13-I'M TOO FOND OF MY TAIL!

I'M TOO FOND OF MY TAIL! The whole staff arrived for the meeting. We gathered around PILES OF FLOUR SACKS. Bagel handed out cheese bread to everyone. Shif T. Paws was standing on a sack, adding up the day's sales. "Nifty!" he squeaked. "You all did well." Then he jumped down. "We need a big pile of cash to get the publishing house back on its paws. But don't worry. I have AN IDEA." Shif T. slapped me

on the shoulders. "Now it's your turn, Stilton!" "What do you mean, my turn?" I asked, puzzled. He winked at me. "Stilton, do you know the television game show called THE MOUSETRAP?" I nodded. The Mousetrap is a GAME SHOW with a spooky theme. I try not to watch it. I'm a bit of a 'fraidy mouse, you see, and spooky things give me nightmares! "Well, then you know it takes place at midnight," Shif T. continued. "The player sits in a mousetrap. When he or she gives the wrong answer, the trap pinches his or her tail... sometimes even CHOPS IT OFF! Right then and there, on live TV!" I shuddered. "What

does this have to do with me?" Shif T. smiled widely. "Because YOU are the next contestant, Stilton!" "PUTRID CHEESE PUFFS!" I shrieked. "No way! Never! I'm too fond of my tail!" I tried to flee, but Shif T. grabbed my tail. "Now, Stilton, don't disappoint me," he said. "You asked me to save this publishing company and I will. But I can't do it alone. I'm just asking for a small favor." I stamped my paw. "Small favor? This is a big deal! I could lose my tail!" "Or you could win a million dollars," Shif T. pointed out. I paused. A million dollars would solve all of our problems. We desperately needed that money.

"But why does it have to be meeee?" I wailed nervously. Mousella stepped up. "Nobody here is as smart as you are, Mr. Stilton. You know a little something about everything! If anyone can win on THE MOUSETRAP, it's you!" I sighed. I hated to admit it, but Mousella was right. I am a brainy mouse. "Now things are much, much, much, much, much, much, much worse than I

thought!" I cried. "But I have no choice. I'll do it. I'll do it for The Rodent's Gazette!" Shif T. Paws let out a cheer. "Well done, Stilton. We'll make a MILLION! By the way, you are going on tonight's show. Are you ready? Are you?" But I didn't hear him. I HAD FAINTED AGAIN. It's a good thing Mousella always has blue cheese nearby!