14-THE MOUSETRAP

THE MOUSETRAP Who can blame me for fainting again? The Mousetrap is very dangerous. Besides, I'm a very shy mouse. The idea of going on a live game show, in front of millions of rodents, made my fur stand on end. Bagel gave me another piece of HOT cheese bread to cheer me up. He tucked a third into my jacket pocket. "You never know," he said. "You may get hungry later." But I didn't feel like eating. My tummy was doing flip-flops. Shif T. Paws dragged me out of the bakery and drove me to the television studio. I think he was AFRAID I would try to run away at the last minute. I hate to say it, but he was right! We pulled up in front of the Top TV studios.

It was almost midnight, and stars shone in the night sky. We stepped out of the car, and an assistant came to greet us. "Which one of you is the contestant?" he asked. "Uh... I am," I said nervously. He shook my paw. "It's an honor to meet you. You must be a very brave mouse to appear on a dangerous GAME SHOW like The Mousetrap!" I did not feel like a very brave mouse. My tail trembled as the assistant led us into the studio. He took us to the host of the show, Vlad Torturetail. He was a pale-looking mouse with pointed teeth. He wore a BLACK suit, a white silk shirt, and a red cape over his shoulders....

He looked a lot like a vampire rat! Torturetail looked me over. "So, are you tonight's victim—I mean, contestant?" he asked in a CREEPY voice. "I hope you are not too fond of your tail. Heh, heh, heh." I TURNED PALE. I tried to sneak toward

the exit, but Shif T. Paws pulled me back. "Stilton, don't give up now!" he said. "Think of your company! Think of your staff!" "All I can think about is my poor tail. I wailed. Shif T. lowered his voice. "Come on, Stilton. What's more important? Your tail or The Rodent's Gazette?" "Good question," I replied. "Let me go think about that and I'll get back to you." I tried to slip away again, but this time Torturetail grabbed me. By the tail! "You can't escape," he hissed. "The studio doors are locked. THE TRAP IS READY!" I gulped. "Twenty seconds to go, Stilton,"

Torturetail cackled. "Keep your cool, or you'll lose your tail!" Then he laughed that creepy laugh of his again. "Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh!"