Maddie the Christmas Mouse, part 4

It all began with a mouse who wanted a cookie for Christmas… a cat who wanted milk, a dog who wanted a bone, and a jolly old man who wanted the three to behave and stop causing problems before he arrived. Last year, Marco was the new addition to the family, and he was a very mischievous mutt…. is anyone else starting to think that Nicholas may be running out of space for his pet friends? Or that he may be getting too old to believe in Santa Claus? A lot to think about when you’re 12, isn’t it? Over the summer, he wrote his letter to Santa, went to the pet shop once again, and this time, he bought a snake…. named Stella. Here we go again…. Stella was a beautiful rattlesnake, who slept most of the time, and you could only hear her rattle when she didn’t want to be bothered. Now, his mother was very skeptical of having a snake in the house with a cat, a dog, and a mouse, but his father made it clear that as long as she was asleep, there was nothing to worry about. In most cases, he was right, but on Christmas Eve, well…. (Clears throat) pull out the hot cocoa and popcorn, kids. This is gonna be a wild one. Nicholas decided that the only way Santa would get his holiday goodies with NO interruptions from his friends, was to separate them. So, in the living room was Maddie, in the kitchen was Jack, in the den was Marco, and in the dining room was Stella. With bedtime approaching, he left his room to ensure that every pet was in the respective place he put them in. “Maddie?” he called. “Living room.” She replied. “Jack?” “Kitchen, sir.” “Marco?” he shouted. “Polo!!” Maddie and Jack yelled. “Never fails,” Marco said. “Currently in the den.” Nicholas then nods his head in approval and proceeds to tell them, “If I hear Stella’s tail rattle ONE time tonight, no one will get anything for Christmas. Am I clear?” “Roger that.” Maddie said. “Stella, you’re in charge. Shake your tail if you see any of these three causing problems. Understand?” “Yesssssss sir.” Stella replied. With that being said, Nicholas goes to bed, and out goes the lights…. and that’s when the fun begins. Maddie peeks from behind the portrait and tip toes across the fireplace, not making a sound. Jack slowly creeps out of the kitchen, not making a sound. Marco, however…. Well, he IS a big dog, so you can’t expect him to be quiet leaving the den, because as he walked into the living room where the others were, he stepped on a thumbtack. Immediately, he gasps, holding his breath, face turning red and all. Maddie notices, and races to cover his mouth so that he doesn’t scream, but the pain was so unbearable, that he started to whimper. “Jack, go get a bandage. Quick.” She said. Jack runs into the kitchen to find the first aid kit, but it was too high for him to reach it. “Need some assisssssssstance with that?” Stella asks. Jack freezes in fear. “Gosh, what is taking him so long? I mean, it’s a bandage, for crying out loud.” Maddie thought. Stella, with her body wrapped around Jack to keep him from talking, goes into the living room and spots the others…. “Hey! Let Jack go!” Maddie shouted. “And if I don’t?” Stella replied. “Then, uh…. Uh…. Gee, I’ve never made it to that point of a conversation before….” Maddie thought to herself. “You heard Nicholassssss.” She said. “Go back to your spots and stay there…. or I will get what I want for Christmas.” Maddie, confused, then asks, “Wait, what DO you want for Christmas? What would a SNAKE want for Christmas? I mean, really! Please tell me!” “A MOUSSSSSSSE!” “Hmm,” Maddie said. “Well, I’m sure that Santa will grant you your wish if you’re…. A MOUSE?! I’M A MOUSE!!” Stella lets Jack go and attempts to chase after Maddie. Marco, who is in complete fear, passes out. Jack runs over to catch him. Meanwhile, Maddie is running through the living room and runs into the kitchen to try and lose her. Breathing heavily, Maddie hides behind the toaster in silence. “This is crazy!” she thought. “Why would she want to eat ME? I’m just a…. ohhhh, that’s right…. I AM a mouse.” Maddie thought that if she stood behind the toaster quietly, she would be safe…. But then came the rattling sound. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” Stella whispered. She continued to make her tail rattle, but little did she know, while she was doing this, Maddie was pushing the toaster! Moments later, there was a big THUMP! The toaster fell on Stella’s head, and as if that wasn’t bad enough…. In the doorway of the kitchen, stood Nicholas! “Oh, my goodness! What have you guys done to this kitchen??” He yelled angrily. “ALL of you! Get out! I specifically said not to leave your places, and Stella, I told YOU to shake your tail if there were problems, not play around in here!” As Nicholas continued to yell at the four of them, he then felt a warm hand over his shoulder. “Calm down. It’s okay.” Santa said gently. “These three do this every year, with the attempt to get to the plate of goodies before I can get to them. Maddie wants a cookie, Jack wanted milk, Marco….” “Polo!!!!” Maddie yelled. “MADDIE!!!” Jack and Marco shouted. ‘Well, Polo…. I mean, Marco wanted a bone last year. But now I come here and there’s a SNAKE? Are you trying to run a zoo here?” Santa asked. “Santa,” Stella said. “All I want for Christmas are my two front teeth…. I never meant to cause this kind of trouble. I don’t want to eat Maddie. I couldn’t look myself in the mirror if I did. Please forgive me.” “I’ve never known a snake to want two front teeth for Christmas,” Santa thought. “But if you promise to be good, I will give you just that, along with something to keep them sharp and clean.” Nicholas stood there confused as ever…. Moments later, Santa, well, you know where he was…. Sitting in his favorite chair. Maddie on Jack’s back. Marco asleep with his bone. Stella was asleep, but you could see two new fangs in her mouth. Nicholas went to sleep, but not without asking Santa a question. “Santa, do you find it weird that my pets all come to you wanting things for Christmas?” “No. Every year, they just get funnier and funnier to me.” Santa said.

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