granddad?" I asked, feeling guilty. He shook his head. "I'm not feeling well. I have a pain right here, near my heart," he said, pointing at his breast pocket. I raised my eyebrows. "But, Grandfather,

that's your wallet," I pointed out. He shrugged. "Ah, yes. My heart, my wallet, same thing," he added. I wasn't surprised. Grandfather loves money more than cheese. He's the cheapest mouse I know. He once shaved off all of his fur to save money on shampoo and conditioner. That's why they call him Cheap Mouse Willy. Now he stroked his fur, looking sad. "It kills me to see our family arguing," he mumbled. "I am so hurt that you don't want to come with us." He sighed. Then his eyes filled with tears. I didn't know what to say. I didn't want to leave. But I had never seen Grandfather so broken up. "Say you are coming with us, dear grandson!" he cried, grabbing my paw.

"Please say yes! Do it for me. I have given you SO MUCH and I ask for so little." By now, he was sobbing away full force. I had never seen so many tears come out of one rodent before. He would have come in handy when my aunt Sweetfur's mouse hole went up in flames. At last, I couldn't stand his sobs any longer. "OK, OK. I'll come," I muttered. At that very moment, the unthinkable happened. Grandfather William leaped back to his feet. It was a miracle! It was as if he were suddenly thirty years younger. "Well, then, let's hit the road!" he shrieked. "The taxi is here!" He flung open the office door. Thea, Trap, and Benjamin fell on top of one another. Their ears had been pressed to the door.