01-OH, HOW I HATE BEING LATE!

Geronimo Stilton FIELD TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS

OH, HOW I HATE BEING LATE! "Rain, rain, go away." It was the middle of the night. I was in my comfy, cozy bed, trying to sleep. But the rain was beating on my window like a crazed woodpecker. I fell asleep dreaming about birds and pounding ocean waves and huge crashing waterfalls. It rained the whole night. The next morning, I woke up exhausted. I stared at

the clock on my bedside table. Holey cheese! I was late! Oh, how I hate being late! I hurled myself into the bathroom. I turned on the shower while brushing my teeth. I combed my whiskers while pulling on my pants. I chugged down my coffee while racing out the door. Rats! I ran at BREAKNECK SPEED to my aunt Sweetfur's house. That is where my little nephew Benjamin lives. I had promised to take him to school today. Benjamin giggled when he saw me. I had forgotten to button my pants. And my fur was sticking up all over the place. On the way to school, we passed by my office. I run the most FAMOUSE daily newspaper on Mouse Island. It is called The Rodent's Gazette.

Benjamin tugged on my paw. "Uncle, may I take my friends to visit you at the Gazette sometime?" he asked. I smiled. My nephew was such a sweet and smart little mouse. Maybe someday he would follow in my pawsteps and run a newspaper, too. "Of course, dear nephew," I said. Finally, we arrived at Benjamin's school. WHAT A ZOO! Little rodents were running everywhere. Some held on to their parents' paws. Others tumbled off the school bus. Some zipped up on bicycles. It was so loud I could barely hear myself squeak.

Just then, the school bell rang. Rrrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggg! I nearly jumped out of my fur. And that was when I spotted a blonde rodent. No, she wasn't just any blonde rodent. She had GORGEOUS fur. She had a SWEET smile. And she had blue eyes the color of a clear summer sky. "Good morning, I am Miss Angel Paws, Benjamin's teacher," she said. I took a step toward her. But before I could shake her paw, I tripped over my tail. I landed snout first in the dirt.