04-CHOCOLATE CHEESE BITES

CHOCOLATE CHEESE BITES The phone rang again. I was afraid to pick it up. But the ringing wouldn't stop. It was giving me a mouse-sized headache. At last, I gave in. "Hello, Stilton speaking, geronimo Stilton!" I squeaked. A snooty voice came over the line. "Yes, this is Samuel Stuffymouse from SWEET SELECTS. Your chocolate cheese bites are ready. Do you want them gift-wrapped or will you be eating them today?" Chocolate cheese bites? I hadn't ordered any chocolate. I mean, I love chocolate and cheese as much as the next mouse, but I was

on a diet. I had started it last week. So far, I had only cheated once. My aunt Sweetfur had sent me a pineapple cheesecake. How could I resist? I love cheesecake! Now I stared at the phone. "I'm SORRY," I told the mouse on the other end. "You must have the wrong rodent. I didn't order any chocolates." Stuffymouse snorted. "I am a very busy mouse, Mr. Stilton," he huffed, "I don't have time for games. Of course you ordered them. You were in SWEET SELECTS just yesterday. Now, do you want this chocolate gift-wrapped or not?" I didn't know what to say. Why wouldn't anyone listen to me today? "But I've never even heard of SWEET SELECTS," I tried to explain.

For some reason, this made Stuffymouse even more annoyed. He began squeaking at the top of his lungs. It seemed his store sold SPECIAL GOURMET CHOCOLATES. Each chocolate cheese bite was made by paw. Some were even shaped like things. There were tiny mice, tiny cats, and even tiny trains. "You ordered five pounds of our tiny tugboats!" he shrieked in my ear. I felt faint. I don't even like boats! They make me queasy! Un-be-liev-a-ble! But Stuffymouse wasn't taking no for an answer. "My delivery rat is on his way," he snarled. "Please have your money ready." Seconds later, I heard a loud honking outside. I peeked out the window. I should have guessed. It was the SWEET SELECTS truck, A mouse dressed in a tuxedo carrying a large box jumped out.

My bookkeeper, Ratsy O'Shea, led him into my office. She handed me my checkbook. What could I do? I had to pay for the chocolates. Old Stuffymouse would have my tail if I refused. Besides, how expensive could a box of CHOCOLATES be? Then I saw the bill. I began crying like a rat who's found his Christmouse stocking filled with coal instead of cheese. "Are you OK, Mr. Stilton?" Ratsy asked. I coughed. I had to pull myself together. I couldn't let Ratsy see me this way, After all, I am a professional mouse. I picked up the bill and wiped my eyes. I had never seen so many zeroes in my life! "I'm fine, Ratsy," I sobbed, "Just fine." Un-be-liev-a-ble!