08-SQUEAKYTIME TEA？

SQUEAKYTIME TEA? Just then we spotted a sign tacked to the front of the saloon. It read: ROOMS FUR RENT! Thea clapped her paws. "Okay, everyone. Here's what we're going to do," she announced. "Gerry Berry will go into the saloon. He will book us two rooms for the night. The rest of us will take care of the horses." One thing you should know about Thea— she loves being the boss. I stared at the noisy saloon. "Can't you come in with me?" I asked. I'm a little shy in front of strangers. Trap pushed me toward the door. "Oh, stop being

such a 'FRAIDY MOUSE!" he snorted. "Shake a paw!" I frowned. "Don't push me! I can't stand it when you push me!" I squeaked. I stepped into the saloon. Cowrats were everywhere. They were playing cards. They were flinging darts. They were picking their teeth with pocketknives. rat-munching rattlesnakes!" Those cowrats were tough! I listened to one rodent banging away at the piano. He was awful. But I didn't dare say a word. He might use me to pick his teeth! Just then a mouse screeched at me from behind the bar. "What d'ya want, stranger?" he yelled. My stomach was churning. I guess it was the beans. I decided a hot cup of Squeakytime

Tea would be just perfect. So I asked him for one. His mouth hit the floor. "Did you say a hot cup of Squeakytime Tea?" he repeated. I nodded. I wondered why he looked so surprised. I know the name sounds silly, but it really is a very soothing tea. He snorted and turned to the crowd. "Did ya hear what the stranger wants to drink?" he bellowed. "Squeakytime Tea!" The piano player stopped playing. Everyone turned toward me. They were quiet as mice. Then they started laughing. "Squeaky- time Tea? Ha-ha-baaa!!" The bartender slid a cup of tea down the counter toward me... but I missed.

The crowd snickered. The bartender threw me a second cup of tea... but I missed again. They all guffawed. The bartender threw me a third cup. This time I caught it on the fly. It was my turn to sneer. So I did. Then I let out an ear-piercing scream. The cup was scalding hot!