05-GOOD LUCK!

GOOD LUCK! I was so excited. It isn't every day a mouse leaves the Island to travel to Egypt! At the airport, I searched for my ticket counter. "Excuse me, where is the DC Airlines check-in?" I asked a mouse in an airport uniform. She gave me a look full of pity. "DC Airlines? You mean Dirt Cheap Airlines?" she said. She pointed to a cardboard box. "Good luck!" she called as I headed for the box. Good luck??? I repeated to myself. What was that supposed to mean? Behind the box stood a plump ticket agent with greasy whiskers. She looked me over suspiciously.

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"Are you sure you want to get on this flight?" SHE BARKED. "You're not going to scamper off at the last minute, are you?" I blinked. "Why would I do that?" I asked, confused. Just then, a shady-looking mouse approached me. "Hello, my furry friend," he crooned, pumping my paw in a crushing pawshake. "I'm sammy slickpaw. But you can just call me Slick." I winced, checking my paw for broken bones. Slick just grinned wider. "I'm here to offer you a life insurance policy," he continued. "Did you ever think your plane might CRASH?"

I turned WHITE. My heart started racing like Mario Mousetti at the track. "Um, well, I try not to think about it," I mumbled. He nodded gravely. "Well, you really should," he said softly. "I mean, one minute these planes are up, the next minute they're down. Do you have any idea how many planes crash each year?" I gulped. I didn't really want to know. "Just think," Slick rattled on. "If you had a little life insurance, then your loved ones would be taken care of. Come on, sign here and take a load off your mind." He shoved a piece of paper under my snout. What a slick salesmouse, I thought. But then, I felt a pang in my heart. What would happen to little

Benjamin if I were in Mouse Heaven? What about his future? Would he end up begging for moldy cheese crumbs instead of heading off to college? Maybe an insurance policy wasn't such a bad idea after all. I pulled out my pen. But before I could sign the paper, Slick held up a paw. "Just one little question before we do the deal," he said. "You're not flying with Dirt Cheap Airlines, are you?" I blinked. "Um, well, yes. As a matter of fact, I am," I answered. Quick as a water rat doing the pawstroke, he snatched the paper back. "Forget it!" he squeaked. "I can't insure anyone flying with them. They're the worst! IT'S FAR TOO RISKY!" I was beginning to get a terrible twinge in the pit of my stomach. Oh, what a day!