02-WHAT A FURBRAIN!

WHAT A FURBRAIN! knock knock Just then, Blunders, my editor in chief, knocked at the door. MR. Stilton, your cousin Trap is here," he announced, tripping over his tail. "I am not in for anyone!" I shouted. Blunders jumped, spilling his mug of cheddar tea. "Um, well, he says it's urgent!" "I— am not in!" I repeated. Next thing I knew, my cousin, a plumpish mouse with BEADY EYES,

was standing before me. He put both paws on my desk and smiled. Have you ever met my cousin? He owns a shop in downtown New Mouse City— Cheap Junk for Less. He's a terrible prankster. And his favorite hobby is teasing me! Another thing you should know about Trap, he's like a refrigerator magnet for trouble. Sometimes you can't tear those two apart! "What do you want? Can't you see I am busy?" I yelled. "And please, take your paws off my desk!" "Hello, there, Cousinkins! What's up?" he squeaked, picking his teeth with my letter opener.

I took off my glasses so that I could cry freely. "Can't you see I am in big trouble here?" I choked. "Oh, why did I choose this job? I could have been a lifeguard down at WaterRat Park or a waiter at The Cheese Garden...." Trap smirked. "Are you kidding? A furbrain like you couldn't do those jobs!" "I am not a furbrain!" I squeaked, fuming. Just then, the phone, rang. In a flash, Trap had his paw on the receiver.

"If it's for me, please tell them I am not in," I begged. He picked up the phone and straightened his tie. "Hello, this is The Stilton Publishing Company. No, Mr. Stilton is not in. Yes, yes, I agree that he is a hopeless cheddarface, a total nincompoop!" my cousin nodded, "Well, of course I will tell him. He is a complete furbrain! Thank you for calling!" he added before hanging up. I twisted my whiskers in rage. Steam poured out from my ears. I felt like a cheddar cheese marshmallow left in a microwave too long. "I asked you to say I was not in," I shrieked. "I didn't say make friends with any wacky mouse who calls!" "That wasn't any wacky mouse!" my

cousin insisted. "I was talking to Saucy LePaws, the famous chef. He says you switched the number of his restaurant with the one for the city dump! I'd better not tell you where he said he wanted to send you." All of a sudden, my cousin's eyes lit up. "Hey, that reminds me. Do you know why I'm here?" I put my head in my paws. "Yes, I do," I mumbled. "You are here to drive me nuts! And it's working. I'm packing my bags for the Mad Mouse Center. I'll leave tonight." "Not so fast," Trap said, giggling. "I am here to get you out of this mess! Just listen to my brilliant idea..." I groaned. Not another one of my cousin's brilliant ideas! The last time I'd gotten involved in one of his crazy schemes, I'd

ended up stuck in a spooky castle in Transratania!