Chapter Two

Meanwhile left to their own devices, the mouse children had been using the afternoon to explore the kitchen fireplace, which was unlit. There were four children in the mouse family at present, Ambrose and Aubergene, the twins; they were the eldest and as such they were generally in charge of any activities the mice children indulged in. Petal, their sister, was anything but a petal. She was a real tom -mouse, and delighted in joining her brothers in their adventures. Unfortunately more often than not it was her job to mouse-sit the baby, Dripper. A job that she loathed. She was at a loss to see exactly why it should always fall to her to have to mind Dripper. After all today’s society was supposed to be an enlightened one in which the men folk in the community did their fair share in raising the babies. It was really too bad of Mama, she had spoilt the twins atrociously, and just like Daddy, they had her wrapped around their little tails. No husmouse of hers was going to behave in such a manner, -- and get away with it. She balled up her tiny fists and taking a deep breath sat down on the hearth to await her brother’s return. Dripper, so named for several reasons (some of which will become obvious as the story continues) sat next to his recalcitrant sister, a pout of discontent on his small be-whiskered face. Both of them sat there thinking very similar mutinous thoughts when from above them they heard a faint call, “Oh my! Pet-t-al!”
At first Petal thought it was God calling down from heaven to discipline her for her wayward thoughts. But reason asserted itself and she realized the call was far too faint to be God; it was more like a squeak. A distressed squeak at that.
            “Oh – oooh He-ell-up!” This time Petal recognized the cry for help. It was Aubergene, and from the sound of it the silly little rodent had got himself stuck up the flue.  Jumping up, her skinny arms akimbo, she stretched up on her tiptoes and standing on the hearth she thrust her little head up into the cavernous hole at the bottom of the chimney.

At first she saw nothing, it was as black as pitch. When as her eyesight adjusted to the difference in light, she was shocked to see two small eyes staring back at her and even more shocked to recognize Aubergene’s beady little orbs.

            “ Aubergene Roosevelt Mouse!” she squeaked indignantly. “ What would Mother Mouse say?” she demanded.

            “Petal! Come and get me! Ambrose can’t hold on much longer and when he lets go I’m done for!” the last word ended on a terrified squeal. There was a scuffle and some indignant yells, a sound like small gravel stones hitting the side of the flue.

            “ Aubergene! What is happen…?” Petal’s question was interrupted as a deposit of soot landed on her upturned face, filling her eyes and coating her whiskers. However she didn’t have much time to lament her situation as almost immediately after this rude invasion, she was knocked aside by two rather large flying missiles.

After Petal had blinked her eyes several times and given herself a good shake to dislodge most of the soot, she manage to focus on the cause of the entire disruption. There in front of her were two identical black mice. Each looked as woebegone as the other. Ambrose was sitting on the bricks at the hearth surrounded by soot and ashes, and there next to him lying very still was Aubergene, hanging on to his twin’s tail.