23-THE SECRET OF THE CACKLEFUR FAMILY

THE SECRET OF THE CACKLEFUR FAMILY "We must have a BIG FAMILY MEETING. shouted Professor Frankenstein. The entire family gathered in the library. "Ladies and gentlemice, rodents and rats, dead and alive, family and friends," began the professor. "Even you, Garrett. We must make an important decision. We have found a little baby. What should we do?" Boris von Cacklefur placed his paw on his heart. "I hate to be a mushy mouse. But this makes me think of a poem by Emily Dickinson: "That Love is all there is, is all we know of Love."

I felt my eyes fill with tears. What a lovely poem! Boris went on. "We all know the Cacklefur family secret," he said. "We love one another. With love, we can do anything!" The mice nodded in agreement. "This little mouselet needs our love," said Boris. "And we have plenty to give him." Creepella stood up. "Let's vote on it. If you think we should adopt the orphan mouse, raise your paw!" Every Cacklefur raised a paw. "This mouselet is no longer an orphan," said Boris. "As of today, he is a CACKLEFUR!" The Cacklefurs all cheered. I took the baby in my paws. "What a sweet little snout he has!" I said. "What will you call him? He needs a name."

Creepella passed around a piece of paper. "Everyone write down a name," she said. When the Cacklefurs were done, she read the names out loud. MUMMYKINS? FROGGY? HOWLER? SKUNKY? SKELETION? CREEPERS? ZIGZAG? SPIDERRAT? BATRICK? SKULLY? TOADIE? STEWIE? SCREAMER? IGOR? MUSHMOUSE? FESTER? SPOOKSTER? GRIMY? SPECTER? DREARY? SLIMER?

"Um, don't you think those names are a bit weird for a baby?" I asked. "That's it!" the Cacklefurs shouted. "We'll call him Baby!" Just then, I felt something wet and warm on my jacket. "Um, I think the little Cacklefur has done a wee-wee!" I said.

OUR LOVE IS STRONGER THAN CHEESE Chef Stewrat ran to the kitchen. "I must get him a bottle of stew! It is just what he needs." I put Baby in a COFFIN-SHAPED CRADLE. Madame Latomb took out her violin and played him a lullaby: GO TO SLEEP, LITTLE CACKLEFUR, YOUR FAMILY IS NEAR. WE WILL ALL WATCH OVER YOU, TO US YOU ARE DEAR. SO GO TO SLEEP. GO TO SLEEP, IF YOU PLEASE. OUR LOVE FOR YOU IS STRONGER THAN CHEESE!