CHAPTER 1
CARLO DREAMS OF FUN
Carlo the mouse was born in Great Florida Hospital on 1411 Water View Drive in a clean
hospital basement. His home was behind the hospital’s kitchen walls, and with
his first breath, Carlo inhaled the smell of cooked food. Since then, Carlo had
been eating.
hospital basement. His home was behind the hospital’s kitchen walls, and with
his first breath, Carlo inhaled the smell of cooked food. Since then, Carlo had
been eating.
Always
chewing, the chubby little mouse grew up to become a happy plump mouse.
Carefree and joyful, he married a beautiful red-haired mouse named Maria. They
lived happily inside the hospital walls with their three red-haired daughters.
chewing, the chubby little mouse grew up to become a happy plump mouse.
Carefree and joyful, he married a beautiful red-haired mouse named Maria. They
lived happily inside the hospital walls with their three red-haired daughters.
Most of the
time, Carlo was a happy mouse, although he had one unfulfilled wish: a
vacation. He had never left Florida.
time, Carlo was a happy mouse, although he had one unfulfilled wish: a
vacation. He had never left Florida.
One hot day,
lying in the sun on top of a garbage can, he was daydreaming. “There must be
more to life than the hospital,” he thought restlessly, turning from side to
side. Fixing his broken sunglasses on his sniffing nose, Carlo decided to go on
vacation.
lying in the sun on top of a garbage can, he was daydreaming. “There must be
more to life than the hospital,” he thought restlessly, turning from side to
side. Fixing his broken sunglasses on his sniffing nose, Carlo decided to go on
vacation.
Running
between the cars in the parking lot, he checked their license plates, reading
the state each car had come from.
between the cars in the parking lot, he checked their license plates, reading
the state each car had come from.
“Alabama,
Ohio, Tennessee,” he read.
Ohio, Tennessee,” he read.
“Booooooring!”
he said, running to the next row.
he said, running to the next row.
“Georgia,
North … South Carolina, Virginia,” he kept reading, moving his sunglasses up
and down.
North … South Carolina, Virginia,” he kept reading, moving his sunglasses up
and down.
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“Aaah!” He
sighed, disappointed, reading neighboring states. “The neighbors. Too close.”
He waved good-bye to the familiar plates and ran to the second level of the
parking lot.
sighed, disappointed, reading neighboring states. “The neighbors. Too close.”
He waved good-bye to the familiar plates and ran to the second level of the
parking lot.
“Florida,
Florida, Florida, Florida.” Carlo lost count of the many cars from his state.
Deep in thought, he continued his snooping, twitching his whiskers.
Florida, Florida, Florida.” Carlo lost count of the many cars from his state.
Deep in thought, he continued his snooping, twitching his whiskers.
“Something
must be going on in the hospital! The cardiology department seems to be very
busy.” Worried, he ran back toward the building to check on things.
must be going on in the hospital! The cardiology department seems to be very
busy.” Worried, he ran back toward the building to check on things.
Passing a
black car, he stopped. This car was from New York. Taking his sunglasses off,
he scratched his head.
black car, he stopped. This car was from New York. Taking his sunglasses off,
he scratched his head.
I looooove New York! Carlo thought, remembering seeing it
on TV in the waiting room. But then he thought about the movie that he once
watched with the patients in the emergency room. It was scary!
on TV in the waiting room. But then he thought about the movie that he once
watched with the patients in the emergency room. It was scary!
Huge rats
with sharp teeth that looked like monsters from another planet occupied the
city. Chewing everything in their path, they pushed his relatives into the
Hudson River.
with sharp teeth that looked like monsters from another planet occupied the
city. Chewing everything in their path, they pushed his relatives into the
Hudson River.
“Brrr,”
Carlo shivered, shaking his fat belly, imagining what had happened to the poor
mice. “No! I will pass on New York,” he said, walking away.
Carlo shivered, shaking his fat belly, imagining what had happened to the poor
mice. “No! I will pass on New York,” he said, walking away.
Climbing to
the cardiology department, he jumped on the canopy roof that covered the
entrance. Preoccupied with his new problem, Carlo, not paying attention,
slipped.
the cardiology department, he jumped on the canopy roof that covered the
entrance. Preoccupied with his new problem, Carlo, not paying attention,
slipped.
