05-I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SET UP A TENT!

I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SET UP A TENT! What a day! I was tired. I was hungry. I stumbled off the bus. I couldn't wait to sink into a nice SOFT bed. I couldn't wait to put on my fluffy cat-fur slippers. I couldn't wait to order from room service. "Is the hotel nearby?" I yawned. "I'm pooped." Miss Angel Paws looked shocked. "Hotel? Why, Mr. Geronimo, we have come to enjoy the great outdoors. We're not going to a hotel. We're going to CAMP OUT," she squeaked. My eyes opened wide. I looked around. Miss Angel Paws wasn't joking. We were standing in the middle of the wilderness!

Did I mention I'm not much of an outdoor mouse? "Um, yes, well, who's going to set up the tents?" I stammered. Miss Angel Paws rolled her eyes. "You are, of course, Mr. Geronimo," she said. I made a quick calculation: There were twenty-four of us. Each tent would hold four mice. That meant I had to set up six tents for the little mice. Then we would need one tent for me and one, for Miss Angel Paws. Plus, we needed one big tent for all of us to eat breakfast in. Holey cheese! I couldn't set up nine tents! Just then, the little mice began whining. "Come on! We're tired!" I couldn't make heads or tails of the tents.

I set up one tent inside out. I zipped myself up in another and couldn't get out. Then I whacked my paw with a hammer. "I give up!" I screeched. Did I mention I'm not much of an outdoor mouse? I sat down on a rock. I took off my glasses so I could SOB FREELY. "Help I can't do this!" Just then, my little nephew Benjamin whispered in my ear. "Call Aunt Thea. She always knows what to do," he suggested. I dried my tears. "Good idea," I agreed. I guess you could say my sister, Thea, is the opposite of me. She loves a challenge. A half hour later, after I talked to Thea on the phone, all of the tents were ready. "Hooray!" yelled the little mice. "Isn't it great sleeping in a tent, Mr. Geronimo?" Miss Angel Paws said.

THE TENT HOW TO SET UP A TENT 1 Lay the tent flat and stake the corners. 2 Assemble the frame by connecting the poles, and hook the tent to the frame. 3 Pull the lateral ropes and stabilize the tent by staking the ropes. 4 Mount the rain tarp and attach it well with the stakes. 5 Dig a drainage ditch around the tent. You'll need it in case of rain. Drainage ditch for water runoff Where to Set Up a Tent Choose a flat area or one on a gentle slope that is well protected from the wind.