Herbert Mouse was munching cheese. There was nothing strange or weird about that, as Herbert Mouse was always having cheese something. Breakfast was cheese omelet, lunch was macaroni and cheese and supper would be garlic bread with cheese, with creamed cauliflower with cheese sauce. Even his snacks were creamed cheese with herbs, crackers and cheese and Cheezies.

 Herbert Mouse stood on the boardwalk this sunny afternoon, then suddenly he started to chuckle, when around the corner came a small boy named Timmy with a cat on a leash. The cat eyed Herbert Mouse at once and her little nose went up in the air.

 "This is the funniest thing I've ever seen," laughed Herbert Mouse. "A cat on a leash walking with her nose in the air; you watch you don't trip!"

 Tiger was a proud cat and walking with a leash hadn't been her idea. The little boy's mother had to have everything correct. "It isn't correct to let a cat run loose," she told Timmy. "It doesn't look like they have an owner and are running wild." To make matters worse, she had placed a bow on Tiger's collar.

 "That bow is funny, too!" teased the mouse.

 Teasing always accomplishes one thing to the one on the receiving end and that is, hurting their feelings. Those feelings were being experienced by Tiger at this very moment, as tears lingered on her lids and her heart felt like a big hand was squeezing it.

 The cat did what all cats do when challenged by a mouse and he bolted. Herbert Mouse dropped his crackers and Cheezies and dashed down the board-walk. Someone is always at the other end of the leash, so the little boy was jerked forward. He tried to keep control, but the leash slipped through his fingers as he tripped over a raised step. Down on his knees he fell, as the cat and mouse ran with loud noises of hissing and squeaking.

 The little boy quickly rose and chased after the cat. Tiger had cornered Herbert Mouse and was approaching for the final act, when she was scooped into the arms of the little boy.

 "Ah, shucks!" said the cat. "You are lucky this time, big cheese!"

 Herbert Mouse should have counted his blessings for his freedom, but he had to get in one last act as he made a face at the cat. From over the shoulder of the boy, the cat stuck out her tongue at the mouse.

 Herbert Mouse went back to his original spot to retrieve his snacks. "There'll be another day" he said, smiling.

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 Winner: Katie Rafuse, RR#4 New Ross, NS, received a prize through the mail for sending in the answer to a question.

 Question about the story: Who started the teasing?

 Send answers to Storytime c/o Verna Dunlop, RR#1 Moser River, NS B0J 2K0 or e-mail the answer to the question to vernadunlop@yahoo.com. Prizes will be sent to those sending in the answer.

posted on 08/31/10