15-FRIED MUSSELS WITH EXTRA-HOT CHILI

FRIED MUSSELS WITH EXTRA-HOT CHILI That evening, I got a call from my cousin Trap. He invited me to dinner. Trap once had a job as a cook in a spooky castle in TRANSRATANIA. Now he thinks he's a master chef. To tell the truth, Trap's cooking is nothing to squeak home about. But my cousin is so conceited. He thinks he could have his own cooking show on Mouse TV! When I got to Trap's place, he was busy at the stove. A cloud of smoke hung over his head. "Cousinkins, you're in for a real treat!" he grinned. "For starters, I've made yummy fried mussels!" I chewed my whiskers. You see, sometimes

shellfish upsets my stomach. "F-F-F-Fried m-mussels," I stammered. "Are they f-f-fresh?" Trap just shook his head. Then he filled my plate. "Germeister, you are such a 'fraidy mouse," he smirked. "Of course these mussels are fresh. Take a nibble." After the fried mussels, Trap brought out some clam soup. It reeked of GARLIC. I choked down a few spoonfuls. Next, Trap dished out an oyster pie. It was baked in coconut oil and lard and covered with extra-hot chili powder. After the meal, I dragged myself home. At three o'clock in the morning, I woke up with a terrible stomachache. My belly was rumbling nonstop. I sounded just like the

Rodent's Express chugging into the train station. Chug, chug... chuuuuuggg, chug, chug... I had never felt so sick in my life. I called the doctor. First he yelled at me for eating SHELLFISH. Then he yelled at me for eating FRIED FOOD. Then he yelled at me just to YELL at me. He said there wasn't much he could do for me. I needed to get a lot of rest. I burst into tears. "But I'm supposed to leave on vacation tonight!" I cried. "I'm going to Egypt. I'm going to see the pyramids!" The doctor snorted. "Leaving? Tonight?" he scoffed. "Not a chance! You'll be in bed for a couple of days at least!" Crushed, I crawled under my covers. Another trip gone sour, just like my tummy.