The Flying Mouse

1
On the edge of a large vegetable garden,‭ ‬there sat an old ramshackle tool shed.‭ ‬Although its paint was cracked and peeling and its weathered cedar shingles were marked with patches of moss and lichen,‭ ‬its owner still maintained it enough to prevent its complete collapse.
‭2
In one corner of the shed near the worktable,‭ ‬there was a hole,‭ ‬and in that hole lived a deer mouse family.‭ ‬There was a mother and father and their four small mouselings,‭ ‬Bluebell,‭ ‬Anemone,‭ ‬Nuttal,‭ ‬and Merton.
‭3
They weren't like the messy,‭ ‬mundane mice of the human towns and cities,‭ ‬nor was their hole a nasty smelling one with shredded bits of Kleenex and newspaper for bedding,‭ ‬and a careless jumble of food for a pantry.
It was a very comfortable dwelling:‭ ‬wooden floor and woven carpets,‭ ‬a sitting room,‭ ‬a kitchen,‭ ‬a bathroom,‭ ‬bedrooms with bunks and match beds,‭ ‬closets,‭ ‬and several storerooms‭ (‬each one devoted to a certain food‭)‬.
‭4
Bluebell,‭ ‬Anemone,‭ ‬and Nuttal were helpful little mice,‭ ‬always quick to do the household chores such as sweeping and dusting,‭ ‬washing the dishes,‭ ‬and gathering firewood or winter supplies.
‭‬5
Yet Merton‭ (‬who was the middle child‭) ‬would often lag behind his assigned tasks.‭ ‬It wasn't that he didn't like to work or didn't know how to do anything.‭ ‬It was just that things like beetles,‭ ant-hills‬,‭ ‬fat,‭ ‬fuzzy caterpillars,‭ ‬and bumblebee nests easily distracted Merton.‭ ‬Instead of making himself useful,‭ ‬he would explore or chat with the various meadow and forest people.‭ ‬Sometimes he would play games with them,‭ ‬marbles or cards with tiny beads to serve as poker chips.
‭‬6
Merton also liked to collect things:‭ ‬broken bits of colored glass and crockery,‭ ‬twisted pieces of wood,‭ ‬empty snail shells,‭ ‬bundles of strings.‭ ‬Among his most treasured possessions was his collection of feathers‭, ‬several sketch pads,‭ ‬and various books on flying machines and the flight of birds.
Flying fascinated him greatly.‭ ‬Whenever he spied an insect or bird,‭ ‬he wished to fly like them,‭ ‬to be able to spread his arms and sail off.‭ ‬He studied these creatures attentively,‭ ‬sketching down every detail of their wings.‭ ‬The birds liked him,‭ ‬and would pose quietly as he examined their wings and feathers.‭ ‬The insects found him a nuisance.‭ ‬He was always catching them and tying them to sticks and strings so that he could see how their wings moved.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬being a very kind mouse,‭ ‬he always released them after he was done.
7
Merton's parents were annoyed by his expeditions to the fields and woods.‭ ‬They worried about him falling into a hole or being eaten by a hawk or weasel.‭ ‬They also called his intense interest in flying‭ ‬"foolish‭" ‬and‭ ‬"a waste of time.‭"
So worried was the mother about her son that she watched him constantly from the knothole windows.‭ ‬When she was too busy with other things,‭ ‬she asked his older sisters to watch him.
‭‬8
His sisters also disapproved of his solitary wanderings and attempts at flying.‭ ‬Although they were twins,‭ ‬being about the same size and cinnamon color,‭ ‬they differed in disposition.‭ ‬They also had different solutions for Merton's follies.
Bluebell,‭ ‬the dominant one,‭ ‬was bossy and bad-tempered.‭ ‬She tried to reason with her younger brother with threats and strict lectures on‭ ‬"commonsense‭"‬ and‭ ‬"proper acting.‭" ‬Anemone‭, ‬on the other hand,‭ ‬was gentle and good humored. Instead of bullying Merton into behaving,‭ ‬she tried encouraging him toward refined interests—reading some classical literature or going to concerts and stylish plays.
