Once there was a little mouse named Olivia Begonia Squeak. She
was the prettiest little mouse you ever saw, but she was not happy.
You see, she lived all alone with her little sister, whose name, by the
way was Matilda Tumblefoot Squeak. While Olivia Begonia was as
pretty as a begonia, her little sister had a problem. She was cute, you
know but one foot always seemed to tumble over the other so she was
constantly falling. It seemed that all Olivia did was pick her up.
Part of the problem was due to the fact that they lived in the woods.
They had to move many times because every time they got settled,
some big scary animal would come along and spoil everything. Olivia
dreamed of the day that they could stay in one place so that her little
sister could learn once and for all, how to be sure-footed.
One day they were just settling down in a nice little patch of
mushrooms. Olivia decided it could be quite lovely to live there. The
ground was soft under their feet. The tiny mushrooms made perfect
little seats and the large mushrooms could protect them from the rain.
Suddenly, a raccoon came along sniffing and scratching just
inches from where they were sitting.
Well, of course, they jumped up and ran as fast as they could. The
raccoon ran after them.
Little Matilda's feet kept getting in the way and she fell again and
again. The raccoon was getting closer and closer. The little mice
scurried and hurried through the woods and whoops! Tumblefoot
tripped over her feet again. When Olivia tried to help her up, she
slipped too. Together they rolled and tumbled down, down, down until
they finally stopped at the bottom of a hill smack up against a giant
oak tree. When the dizzy feeling went away, Olivia looked up and saw
the raccoon scurrying by on the hill above them.
After some time, Olivia noticed a tiny little door in the bottom of the big
tree with a beautiful gold door knocker. She knew it could not belong
to any large scary animal. It was just her size. Maybe another mouse
lived there, or a friendly mole. Timidly, she knocked on the door.
Naturally, shen the door opened and a handsome mouse said,
"How do you do? Won't you come in?," Matilda tripped over her own feet
and fell right in. Then, much to Olivia's surprise, the handsome little
mouse, without even saying how clumsy she was, helped Matilda to
her feet and most grqacefully sat her on a chair. He introduced himself
as Mr. Timorous Beastie, the Third and within moments, Olivia found
herself to be overwhelmed by his charming manner and handsome-
ness.
He offered them at least fifty kinds of cheese, as well as crumb
cakes and milk.
After a while, Miss Olivia noticed that Mr. Timorous was smiling at
her in such a way that she knew that he was quite overwhelmed by
her beauty.
And when he heard the story of their struggle to find a safe place to
live, he was very sad indeed. That very day, though it may be hard to
believe, he asked Miss Olivia Begonia if she would become his wife
and live in his beautiful little home. And, Miss Olivia Begonia, though
it may be hard to believe, said yes before you could blink an eye. It was
love at first sight, they said.
The very next day, Olivia and Matilda had beautiful dresses woven by
a spider who lived nearby with a web that just wouldn't quit.
Mr. Timorous Beastie looked even more handsome that day in
his tuxedo.
When Olivia Begonia became Mrs. Olivia Begonia Squeak Beastie,
she looked prettier than ever in her life, partly because she was
carrying a bouquet of begonias. Matilda was the flower girl and led
the way to the altar for her sister. She was so happy, she never tripped
once.
Olivia and Timorous lived happily ever after in the beautiful little
house and took care of little Matilda until she became the most
sure-footed mouse you ever saw. And, that was very important because
they all knew that someday, someone would come along and ask
Matilda to come waltzing and she would be ready.
