12-TRIP VON TRAPPEN

TRIP VON TRAPPEN The ghost of a mouse, while to the tip of his whiskers, appeared before our very eyes. The ghost winked at us. "Hi there, Cousins! Long time no see," he said. I could hardly believe my eyes. It was Trap! Benjamin threw his paws around his uncle. Even Thea wiped away a tear. "You're here?" I gasped. "You're still alive!" "Alive and kicking, Gerry Doodles! Why, where else would I be? Gone to Mouse Heaven to do a little cloud racing?" my cousin teased. Then he snorted, sending a cloud of white dust into the air. "I was just trying to get a bag of flour down from the shelf, and it spilled all over me. I look like a real bakery mouse, don't I?"

I stared at my cousin. "But, Trap," I said. "What about your phone call? We thought you were in trouble!" "What phone call?" Trap said. "Oh, yeah, I forgot I called you. You see. I was in the middle of frying up some grasshoppers when I thought I'd give you a call. But then the grasshoppers started hopping all over the kitchen. So I decided to chop up some HAIRY CATERPILLARS instead, but they kept inching away. So then I found this huge fuzzy spider and—" Thea flicked her tail at Trap. "Enough!" she screeched. "Why did you call, Trap? Do you need

our help? If not, then I need to concentrate on the article I am writing." My cousin didn't seem to be listening. He had a dreamy expression on his face. "Well?!" demanded Thea. Trap snapped to attention. "Yes, well, I just called because I was bored. I didn't mean to get your whiskers in a knot. I thought you might like to get out of the city. You know, take a little vacation," he explained. "But now I've met the most beautiful mouse..." I closed my eyes and counted to ten. I was trying not to strangle my cousin. Did I really just leave my job for a little vacation with Trap

in Transratania? "But what are you doing here in the first place?" My cousin cleared his throat. "Are you ready for some Shocking! news?" he asked. "Did you ever see the commercial on TV for Find Your Tail? You know, that agency that can research your FURRY TREE?" he asked. "Actually, it's family tree," I corrected him. Trap waved his paw in the air. "Whatever," he muttered. "Well, ten days ago, I called the place. And it turns out that I may be a descendant of the distinguished Von Crappctt family or Transratania! Yes, I may have ROYAL BLOOD!" he squeaked. I groaned. "Don't mention that word, pleeeease!" I mumbled. My knees felt weak. Trap shot me a disgusted look. "WeII, it's always been obvious that you and I are very

different," he declared. "I am strong, and you are weak. I am carefree. and you are a worrywart. I am an accomplished chef, and you have trouble balancing your cheese on its cracker. Of course, it's not your fault if no royal BLOOD runs through your veins," he added. I practiced my deep-breathing exercises. Why, oh, why did my cousin insist on using THAT word? "Anyway, I came to Transratania to find some proof of my royal beginnings," Trap explained. "They say the founder of the family lived right in this very castle centuries ago! His name was Trip von Trapptit!"