However,‭ ‬in spite of their efforts,‭ ‬Merton still stuck to his one goal,‭ ‬to be the very first flying mouse.
‭9
It was June,‭ ‬shortly before the annual midsummer festival.‭ ‬Merton and Nuttal were bringing a present of beetle biscuits for their Aunt Olive.
‭"‬Look‭!" ‬said Nuttal suddenly.
‭"‬What‭?" ‬said Merton.
‭"‬There's something moving in that big tree over there.‭"
They both walked to the tree and peered up at the white object flapping at the top.
‭"‬What is it‭?" ‬Nuttal asked nervously.‭ "‬A barn owl‭?"
"Don't be silly,‭" ‬Merton replied.‭ "‬It's just an old kite someone lost.‭ ‬I think I'll go get it.‭"
"Why‭?"
"You know,‭" ‬said Merton.‭ "‬So I can make it into a pterodactyl glider when we get home.‭"
His little brother was the only one in his family, ‬whom he felt comfortable discussing his dreams with.‭ ‬Nuttal didn't argue with him,‭ ‬nor did he call the whole flying thing rubbish or ridiculous.‭ ‬He just wanted to be daring and adventurous as his older brother.
‭"‬That old thing‭?" ‬Nuttal exclaimed.‭ "‬But it's raggedly-looking,‭ ‬and what if you fall out of the tree‭? ‬What am I supposed to tell Mom and Dad‭?"
"Ahh,‭ ‬quit your fussing‭!" ‬Merton grumbled.‭ "‬I won't fall.‭ ‬Mice can climb as good as squirrels.‭"
Before Nuttal could say anymore.‭ ‬Merton was scrambling up the trunk and over the lower branches.‭ ‬It took him awhile to reach the limb where the kite string was tangled.‭ ‬Just as he was done untying the cord,‭ ‬a sudden gust of wind came.‭ ‬Instantly,‭ ‬the kite shot straight into the air,‭ ‬pulling the mouse along with it.
Since the kite's wings were tattered and full of holes,‭ ‬it soon lost strength and he parachuted to earth.‭ ‬To Nuttal's relief and amazement,‭ ‬Merton,‭ ‬though somewhat shaken,‭ ‬was not hurt.‭ ‬After delivering the present to their aunt,‭ ‬they then carried the kite home,‭ ‬hiding it behind some flower pots.
10
They set about repairing the kite,‭ ‬using whatever scrap of cloth or wood they could find.‭ ‬Just looking for enough material made work slow,‭ ‬but two weeks of hard labor resulted in a large glider with a movable harness.‭ ‬Although it didn't resemble a pterodactyl,‭ ‬it was better than nothing.‭ ‬For the finishing touches,‭ ‬Merton made himself a reptilian-looking mask and diamond-shaped rudder to fit on his tail.‭
‭11
They found a nearby hill as an ideal spot for their gliding tests.‭ ‬It was high,‭ ‬had steady winds,‭ ‬and was absent of obstacles like trees and buildings.‭ ‬On the day of the high flight,‭ ‬the sun was shining and the sky was a clear diamond-blue.‭ ‬A crowd of small creatures gathered on the hilltop to watch the mouse fly.
Merton gazed at some fleecy white clouds and at the grass rippling in the wind.‭ ‬He spied a raven flapping above.‭ ‬Soon,‭ ‬he would be in its place,‭ ‬not worrying about chores or overbearing sisters,‭ ‬just being wild and carefree.
Then suddenly Bluebell was there.‭ ‬She had seen her brother lugging an enormous winged contraption up the hill.‭ ‬She thought,‭ ‬What were they doing,‭ ‬flying that giant kite,‭ ‬when they should be preparing the house for the Midsummer Fest‭?
When she grabbed Merton by the arm,‭ ‬all his happy dreams were shattered,‭ ‬and he was jolted back to reality.‭ ‬Without saying a word,‭ ‬she took each brother by an ear and led them straight home.
