The Flying Mouse: Difference between revisions
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'''1'''
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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.
'''
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'''
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.
They both walked to the tree and peered up at the white object flapping at the top.
"Why?"
His little brother was the only one in his family,
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
'''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
'''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, ''
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.
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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
"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!"
'''
Morosely, Merton went to help Nuttal with polishing the furniture. His brother looked up from his work.
He was quiet for a moment.
"Maybe," said Merton, hopefully.
'''15'''
Eventually the
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'''
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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.
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.
Looking up, Merton noticed a bat hanging from a rafter.
Merton nodded understandably.
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.
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
'''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'''
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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
He went back and found his brother in the sitting room doing homework.
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When Nuttal heard about this latest project, he was very upset.
"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'''
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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.
'''
Back on the ground, Nuttal was pacing back and forth, wringing his ears in despair.
He thought long and hard and then he remembered something Merton had told him earlier.
Unlike him, she could fly and use echolocation. She might be able to find and save his older brother.
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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.
A bell-like voice rang out:
Trembling and quivering, Merton peered out from beneath the
Merton just gawked.
Merton nodded dazedly.
Again, Merton nodded.
The Snalleygaster laughed a ringing laugh.
'''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.
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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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