The Flying Mouse: Difference between revisions
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'''7''' |
'''7''' |
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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 " |
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." |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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. |
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Bluebell, the dominant one, was bossy and bad-tempered. She tried to reason with her younger brother with threats and strict lectures on " |
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. |
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However, in spite of their efforts, Merton still stuck to his one goal, to be the very first flying mouse. |
However, in spite of their efforts, Merton still stuck to his one goal, to be the very first flying mouse. |
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It was June, shortly before the annual midsummer festival. Merton and Nuttal were bringing a present of beetle biscuits for their Aunt Olive. |
It was June, shortly before the annual midsummer festival. Merton and Nuttal were bringing a present of beetle biscuits for their Aunt Olive. |
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"Look! |
"Look!" said Nuttal suddenly. |
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"What? |
"What?" said Merton. |
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"There’s something moving in that big tree over there. |
"There’s something moving in that big tree over there." |
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They both walked to the tree and peered up at the white object flapping at the top. |
They both walked to the tree and peered up at the white object flapping at the top. |
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"What is it? |
"What is it?" Nuttal asked nervously. "A barn owl?" |
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"Don’t be silly, |
"Don’t be silly," Merton replied. "It’s just an old kite someone lost. I think I’ll go get it." |
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"Why? |
"Why?" |
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"You know, |
"You know," said Merton. "So I can make it into a pterodactyl glider when we get home." |
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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. |
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. |
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"That old thing? |
"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?" |
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"Ahh, quit your fussing! |
"Ahh, quit your fussing!" Merton grumbled. "I won’t fall. Mice can climb as good as squirrels." |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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. |
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"Now you listen to me for a bit, |
"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!" |
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Morosely, Merton went to help Nuttal with polishing the furniture. His brother looked up from his work. |
Morosely, Merton went to help Nuttal with polishing the furniture. His brother looked up from his work. |
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"Are you feeling any better? |
"Are you feeling any better?" Nuttal asked. |
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"No, |
"No," Merton replied, scowling. |
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"Oh, |
"Oh," said Nuttal. |
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He was quiet for a moment. |
He was quiet for a moment. |
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"Maybe someone will bring us another kite for a gift, |
"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." |
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"Maybe, |
"Maybe," said Merton, hopefully. |
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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. |
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. |
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"Oh those, |
"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. |
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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? |
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? |
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''' 17''' |
''' 17''' |
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"Hello, little mouse, |
"Hello, little mouse," a voice said. |
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Merton almost jumped right out of his skin. |
Merton almost jumped right out of his skin. |
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"Who said that? |
"Who said that?" he squeaked. |
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"I did, |
"I did," said the voice from above. |
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Looking up, Merton noticed a bat hanging from a rafter. |
Looking up, Merton noticed a bat hanging from a rafter. |
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"I’m Melinda, |
"I’m Melinda," said the bat. "Pleased to meet you." |
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"Hello, |
"Hello," Merton answered. "I’m Merton. What are you doing here away from the party?" |
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"I don’t like parties, |
"I don’t like parties," Melinda replied. "Too bright and noisy. I like it here where it’s dark and quiet." |
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Merton nodded understandably. |
Merton nodded understandably. |
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"So, |
"So," she said. "What are you doing here all by yourself? Don’t you like the party?" |
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"I hate it, |
"I hate it," he said dismally. |
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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. |
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. |
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"That’s terrible, |
"That’s terrible," said Melinda. "It must have been a really nice-looking glider." |
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"It was, |
"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." |
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"Well, you can stop worrying, |
"Well, you can stop worrying," said Melinda. "I can help you." |
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"How? |
"How?" Merton asked. |
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"I can bring you the parts. |
"I can bring you the parts." |
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"Thank you! Thank you! |
"Thank you! Thank you!" said Merton gratefully. |
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After saying goodbye, he hurried back home with a joyful heart. |
After saying goodbye, he hurried back home with a joyful heart. |
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''' 20''' |
''' 20''' |
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"I suppose I could launch it out the attic window, |
"I suppose I could launch it out the attic window," said Merton, thoughtfully. |