‭12
The parents were waiting impatiently at the front door.‭ ‬Bluebell had told them everything.‭ ‬Though they scolded both brothers harshly,‭ ‬it was Merton who got the most blame.‭ ‬Mom complained about him dodging work and leading little Nuttal astray.‭ ‬Dad complained about his daydreams becoming dangerous,‭ ‬and making everything late in preparing for the Midsummer Fest.
‭‬13
Merton and Nuttal were kept busy with work.‭ ‬They had to clean the house,‭ ‬help prepare the party food,‭ ‬work out the number of chairs and tables needed for the guests,‭ ‬and make large,‭ ‬colorful party decorations.
They never found out what happened to the glider until a few days later.‭ ‬Nuttal found the parts in the wood bin,‭ ‬all broken up and useless.‭ ‬The parents had reduced it to firewood.‭ ‬The moment Merton recognized the remains,‭ ‬he began sobbing bitterly.
‬Anemone did her best to comfort him,‭ ‬admitting finally that the punishment was a bit harsh.‭ ‬Although she was gracious and kind,‭ ‬she wasn't very sympathetic with his adventurous taste.
‭"‬Now you listen to me for a bit,‭" ‬said Anemone,‭ ‬firmly.‭ "‬Remember,‭ ‬you're a mouse‭! ‬So take my advice,‭ ‬drop all this foolishness for flying and stay right here on the ground.‭ ‬There are plenty of things here to see and do,‭ ‬and it's a good place to be,‭ ‬unlike the sky with its storms and hooked beaks‭!"
‭14
Morosely,‭ ‬Merton went to help Nuttal with polishing the furniture.‭ ‬His brother looked up from his work.
‭"‬Are you feeling any better‭?" ‬Nuttal asked.
‭"‬No,‭" ‬Merton replied,‭ ‬scowling.
‭"‬Oh,‭" ‬said Nuttal.
He was quiet for a moment.
‭"‬Maybe someone will bring us another kite for a gift,‭" ‬said Nuttal finally.‭ "‬Then we can make another glider from it.‭ ‬Maybe one more bigger than before.‭"
"Maybe,‭" ‬said Merton,‭ ‬hopefully.
15
Eventually the guests arrived,‭ ‬and the rooms became packed with noisy relatives and neighbors.‭ ‬Poor Merton wasn't allowed a moment of peace.‭ ‬His sisters and parents were calling him to fetch plates,‭ ‬serve refreshments,‭ ‬and put away the occasional hat or jacket.
Finally,‭ ‬he slipped away from his task as butler,‭ ‬and peeked at the guests‭' ‬many gifts.‭ ‬He almost wept from anger and disappointment,‭ ‬for although the packages were full of treats and trinkets,‭ ‬not one was a great winged kite.‭
16
Sadly,‭ ‬he went to his room.‭ ‬It was then he noticed that his entire collection of feathers and flying books were gone.‭ ‬Only his sketchbooks remained,‭ ‬the thief having deemed them as unimportant.
‭"‬Oh those,‭" ‬said Bluebell,‭ dismissively‬,‭ ‬when he went to her to complain.‭ "‬Mom made me hide them...said you should concentrate on being a mouse rather than a bird.
Merton then ran up into the attic of the shed.‭ ‬There he sat,‭ ‬all by himself,‭ ‬thinking how he was still unable to fly.‭ ‬Was he to remain forever an ordinary earthbound mouse‭? ‬Was his flying to be done only in his dreams‭?
‭17
‭"‬Hello,‭ ‬little mouse,‭" ‬a voice said.
Merton almost jumped right out of his skin.
‭"‬Who said that‭?" ‬he squeaked.
‭"‬I did,‭" ‬said the voice from above.
Looking up,‭ ‬Merton noticed a bat hanging from a rafter.
‭"‬I'm Melinda,‭" ‬said the bat.‭ "‬Pleased to meet you.‭"
"Hello,‭" ‬Merton answered.‭ "‬I'm Merton.‭ ‬What are you doing here away from the party‭?"
