Mr. Mouse Sings "I Love You"

Story

Beyond a field of red-and-white spotted mushrooms, there was a big forest with tall, dark-green trees. Golden sunlight shimmered between the branches, giving everything a gentle glow. Many animals lived here: birds, deer, and rabbits...

And one very lonely mouse.

Mousey was the only mouse in the woods. It was fun to play with baby squirrels and porcupines, but they grew too big!

When Mousey became Mr. Mouse, he wanted to find a pretty she-mouse to make Mrs. Mouse, the ladies were too big, too small, and too happy with their own husbands. And their husbands were too big, too furry, or too slimy for the she-mice's tastes!

Mr. Mouse pouted. He shook his head and kicked the air! But being angry couldn't answer his question, so he asked his friends for help.

"How did you meet Mrs. Sparrow?" he asked Mr. Sparrow.

"That's easy!" Mr. Sparrow chuckled, "I sang to her!"

"How did you meet Mrs. Frog?" he asked Mr. Frog.

"She heard my special ribbit!" croaked Mr. Frog.

"Can you sing, Mr. Mouse?" asked Mr. Porcupine.

"Yes, maybe if everyone heard you sing, you could find a she-mouse!" beamed Mrs. Porcupine.

"If he hasn't sung already, he never will!" Mr. Snake hissed.

The creatures burst into laughter. But not Mr. Mouse.

That night, Mr. Mouse lay in bed, tears rolling down his furry cheeks.I can't sing. How will any mouse love me?! But what if a frog hears my song and gives me a big, slimy kiss?! Yuck!

As he worried about living a life without any friendly mice, an idea sparkled in his mind: He could sing a secret song, a special song that only mice could hear!

The next night, Mr. Mouse rustled across the woods, and into the big, soft, grassy field. He took a deep breath, his little lungs swelling like balloons, and began to sing, "Mi, mi, mi, miiiii!"

He looked around and grinned. His voice was so high, not a single soul heard!

"I love you and you love me," he sang, "Always together, we will be!"

Again, not a soul heard his song!

Except for Mabel Mouseville, the pretty little she-mouse of Mushroom Manor. When she heard his sweet, high voice sail on the cool evening breeze, she untied her ears from their frilly pink bow. The music made her kick her feet up and dance!

Mr. Mouse sang faster and faster, until he spun into a jig. He jumped into the air and clicked his heels, arms waving with the rhythm. Soon enough, all the other creatures of the forest watched him dance. Though they couldn't hear his high-pitched song, they stared at each other with wide eyes and open mouths.

"Perhaps we were too hard on him," sighed Mrs. Porcupine, "He really can sing."

"But I can't hear it!" snapped Mr. Snake.

"If I could, I sure wouldn't dance to it," added Mr. Porcupine.

"Whether or not you can hear or dance to a song doesn't make it not a song," crooned Mr. Owl, "There are songs, but not all are for everyone."

Still, Mr. Mouse sang until his throat hurt, and danced until his heels burnt. And still, no she-mouse arrived.

"Told you!" hissed Mr. Snake as he slithered until a dry, crunchy pile of leaves.

After Mr. Mouse stopped, he felt a tear roll down his cheek. The other creatures gathered around him.

"It's all right," soothed Mrs. Porcupine, "Don't listen to that old Snake! Your she-mouse will show up one day!"

"I hope so," sniffled Mr. Mouse.

The next evening, Mr. Mouse sang his song. Then the next night. And the one after that. By the fourth night, his voice was shaky and his dancing was slow. Maybe that's it, he thought, No matter what Mr. Owl said, my song is no good, after all!

As he turned to walk away, he heard a high-pitched squeeeeak!

Mr. Mouse jumped and looked to see a pretty she-mouse! She ran through the leaves, panting until her little pink tongue hung from her mouth. A pink frilly bow was tied around her head, and it was smudged in dirt.

"I...I...." she gasped for air, "Are you the mouse who sings every night?"

"Yes!" cried Mr. Mouse, a smile warming his face, "But how did you know it was me?"

"Your voice is so high, only other mice can hear it," said the she-mouse, "That's what Mama told me a long time ago."

"That reminds me of something Mr. Owl said," Mr. Mouse said, "About not every song being for everyone."

"Mr. Owl is very wise. Did you know he used to be my tutor?"

"What's your name?" asked Mr. Mouse.

"I'm Mabel Mouseville, and I live in Mushroom Manor," she said.

"Mushroom Manor?!" cried Mr. Mouse, "Why, that's all the way across the forest!"

Mabel giggled-- a high, shivering sound.

"Yes, but your voice travels far. It's so nice and sweet, uh...."

"Mr. Mouse. And thank you."

Mabel giggled again.

"You're cute!"

As she kissed him on the cheek, Mr. Mouse felt his face burn pink. Who would have thought, he wondered, This is all because of my song?!

THE END