03-HELLO, GERATTIMO？

HELLO, GERATTIMO? The mouse snickered when we came through the door. I wondered what was so funny. Then I stared at his outfit. Now there was something to laugh about. He was dressed in a loud Hawaiian-print shirt and shorts, even though it was THE MIDDLE OF WINTER! Dark sunglasses perched on his nose. A bracelet of green wooden beads dangled from his wrist. A tattoo on his right forepaw screamed Aloha, Mousey! I was starting to feel ill. Oh, why did I think a friend of Trap's would be normal? This one looked like he belonged in a wild rat rock band! I glanced around the room. It was packed with strange objects. They looked like

souvenirs from around the world. An ENORMOUSE stuffed cat's head hung on one wall. I jumped. It looked so real! I saw a bow and a case filled with arrows. A small card next to the arrows warned: CAREFUL, POISONOUS ARROWS! I jumped again. Cheese niblets! This place was dangerous. Other CHEESY souvenirs filled the office. A large papier-måché Buddha mouse sat on the mantelpiece. A collection of yellow rubber ducks from the Quack Islands lined one wall. A tacky sequined singing sombrero with blinking red lights lay on a desk. This place was like a flea market—a flea

market filled with nothing but junk! Oh, why had I listened to my cousin? I should have gone to Kick Up Your Paws. At least their office is tastefully decorated. They even offer you a cheese snack when you walk in the door. Yes, that place was definitely more my style. Classy. Sophisticated. Safe. Just then, an ear-piercing shriek filled the room. I jumped so high, I nearly hit the ceiling. Trap snickered. "See, Smoothie," he said to the sleazy-looking rodent, "I told you

my cousin Geronimo is a scaredy mouse." It was then that I noticed the plastic cuckoo clock. A sickly-looking bird had popped out of the clock door. It shrieked out the hour, then slid back inside. Smoothie Slickpaws took off his sunglasses and shot me a sly smile. "WELL, HELLO, GEPATIMO!" he SHRIEKED, even louder than the cuckoo. "YOUR NAME IS GERATTIMO, RIGHT?"

I shook my head. "Ahem, well no, actually, the name is Geronimo, Geronimo Stilton," I corrected him. He waved me over to a chair. "Sit down, sit down, GEPATTIMO," he squeaked. "Don't worry about a thing. I've got your vacation all planned out. Trust me, you'll like it!" He winked at Trap. I wondered what that was all about. But there was no time to think about it. I had to get out of this place. I didn't want some TACKY mouse planning my precious vacation. "First of all, my name is Geronimo, Geronimo Stilton. And I'm sorry, but I've changed my mind..." I began. Trap didn't let me finish. "Remember, Smoothie, only the best will do for my cousin," he interrupted. He went on and on about how much money I had. Then he told Smoothie I needed to leave as soon as

possible. "Just in case he changes his mind," Trap added, winking at his friend. "Maybe you could book him a flight for tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight." At this point, my head was spinning. Tomorrow! Tonight! "But what about my luggage!" I protested. I am very big on packing. I like to be prepared. What if I forgot my fur brush? Or my underwear? Or my jumbo box of plastic bandages? Hey, you never know. I could cut my paw on a seashell or something. SMOOTHIE rolled his eyes. "Who needs luggage, Gerattimo?" he laughed. "All you need on one of my vacations is yourself! TRUST ME, you'll like it!"