"I don't like parties,‭" ‬Melinda replied.‭ "‬Too bright and noisy.‭ ‬I like it here where it's dark and quiet.‭"
Merton nodded understandably.
‭"‬So,‭" ‬she said.‭ "‬What are you doing here all by yourself‭? ‬Don't you like the party‭?"
"I hate it,‭" ‬he said dismally.
Then he told her everything.‭ ‬How he and Nuttal found the kite and made a glider from it.‭ ‬How it was all destroyed for firewood before they could test it.‭ ‬Now he was expected to forget his lifelong achievement and stay right here on the ground.
‭"‬That's terrible,‭" ‬said Melinda.‭ "‬It must have been a really nice-looking glider.‭"
"It was,‭" ‬he sighed.‭ "‬Where am I going to find another kite‭? ‬I don't have enough sticks or scraps,‭ ‬and everyone's watching me so I don't get anymore.‭"
"Well,‭ ‬you can stop worrying,‭" ‬said Melinda.‭ "‬I can help you.‭"
"How‭?" ‬Merton asked.
‭"‬I can bring you the parts.‭"
"Thank you‭! ‬Thank you‭!" ‬said Merton gratefully.
After saying goodbye,‭ ‬he hurried back home with a joyful heart.
‭18
From that day on,‭ ‬Merton followed the same routine.‭ ‬Each morning he rose very early and hurried up to the attic.‭ ‬There he would find the parts for the glider- ‬some sticks,‭ ‬a bit of horsehair,‭ ‬a few feathers.‭ ‬These he carefully hid behind an old wooden crate.‭ ‬As his collection grew,‭ ‬he began assembling the pieces together.‭ ‬Since he no longer had his flying books to refer to,‭ ‬he had to rely on his sketchbooks and the bat's advice.
19
As a result,‭ ‬the glider's framework was bat like.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬this difference was hidden away by an outside layering of carefully sewn fabric and feathers.
‭20
‭"‬I suppose I could launch it out the attic window,‭" ‬said Merton,‭ ‬thoughtfully.
‭"‬Better make that a hill,‭" ‬said Melinda,‭ ‬promptly,‭ "‬and not just any hill‭; ‬a steep one to get enough lift.‭ ‬If you just launch it right out of a window,‭ ‬there's no way of telling what might happen.‭ ‬You might take off,‭ ‬but you're more likely to crash.‭"
"Question is,‭" ‬Merton wondered,‭ "‬how am I going to sneak the glider outside without anyone seeing it‭?"
‭21
Unfortunately,‭ ‬Merton didn't have time to puzzle over this problem; ‬he had to go to school.‭ ‬It wasn't till after he got home,‭ ‬that he finally figured out a solution.‭ ‬He decided that the best thing to do would be to lower the glider out the window by means of a rope and basket.‭ ‬He had no trouble locating a basket.‭ ‬There were several scattered throughout the attic.‭ ‬He chose one that was light and easy to carry.‭ ‬The rope presented a problem,‭ ‬however.‭ ‬It was too heavy and awkward to move.‭ ‬So,‭ ‬he had to make do with a roll of package twine instead.
22
As soon as the glider was lowered to the ground,‭ ‬Merton rushed downstairs.‭ ‬He cautiously snuck past the mouse hole and out the shed door.‭
Just as he was walking toward the basket,‭ ‬he found himself thinking about his little brother.
Nuttal deserved the chance of seeing this glider fly,‭ ‬Merton thought.‭ ‬Even though I didn't have his help this time,‭ ‬he gave me plenty of help on the first one.‭ ‬It just wouldn't be right to leave him behind.
He went back and found his brother in the sitting room doing homework.‭
When Nuttal heard about this latest project,‭ ‬he was very upset.
‭"‬Why didn't tell me you were going to make a second glider‭?" ‬he exclaimed.‭ "‬I could have helped you get all the stuff like before‭?"
"Shh...keep your voice down‭!" ‬Merton whispered urgently.‭ "‬You want the others to hear‭?"