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"Better make that a hill, |
"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." |
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"Question is, |
"Question is," Merton wondered, "how am I going to sneak the glider outside without anyone seeing it?" |
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When Nuttal heard about this latest project, he was very upset. |
When Nuttal heard about this latest project, he was very upset. |
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"Why didn’t tell me you were going to make a second glider? |
"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?" |
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"Shh…keep your voice down! |
"Shh…keep your voice down!" Merton whispered urgently. "You want the others to hear?" |
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"Well, how come you get to have all the fun then? |
"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?" |
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"It wasn’t all fun for me, |
"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." |
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"Who? |
"Who?" Nuttal asked suspiciously. |
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"Melinda, |
"Melinda," Merton answered. "She’s a bat who lives in the attic." |
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Nuttal frowned as he considered this bit of news. "I didn’t know we had any upstairs neighbors? |
Nuttal frowned as he considered this bit of news. "I didn’t know we had any upstairs neighbors?" |
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"I didn’t know either, |
"I didn’t know either," said Merton, impatiently. "So, are you coming or not?" |
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Nuttal frowned some more, and then answered. "Okay, I’ll come, but this better not be a waste of time. |
Nuttal frowned some more, and then answered. "Okay, I’ll come, but this better not be a waste of time." |
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"Don’t worry, |
"Don’t worry," Merton assured him. "It won’t." |
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"Help! Stop! Let me down!" Merton shouted, but the glider continued flying upward. |
"Help! Stop! Let me down!" Merton shouted, but the glider continued flying upward. |
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"Oh no! |
"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. |
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"Help! Somebody! |
"Help! Somebody!" Merton cried, but except for some curious sparrows there was no one to hear him. |
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''' 25''' |
''' 25''' |
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Back on the ground, Nuttal was pacing back and forth, wringing his ears in despair. "I’ve got to think of something! |
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!" |
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He thought long and hard and then he remembered something Merton had told him earlier. |
He thought long and hard and then he remembered something Merton had told him earlier. |
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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. |
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. |
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"Help! Help! |
"Help! Help!" he shouted hoarsely. Then suddenly, he landed face first in something soft and cushiony as eiderdown. |
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A bell-like voice rang out: |
A bell-like voice rang out: |
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"Oi! Flying Mouse, you okay back there? |
"Oi! Flying Mouse, you okay back there?" |
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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. |
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. |
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"A—a-g-g-g-griffin! |
"A—a-g-g-g-griffin!" Merton stuttered in shock. |
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"Snalleygaster, |
"Snalleygaster," the monster corrected. "Griffins only have two wings, whereas we have four." |
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Merton just gawked. |
Merton just gawked. |
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"So you want to get into the record books as the first flying mouse? Is that so? |
"So you want to get into the record books as the first flying mouse? Is that so?" asked the Snalleygaster. |
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Merton nodded dazedly. |
Merton nodded dazedly. |
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"But you need practice flying that contraption? Is that so? |
"But you need practice flying that contraption? Is that so?" |
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Again, Merton nodded. "Y-y-yes, that’s right, |
Again, Merton nodded. "Y-y-yes, that’s right," he answered in a small squeak. |
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"And you’re worried about going down like a lead balloon? |
"And you’re worried about going down like a lead balloon?" |
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"Yes, yes. |
"Yes, yes." |
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"Well, in that case, |
"Well, in that case," the Snalleygaster said, "you can stop worrying, I’ll teach you to fly." |
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"You will? Why? |
"You will? Why?" Merton asked, puzzled. "You look like a carnivore. You probably like to eat little things like me." |
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The Snalleygaster laughed a ringing laugh. "Eat you? Don’t be silly! |
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." |
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"Thanks, |
"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. |
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"Hmmm, your little brother must be really worried about you suddenly flying off like that, |
"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?" |
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"Not yet, |
"Not yet," said Merton, trying to sound brave. "Teach me to fly first." |
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''' 28''' |
''' 28''' |
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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 " |
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. |
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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. |
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. |
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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. |
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. |
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He walked up to his family and said, "What’s for dinner? I’m really hungry. |
He walked up to his family and said, "What’s for dinner? I’m really hungry." |
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His mother and father were too astonished to scold him. |
His mother and father were too astonished to scold him. |
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