22-WHO'S PAYING？？？

WHO'S PAYING??? We crowded around the phone. This was it. I nodded to Thea. She put a clothespin on her nose and dialed Grandfather's number. "Hellooo! Is this Mr. Shortpaws?" my Sister said in a funny voice. I held my breath. Hopefully, Grandfather would not realize the caller was his favorite grandchild. "yes! I'm Shortpaws, William Shortpaws!" Grandfather thundered. Thea held up the phone so we could hear his response. "Mr. Shortpaws," Thea continued. "I'm calling from the ROYAL WATER RATS CRUISE LINE. I've got some great news for you. Do you have a minute?" Grandfather snorted. "A minute?" he

scoffed. "I don't even have a second! Time is money and money is time! I'm trying to RUN A BUSINESS here! Tell me what you want or I'm hanging up!" With a squeak, Trap snatched the phone away from Thea. Thea snatched it back. They began to wrestle silently over the phone. I put my head in my paws. Those two loved to fight as much as I loved my precious petrified cheese collection! At last, Shif T. Paws grabbed the phone. "MR SHORTPAWS. MY MOUSE," he boomed in a deep voice. "I'm the owner of the ROYAL WATER RATS CRUISE LINE. How are you

today?" He didn't give Grandfather a chance to reply. "I have wonderful news for you. You are the first-prize winner of a fabumouse world tour on one of our cruise ships!" Grandfather gasped. "But who's paying?" "We are, of course. ROYAL WATER RATS CRUISE LINE. Everything is free, Mr. Shortpaws," Shif rambled. "Your ticket will be waiting for you at the harbor. But you must leave right away. Otherwise, we'll have to give your prize to another lucky mouse!" Suddenly, we heard an ear-piercing shriek. "Noooooo! Don't give it to anyone else, it's mine!" Grandfather screamed. "Mine, mine, mine! I've never won anything in my life. HOLEY CHEESE! A free trip around the world? How could I refuse? I knew someday my ship would come in!" Grandfather chuckled at his own

bad joke. He slammed down the phone. Then he rushed out the door. I stuck my head into my office. Grandfather had left us a note: The party is over! No more counting on Grandfather. You're on your own now. But watch your step. I've got my eye on you! I sighed. Grandfather really did need a break. A little vacation would do him good. And a free Vacation was his favorite kind! He would never know we had all chipped in to send him away. Of course, even a cruise around the world wouldn't keep Grandfather away forever. nkledc. But at least we'd have our toilet paper for a little while.