"Well,‭ ‬how come you get to have all the fun then‭?" ‬Nuttal whispered back.‭ "‬And I get stuck inside having to do crummy chores and multiplication tables‭?"
"It wasn't all fun for me,‭" ‬Merton replied,‭ ‬firmly.‭ "‬Look,‭ ‬I didn't want to get you into more trouble,‭ ‬so I had someone help me instead.‭"
"Who‭?" ‬Nuttal asked suspiciously.
‭"‬Melinda,‭" ‬Merton answered.‭ "‬She's a bat who lives in the attic.‭"
Nuttal frowned as he considered this bit of news.‭ "‬I didn't know we had any upstairs neighbors‭?"
"I didn't know either,‭" ‬said Merton,‭ ‬impatiently.‭ "‬So,‭ ‬are you coming or not‭?"
Nuttal frowned some more,‭ ‬and then answered.‭ "‬Okay,‭ ‬I'll come,‭ ‬but this better not be a waste of time.‭"
"Don't worry,‭" ‬Merton assured him.‭ "‬It won't.‭"
‭23
As soon as Nuttal saw the finished glider,‭ ‬his eyes lit up.‭ ‬Then he suggested that they should try it out far away from home this time.‭ ‬Merton,‭ ‬with Nuttal's assistance,‭ ‬carried the glider into the hills.‭ ‬It was very difficult for them because of the steep terrain and their really short legs.
They clambered along over a narrow rocky path that winded its way through bushes and tall,‭ ‬thick grass.‭ ‬Hearing the rustling of the wind,‭ ‬they shivered and thought of foxes and weasels.
Finally they climbed up a hill that seemed to go straight up into the sky.‭ ‬Just when they though it would go on forever,‭ ‬they reached the top.
24
After resting a bit,‭ ‬they got the glider ready.‭ ‬Merton strapped himself into the harness and grabbed hold of the guide bar.‭ ‬Just as Nuttal was doing some last minute checking on the wings,‭ ‬a sudden rush of wind came.‭ ‬Knocked off his feet,‭ ‬Nuttal gave a startled squeak as the glider soared straight into the sky.
‭"‬Help‭! ‬Stop‭! ‬Let me down‭!" ‬Merton shouted,‭ ‬but the glider continued flying upward.
‭"‬Oh no‭!" ‬Nuttal groaned as he scrambled to his feet.‭ ‬Frantically,‭ ‬he chased after it,‭ ‬but it was all in vain.‭ ‬As he watched,‭ ‬horrified,‭ ‬it shrank to a small speck and finally disappeared.
‭"‬Help‭! ‬Somebody‭!" ‬Merton cried,‭ ‬but except for some curious sparrows there was no one to hear him.
‭25
Back on the ground,‭ ‬Nuttal was pacing back and forth,‭ ‬wringing his ears in despair.‭ "‬I've got to think of something‭!" ‬he mumbled to himself.‭ "‬I've got to save him,‭ ‬but how‭? ‬I don't even know where he went‭!"
He thought long and hard and then he remembered something Merton had told him earlier.
‭"‬Of course‭! ‬Why hadn't he thought of that sooner‭? ‬The bat,‭ ‬Melinda.
Unlike him,‭ ‬she could fly and use echolocation.‭ ‬She might be able to find and save his ‬older brother.
Nuttal ran pell-mell down the hill,‭ ‬stumbling and puffing until he found his way back to his valley home.
26
By now,‭ ‬Merton was so frightened his eyes bulged to the size of peas.‭ ‬All he could do was hold on tight to the guide bar.‭ ‬Should he lose his grip,‭ ‬it was a one-way trip straight down.‭ ‬He quickly shut his eyes to the landscape below.‭ ‬It was whirling around like a loose tidily-wink.
‭"‬Help‭! ‬Help‭!" ‬he shouted hoarsely.‭ ‬Then suddenly,‭ ‬he landed face first in something soft and cushiony as eiderdown.
