19-I COULD BUY EARPLUGS

I COULD BUY EARPLUGS... I was still flipping through the games in Fur Kids Only when Pinky started squeaking. "Let's go play marbles, everyone! Come on, Boss. We'll have fun!" I groaned. RANCID RAT HAIRS! I just wasn't in the mood for Pinky's fun and games. I was on vacation, after all. I just wanted to be by myself. To enjoy the natural wildlife. I looked around. The only wildlife I saw was a swarm of mosquitoes and two sick-looking garden slugs. Well, maybe I could play one or two of Pinky's games, I decided. Before I knew it, I was rolling marbles down a huge sand track. Then I ran in an egg race, made a sock

puppet, and even danced the rain dance. I must admit, Pinky was right. I did have fun. Loads of fun. In fact, I think it is safe to say that I had more fun than a day at the Swiss Cheese Festival. At dinner, I had another surprise. It turned out Freddy Fleafur was actually an excellent cook. Once we told him we didn't like bugs, he came up with a whole new menu. We had FRESH-SQUEEZED LEMONADE, BLUE CHEESE PIE, MELTED CHEDDAR ROLLS, AND FRESH STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE FOR DESSERT. It was all so yummy, I chowed down 3 helpings! Soon it was time for bed. I wasn't looking forward to sleeping in the same room with Pinky and her friends. They'd probably be up giggling away half the night. But I was a grown mouse. I needed my rest.

Of course, in the end, I was right. Pinky and her friends did end up squeaking and telling silly stories all night long. But I was the mouse laughing the loudest! Yes, I'm embarrassed to say, I had the best time. The days seemed to fly by. Before I knew it, it was the day before we left for home. I climbed into the bathtub for a relaxing soak. Pinky really wasn't such a bad mouse, I decided. In fact, Pinky could be a lot of fun. Maybe next year I'd go on vacation with Pinky again, I thought. I sank deeper into the tub and closed my eyes. Just then, I heard someone singing in a loud, obnoxious voice outside the bathroom. "I KNOW A SONG THAT DRIVES MICE WILD, BUT I DON'T CARE 'CAUSE IT MAKES ME SMILE! YEAH, YEAH, YEAH..." I knew who was squeaking. I already

knew that irritating song. I already knew that horrible, ear-piercing squeak. I sighed. I guess I wasn't really ready for another vacation with Pinky Pick. Then again, I could always buy earplugs....