13-PLEASE, LET ME FAINT IN PEACH!

PLEASE, LET ME FAINT IN PEACE! "I still don't understand how you convinced Count von Ratoff to let you stay," Thea remarked. "I mean, he doesn't exactly seem like Mr. Friendly Rat." More like Mr. Frightening, I thought. But I didn't say a word. They would just call me a scaredy mouse. "Old Ratoff doesn't know about my research," my cousin chuckled. "I just got myself hired as a cook. Which reminds me, tomorrow they'll be having a great ball here at the castle. I have to figure out the menu. The count and his niece have unusual tastes. They cannot stand garlic, but they love all kinds of insects! Strange, huh? I don't ask. I

just cook. Maybe I should make a nice BLOODSUCKER'S PE, with my hearty BLOOD SAUSAGE filling," Trap said thoughtfully. "A creamy BLOOD PUDDING would make a tasty dessert. What do you think, Cousin?" My head was beginning to spin. "Gee, Gerster, you're looking paler by the minute," Trap said. "You look like you just gave ten pints of BLOOD down at the sick mouse clinic." I closed my eyes. Maybe if I wished really hard, my cousin would disappear into thin air. I opened my eyes. No luck. he was still staring at me as if I were some silly mouse science experiment. "Ugh! stop talking about BLOOD. Can't

you see it upsets me?" I whispered. Trap snorted. "Heys don't blame me if you've got high BLOOD pressure. I'm not trying to burst your BLOOD vessels. I was just talking about my menu. After all, I'm a BLUE-BLOODED mouse now, you know. I don't have time for silly games." I began to see Stars. No, I'm not talking about movie stars. Then I blacked out. Suddenly, my sister was squeaking in my ear. "Geronimo! Take a deep breath!" she screeched, gently slapping my snout. My cousin leaped to my side and began smacking me hard on the other cheek. My eyes popped open. I glared at Trap. "Please, please, please, just let me faint in peace," I begged.