1 ONE LONG WEEK

It was a Chilly evening in November. I was at home, sprawled out on my favourite pawchair in front of a cozy fire. It had been one LONG week. I had been running my tail off at the newspaper.

*URGENT LETTER FOR MR. GERONIMO STILTON*

I shuffled to my front door.

"Who is it?" I squeaked NERVOURSLY.

It was after ten p.m. Who would be ringing my doorbell so late?

"MAIL!" yelled a high-pitched voice on the other side.

Mail? In the middle of the night ?

"URGENT letter for Mr. Geronimo Stilton. Can you please open the door? I need your signature," the voice continued.

I opened the door, signed a form, then returned to my pawchair to read the LETTER. It said:

I was thinking about what I would do with a cheese-scented Mountain bike (I'm not a great biker) when the phone RANG.

*RRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNMNNNNNGGGGGG!!!!!!*

Once again I jumped a foot, this time FLINGING the letter in the air.

So much for a relaxing night!

*HELLO! HELLO! HELLO!*

As soon as I picked up the phone, a mouse began SQUEAKING my ear off.

"Hello! Hello! Hello! I'm Cindy from squeakman's Buy-O-Rama Superstore and do I have some GREAT news for you!" she gushed. " You are the lucky winner of a Free gifts card to use at our new store!

*CONGRATULATIONS*

Just present the Card and you'll receive a FREE pair of Squeakman's super-strectchy suspenders!"

I tried to explain that I prefer wearing a BELT, but she cut me off.

MOLDY MOZZARELLA, that mouse could squeak! She insisted that I write down a SECRET CODE that would allow me to collect my prize.

But while trying to get a notepad, I TRIPPED on the phone cord and fell flat on my snout!

* KABOOM*

Forget the suspenders–– I might need a pair of crutches! I thought as Cindy rattled off my SECRET CODE. then she chirped good-bye and HUNG UP before I had a chance to write it down

"THANKS," I murmured, still lying on the floor.

A few seconds later the phone rang again.

*RIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!*

So much for a RELAXING night!