THE BUBBLED GIFT

The wind hadn't stopped in 2 weeks, but the little mouse had to make sure her
cupboards were well-stocked for her family, and she remembered this, the most
important of all homemaking responsibilities, as she shuffled through the snow and
ice, for nearly 4 miles. When she entered the little corner store, she quickly closed
the door and shook her coat, letting the snow drop and melt on the tiny welcome
mat, and stomped her boots to dislodge the icy chunks which clung to the sides.

"Hey Odysseus, how's sales? It's so cold out there; I think my tail stuck to my
thermals!"

"Hey, Sudsy! Slow of course, but what brings you out this way, and in such terrible
weather?" He flipped his cleaning cloth over his shoulder and gave her a very
welcomed smile, ready to make a sale at last.

"Oh, you know, Odie. Tiny tummies don't stop growling just because it snows. And
besides that, some Terminators are coming over tonight, and I want to make sure
everything is just right!" She walked around examining the goods on the shelves,
and put fresh fruit and cream into her basket.

"You're a great mom, Sudsy, and a wonderful friend, too! And I have a surprise."
The little grocer scurried to the mail room at the back of his store, and beckoned
Sudsy to come see what he had in a large burlap bag.

"Look here, Sudsy. I'm glad you came by today because someone has sent you a
box. What did you order, anything good?"

Sudsy looked perplex as she approached the tiny mail window, and peeking through
the wooden bars, she saw Odysseus pull out a large cardboard box from the burlap
bag, and he stood there smiling from ear to ear like a mouse that had just made off
with a piece of Super Brie from an Icy Rhinobot.

"Well, gee Odie, I didn't order anything that I can remember. Are you sure that's
for me?"

He inspected the label again and read, "To Sudsy Mouse, 278 Vermin Court,
Rodentville." He came around the corner and handed the package to Sudsy.

"Well, isn't this something? I'm sure it's a mistake, but it sure is mysterious, isn't
it!" She sat down on the waiting bench beneath a row of canned Snapper and
bottles of Ignis Oil. She looked the package over carefully and even shook it, and
heard the slightest of rattles inside. "OOOH, it makes a noise!!!"

"Well," exclaimed Odysseus, "Open it! I've been dying to know all day what’s in it.
The suspense is killing me!!!"
Sudsy smiled and giggled like a young schoolgirl, and ripped into the box like a
child on Christmas morn. "Ooooh, good start! Bubble Pack!"

Odysseus slapped the palm of his paw on his forehead and slowly shook his head,
but couldn't keep an endearing smile from his whiskered cheeks.

She removed all the wadded paper from the box and found a round item wrapped
up snuggly in the bubble pack, and shook it again. The rattle was the same, only
louder, and she couldn't help restraining herself any longer. She grabbed the
scissors off the countertop, and cut through the tape holding the bubble wrap
together. 'I must save this, it will do quite well to help me if I fall again!' she
thought to herself.

"WELL?" the over-anxious store owner yelled, "WHAT DID YOU GET?"

Sudsy picked up a card which was enclosed and read it out loud…
"Thank you very much for all you do for us. The Vermin Terminators."

She stared at the card and her little whiskers twitched as a fond smile spread over
her face, and she held back her tears of joy.

She looked at the wonderful gift with sincere appreciation, and quickly tossed her
coins on the counter for the items in her basket, and she took the gift and her
purchases and ran all the way home with excitement.

She ran up the stairs to her door, which were carved from the root of the large tree
that served as her home, and pushing open the doors she ran to her mate, Mongo,
and gave him a huge hug.

“Oh Mongo, look what they gave me! I am so happy and humbled, and how did
they know I love ALMONDS! I must make Almond Brittle at once!

And Sudsy made the very best of dinners that she’d ever made before, and served
the very best sarsaparilla to everyone.

And when everyone in her family was ready for dessert, she brought out a tray of
fresh-made Almond Brittle and shared it with everyone, and they all spent the night
sitting in front of the fire and sharing tales love and friendship. And standing alone
near a corner of the room, she gazed blissfully at her little family, and felt a tear of
happiness fall down her face.

“Thank you all”, Sudsey said under her breath. “You are just the most wonderful
friends a mouse like me could ever have! I love you, too!”