03-WHEN THE CAT IS AWAY

WHEN THE CAT Is AWAY... At six o'clock, I was at the station. I had been listening to the weather report. There would be clear skies all over Mouse Island. But... fog, as always, in Transratania! Why, why, oh, why did my cousin have to get lost in the coldest part of the island? The coldest and the most mysterious, too. There were lots of stories about the castles of Transratania. Some believed they were stirring with ghosts! At last, Thea showed up. She was dressed in a smart wool coat with a fake cat-fur scarf and matching hat.

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"Hey, big brother! How are you?" she greeted me. She was grinning. "Awful, thank you," I grumbled. "How will the paper manage without me?" I worried out loud. "You know what they say: When the cat is away, the mice will play!" My sister laughed. "Oh, puh-lease, Gerrykins," she scoffed. "You're not all that important, Really!" "In case you have forgotten, I run a newspaper," I said in my most serious tone.

"If I am not at my desk, who will publish The Rodent's Gazette?" "Oh, give me a break!" Thea snickered. "The office can run just fine without you. In fact, they will probaby be better off. No nervous, old CHEDDARFACE breathing down their fur!" "I am not a cheddarface!" I protested. But I have to admit, I did worry about the paper. After all, mice everywhere were reading it. "By the way, Gerrytails," Thea interrupted my thoughts. "Do you ever read The Daily Rat? I was reading it the other day and— Before my sister could continue, I jumped to my paws. "THE DAILY RAT???" I squeaked. "How can you read such garbage? You know that paper is written by the slimiest SEWER rats in the city! They would rob their own mothers for a good story!

They would feed a cat the entire graduating class of Mouseville Elementary if it sold papers! That junk is only good for wrapping up rotten herrings!" "Yes, well, that's all very interesting," Thea said. "But last night, I had a great idea for an article. I will write a story on the castles in Transratania. Horror is very in these days, you know." she explained. "Anyway, I've already sold the article. And they paid me a bundle!" "whattttt did you say?" Why was I so upset? Well, you see, Thea is a special correspondent for my paper, The Rodent's Gazette. Could she really be working for my rivals over at The Daily Rat? "whattttt? Are you telling me you want to quit the Gazette?" I squeaked. I felt faint.