“Owww,” he
screamed, pushing hard on his back legs to stop himself from falling. Sliding
down the canopy, he landed in an open car trunk.
screamed, pushing hard on his back legs to stop himself from falling. Sliding
down the canopy, he landed in an open car trunk.
Not seeing
Carlo, the driver slammed the trunk shut and drove away. It was Mr. D. from New
Jersey, and he was allergic to mice.
Carlo, the driver slammed the trunk shut and drove away. It was Mr. D. from New
Jersey, and he was allergic to mice.
Page 9
After
driving many hours and sneezing nonstop, Mr. D. opened his garage door. He was
home after visiting his father in the Florida hospital.
driving many hours and sneezing nonstop, Mr. D. opened his garage door. He was
home after visiting his father in the Florida hospital.
So was Carlo
the mouse, but not in his Florida home. Waiting for the trunk to open, a
slimmer Carlo was hiding behind a suitcase. Nyda the cat saw him sticking his
narrow nose out of the trunk as soon as it opened.
the mouse, but not in his Florida home. Waiting for the trunk to open, a
slimmer Carlo was hiding behind a suitcase. Nyda the cat saw him sticking his
narrow nose out of the trunk as soon as it opened.
“Who are
you?” the friendly cat asked the mouse, jumping on top of the car. Carlo dove
inside the trunk and hid between Mr. D.’s tools.
you?” the friendly cat asked the mouse, jumping on top of the car. Carlo dove
inside the trunk and hid between Mr. D.’s tools.
“You’d
better come out before Mr. D. comes back!” the house cat said, looking inside
the car.
better come out before Mr. D. comes back!” the house cat said, looking inside
the car.
“Where am
I?” Carlo asked, instead of coming out.
I?” Carlo asked, instead of coming out.
“You are
near Atlantic City, if that’s what you are asking,” the smiling cat replied.
Sitting on top of the car, Nyda was watching the shocked mouse.
near Atlantic City, if that’s what you are asking,” the smiling cat replied.
Sitting on top of the car, Nyda was watching the shocked mouse.
“New
Jersey!” Carlo yelled happily, jumping out of the trunk. “Cool! Vacation!” he
said, lifting his sunglasses from his nose.
Jersey!” Carlo yelled happily, jumping out of the trunk. “Cool! Vacation!” he
said, lifting his sunglasses from his nose.
Page 11
He wiped his
dirty paws on his fur, trying to shake the friendly outstretched cat’s paw.
dirty paws on his fur, trying to shake the friendly outstretched cat’s paw.
“Sorry. The
trunk isn’t the best seat in the house,” the mouse said, introducing himself to
the cat. “I am Carlo, the mouse from Florida.” He coughed, clearing his throat.
trunk isn’t the best seat in the house,” the mouse said, introducing himself to
the cat. “I am Carlo, the mouse from Florida.” He coughed, clearing his throat.
“Florida?”
The shocked Nyda opened her green eyes wide.
The shocked Nyda opened her green eyes wide.
“Uh-huh.”
The mouse coughed again. “I came on vacation. Where are the best restaurants in
town?” Carlo asked politely.
The mouse coughed again. “I came on vacation. Where are the best restaurants in
town?” Carlo asked politely.
“Mrs. D.’s
kitchen,” the house cat answered, not knowing any.
kitchen,” the house cat answered, not knowing any.
“So what are
we waiting for?” Carlo asked impatiently.
we waiting for?” Carlo asked impatiently.
“For Mrs. D.
to come home,” the surprised cat replied.
© All Rights Reserved by Mrs.D.Books.
to come home,” the surprised cat replied.
© All Rights Reserved by Mrs.D.Books.
ISBN 13 (SOFT): 978-1-4628-4449-4
ISBN 13 (HARD): 978-1-4628-2993-4
ISBN 13 (HARD): 978-1-4628-2993-4
Carlo the Mouse on Vacation is available as an E-book on most popular e-devices. To download e-book please go to:
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you’re all busy and it means a lot that you would share your time with
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CARLO THE MOUSE ON VACATION,Chapter 1: CARLO DREAMS OF FUN