The Flying Mouse: Difference between revisions
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'''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 "
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.
Bluebell, the dominant one, was bossy and bad-tempered. She tried to reason with her younger brother with threats and strict lectures on "
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.
"Look!
"What?
"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?
"Don’t be silly,
"Why?
"You know,
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?
"Ahh, quit your fussing!
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.
"Now you listen to me for a bit,
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Morosely, Merton went to help Nuttal with polishing the furniture. His brother looked up from his work.
"Are you feeling any better?
"No,
"Oh,
He was quiet for a moment.
"Maybe someone will bring us another kite for a gift,
"Maybe,
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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.
"Oh those,
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'''
"Hello, little mouse,
Merton almost jumped right out of his skin.
"Who said that?
"I did,
Looking up, Merton noticed a bat hanging from a rafter.
"I’m Melinda,
"Hello,
"I don’t like parties,
Merton nodded understandably.
"So,
"I hate it,
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,
"It was,
"Well, you can stop worrying,
"How?
"I can bring you the parts.
"Thank you! Thank you!
After saying goodbye, he hurried back home with a joyful heart.
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''' 20'''
"I suppose I could launch it out the attic window,
"Better make that a hill,
"Question is,
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When Nuttal heard about this latest project, he was very upset.
"Why didn’t tell me you were going to make a second glider?
"Shh…keep your voice down!
"Well, how come you get to have all the fun then?
"It wasn’t all fun for me,
"Who?
"Melinda,
Nuttal frowned as he considered this bit of news. "I didn’t know we had any upstairs neighbors?
"I didn’t know either,
Nuttal frowned some more, and then answered. "Okay, I’ll come, but this better not be a waste of time.
"Don’t worry,
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"Help! Stop! Let me down!" Merton shouted, but the glider continued flying upward.
"Oh no!
"Help! Somebody!
''' 25'''
Back on the ground, Nuttal was pacing back and forth, wringing his ears in despair. "I’ve got to think of something!
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.
"Help! Help!
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!
"Snalleygaster,
Merton just gawked.
"So you want to get into the record books as the first flying mouse? Is that so?
Merton nodded dazedly.
"But you need practice flying that contraption? Is that so?
Again, Merton nodded. "Y-y-yes, that’s right,
"And you’re worried about going down like a lead balloon?
"Yes, yes.
"Well, in that case,
"You will? Why?
The Snalleygaster laughed a ringing laugh. "Eat you? Don’t be silly!
"Thanks,
"Hmmm, your little brother must be really worried about you suddenly flying off like that,
"Not yet,
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''' 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 "
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.
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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