21-FIRST-RAT ART

FIRST-RAT ART Pottypaws was so grateful, he offered to give our offices back to us. I called Mousella, who was happy to hear the news. "That's wonderful, Mr. Stilton!" she said. "I'll tell the others!" Moments later, I heard a shout. "Watch your whiskers, here comes Shif T. Paws!" I knew what was coming. But the door flew open before I could move out of the way. Splat! The door slammed into me once again. Shif T. Paws burst into

the room. His arms were loaded with books. As he put them back on the shelves, he whistled a happytune: "Ninety-nine Morsels of Cheese." Pottypaws watched Shif T. with a sad look on his face. "Just look at all of your books and newspapers," he said. "You are lucky to have such an interesting job. All I ever get to deal with are flushers and toilet seats." "But you make

lots of money doing it!" I pointed out. He shook his head. "There are things money can't buy, Stilton. Like culture, for example." Suddenly, I heard cries outside the window. I looked out to see a crowd of rodents. They were all shouting, "WE WANT THE RODENT'S GAZETTE! WE WANT THE RODENT'S GAZETTE!" I smiled. "You want the newspaper?" I shouted back. "Then you shall have it! As of tomorrow, everything is back to normal. You will find The Rodent's Gazette on newsstands! You will find Stilton Publishing's books in every bookstore!" The crowd cheered. "Hurrah for The Rodent's Gazette!" I turned back to the office and saw

Pottypaws standing in the corner. He looked like he was going to cry again. Shif T. Paws must have noticed, too. He ran up to me, his eyes glittering with excitement. "Stilton, I have a brilliant idea!" he said. "When you get right down to it, why don't you two open a publishing house together? You can provide your experience, and Pottypaws can provide the money. You can put out art books." Pottypaws brightened up. "I love it! And I have a great idea for a name. We can call it Toilet Art." "That's not bad," I said, trying to be nice. "But maybe we should go with a more classic name. Like... First-rat Art." "Great!" Pottypaws cried. He crushed me in a tight HUG. Then he leaned out the window and shouted, "I have a publishing

house, too! Me, Flusher Pottypaws!" The crowd stared up at him, bewildered. "It's called First-rat Art!" he continued. "I don't want to brag, but we're talking high culture here!" The crowd was silent for a moment. Then they all shouted, "Yes! Hurrah for Flusher Pottypaws! Hurrah for First-rat Art!"