A bell-like voice rang out:‭
"Oi‭! ‬Flying Mouse,‭ ‬you okay back there‭?"
Trembling and quivering,‭ ‬Merton peered out from beneath the glider's wings.‭ ‬Peering back was an enormous,‭ ‬bird-like head framed with a blue,‭ ‬flowing mane.‭ ‬Four powerful wings jutted from the monster's massive sides.
‭"‬A—a-g-g-g-griffin‭!" ‬Merton stuttered in shock.
‭"‬Snalleygaster,‭" ‬the monster corrected.‭ "‬Griffins only have two wings,‭ ‬whereas we have four.‭"
Merton just gawked.
‭"‬So you want to get into the record books as the first flying mouse‭? ‬Is that so‭?" ‬asked the Snalleygaster.
Merton nodded dazedly.
‭"‬But you need practice flying that contraption‭? ‬Is that so‭?"
Again,‭ ‬Merton nodded.‭ "‬Y-y-yes,‭ ‬that's right,‭" ‬he answered in a small squeak.
‭"‬And you're worried about going down like a lead balloon‭?"
"Yes,‭ ‬yes.‭"
"Well,‭ ‬in that case,‭" ‬the Snalleygaster said,‭ "‬you can stop worrying,‭ ‬I'll teach you to fly.‭"
"You will‭? ‬Why‭?" ‬Merton asked,‭ ‬puzzled.‭ "‬You look like a carnivore.‭ ‬You probably like to eat little things like me.‭"
The Snalleygaster laughed a ringing laugh.‭ "‬Eat you‭? ‬Don't be silly‭!" ‬she said.‭ "‬I don't eat mice;‭ ‬I'm a vegetarian.‭ ‬I eat fruit and nuts.‭ ‬And besides,‭ ‬I admire your bravery and ingenuity.‭"
"Thanks,‭" ‬said Merton gratefully.‭ "‬I had help though.‭" ‬And while they hovered there in midair,‭ ‬Merton told the Snalleygaster about the help he got from Nuttal and Melinda.
‭"‬Hmmm,‭ ‬your little brother must be really worried about you suddenly flying off like that,‭" ‬she mused.‭ "‬You want me to just fly you home instead‭?"
"Not yet,‭" ‬said Merton,‭ ‬trying to sound brave.‭ "‬Teach me to fly first.‭"
‭‬27
Then the Snalleygaster began to school him in the art of flying.‭ ‬Soon he was swooping like a swallow with the wind buffeting his face and streaming past his wings.‭ ‬Merton laughed and shouted with sheer delight as he spiraled and swooped in the sunlight.‭ ‬The Snalleygaster warned him that he should not exert himself‭; ‬flying was dangerous,‭ ‬especially for a novice.‭ ‬Reluctantly,‭ ‬Merton returned to his perch on her back,‭ ‬and in that fashion he was flown back home.
‭28
Merton gave the Snalleygaster directions to his home and she soon had it in view,‭ ‬from a height of two thousand feet.‭ ‬The Snalleygaster announced her arrival by going into a steep dive and pulling out,‭ ‬with a tremendous‭ ‬"whoosh‭"‬ right over the tool shed.‭ ‬She then began a series of barrel rolls while making a loud‭ ‬"oogah‭"‬ sound,‭ ‬like a lighthouse foghorn.‭
Merton's family dashed outside,‭ ‬thinking it was an earthquake or maybe the end of the world.‭ ‬Nuttal and frantically fluttering Melinda followed them shortly.
The Snalleygaster made one more circle and landed,‭ ‬against the wind,‭ ‬in the alfalfa field behind the old tool shed.‭ ‬She extended her left wing so Merton could slide down to the ground,‭ ‬still holding on to his kite glider.
He walked up to his family and said,‭ "‬What's for dinner‭? ‬I'm really hungry.‭"
His mother and father were too astonished to scold him.
Then the whole family watched as the Snalleygaster walked down the field,‭ ‬turned to face the wind and began a flapping run which soon had her airborne,‭ ‬and she flew off toward the setting sun.
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