MICROMOUSE -- III

From then on, Penny and Tommy took good care of their new pet. They always made sure to feed him every day and leave enough water in his little bowl. They were also careful to hide the cage under Penny's bed every night before she went to bed and to cover it with a sheet. Often, they took Micromouse out of his cage so he could scamper up and down their arms or run around the room. Yes, both Penny and Tommy were delighted with their new pet. This arrangement worked out well for the rest of that summer while the kids were on vacation from school. But then in the fall a new problem arose when school started. Although they didn't want to leave Micromouse in his cage all day while they were gone, they had no idea who else could take care of him. Nor did they want to reveal their little secret to anyone else in the family.

However, a few days after school started, the problem solved itself. Late one afternoon, after they had gotten back from school, they let their little friend out of his cage, but forgot to close the bedroom door. Micromouse, who had missed his former freedom, quickly scurried out of the bedroom into the dining room. Just at that moment, the older boy Foster spotted the mouse under the dining room table. At the same time, Penny ran after the him and tried to grab him.

"Did you see that mouse?" Foster asked indignantly. "And what's a mouse doing in our dining room? I thought dad got rid of all the mice last winter."

Then, suspecting that Penny had something to do with this, he added: "Do you know anything about this, Penny? Now, tell the truth!"

Before she could stop herself, Penny blurted out: "Oh no! It's only Micromouse. He's our pet but he got away from us before we could stop him."

"You mean, you know about this?" And who do you mean by 'our'?" Foster shouted. "And this mouse even has a name! Just wait until dad finds out about this. Then you'll both be in deep doo doo!"

At that exact moment, their mom Cynthia, who had heard the commotion from the kitchen, ran to the dining room to join the three kids. "Now, what's all this fuss about?"

"Penny and Tommy let a mouse loose in the house!" shouted Foster. "And I thought that dad got rid of all the mice and squirrels last winter?"

"Do you know about this?" Cynthia asked Penny and Tommy who had joined his sister.. "Foster was right about dad not wanting any wild critters in the house."

"But Tommy even bought Micromouse his own cage," Penny ventured, "that way he could be our very own pet."

After Penny and Tommy explained the situation to their mom, she agreed to talk with her husband about it. "If your dad says it's O.K. to keep your mouse....."

"His name is Micromouse, mom!"

"All right, Penny, I'll talk to your dad about it. If he's O.K. with your keeping Micromouse, and you promise to take good care of him and not let him out of his cage, I suppose it'll be O.K., especially since you don't have your own pet. But you've got to promise not to let him loose."

"Gee thanks, mom!" Penny and Tommy chimed in as Foster looked down glumly at his feet.

"Not so fast, kids. It's not decided yet. First of all, I've got to talk to your dad. But something tells me that I can talk him into it."

Cynthia was as good as her word and was able to persuade her reluctant husband to let Penny and Tommy keep their mouse. Eventually, the two parents even allowed Penny to bring the cage into the living room so Micromouse could have a change of scenery. The mouse was a huge hit at Penny's eighth birthday party in September, as all of her friends oohed and aahed over him, and wanted to hold him. Micromouse basked in all the attention. On Christmas Day, Penny got the biggest thrill yet. It was a bigger, brand new cage with shiny brass bars, a little door, two special dishes for food and water, and even a little hamster wheel for the mouse to run around in. Both Penny and Tommy jumped up and down with delight. It was their best Christmas yet! Only Foster was nowhere to be seen.