The Clumsies Make A Mess. Sorrel Anderson
it then?’ asked the mouse, sounding confused.
‘As a matter of fact it is,’ said Howard. ‘I think you’d better tell me who you are.’
‘He’s Mickey Thompson,’ said the mouse, poking his, brother’s tummy.
‘I can tell him,’ said Mickey Thompson, wriggling, and poking his brother back.
‘I’m Mickey Thompson,’ announced Mickey Thompson, to Howard.
‘Pleased to meet you, Mickey Thompson,’ said Howard.
‘And I’m Purvis,’ said the first mouse, thumping himself on the chest.
‘Purvis what?’ said Howard.
‘Purvis what?’ said Purvis.
‘Or what Purvis?’ said Howard.
‘That Purvis,’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘There’s only one, and he’s him.’ Mickey Thompson prodded Purvis in the ribs, and there was a small scuffle.
Howard’s head was beginning to throb. ‘That’s enough, you two,’ said Howard. ‘When you’re in my office you’ll behave, or I shall put you under that glass again.’
Purvis and Mickey Thompson behaved.
‘That’s better,’ said Howard. He went over to a side table and clattered about, putting the kettle on … and finding two extra mugs.
‘Tea?’
‘Yes please,’ said Purvis.
‘Have you got any juice?’ asked Mickey Thompson.
‘No,’ said Howard. ‘It’s tea or cold coffee.’
‘Tea please,’ said Mickey Thompson, pulling a face. ‘Have you got any more
‘Don’t push your luck,’ said Howard.
While Howard made the tea the mice climbed up on to his desk and had a look around.
‘Absolutely not,’ said Howard. ‘Leave everything exactly as it is.’ There was a loud crash as Mickey Thompson
Howard rushed over.
‘Oops!’ said Mickey Thompson, happily.
‘Sorry!’ said Purvis, hauling him out.
‘Will you be careful,’ said Howard. ‘I’m fond of that plant.’
‘Yes, it’s lovely,’ said Purvis, trying to jam a flower back on its stalk.
‘Could I have a piece of that sausage, do you think?’ asked Mickey Thompson, eyeing it.
‘Oh, go on then,’ sighed Howard. ‘Help yourself.’
So Mickey Thompson tucked into Howard’s breakfast while Purvis swept pieces of plant on to the floor, and Howard fetched the mugs of tea.
‘Right,’ said Howard. ‘You’d better tell me why you’re here.’
‘We live here,’ explained Purvis.
Howard closed his eyes and made a groaning noise.
‘Why are you groaning?’ asked Mickey Thompson, cheerfully.
‘Where’s “here”?’ said Howard.
‘Err, here in this building,’ said Purvis.
‘Where in this building?’ pressed Howard.
‘Under your desk,’ said Mickey Thompson.
‘Because,’ Purvis continued quickly, ‘we thought it seemed like a very nice place.’ ‘Biscuits!’ said Mickey Thompson, helpfully.
‘And you seem like a very nice man,’ said Purvis, hopefully.
‘H’rumph,’ said Howard Armitage.
‘And there isn’t really anywhere else we can go,’ said Purvis, studying his tea.
Howard sighed. ‘Oh, yes, all right then,’ he said. ‘You can stay.’
Hurray!’ said Mickey Thompson. ‘Can I have some more sausage?’
‘If you must,’ said Howard, getting up. ‘Right. I’ve got to go to a meeting. Don’t touch anything on that desk while I’m away.’
‘How about under it?’ asked Purvis.
‘Fine,’ said Howard.
So Howard went off to his meeting and the two mice started rimmaging underneath the desk.
By the time Howard got back there was a large pile of clutter in the middle of the room. Propped against it was a LONG cardboard tube, which the mice were busy using in a game.
‘Look, Howard!’ called Mickey Thompson, sliding down the tube and landing at Howard’s feet.
‘I can see!’ said Howard.
‘Are there any more cardboard tubes?’ asked Purvis, puffing slightly.
‘I expect so,’ said Howard.
‘Why?’
‘If we could make the course bigger, we could win more points,’ said Purvis.
‘I’ll see what I can find,’ said Howard. ‘How do you win the points, anyway?’
Purvis took a deep breath. ‘You have to go round, over and through; through, round and over; over round and through; over, through and round; round, through and over; through, over and round, in the right order; then you do it all again in a different right order and after that it gets difficult to explain.’
Howard shuddered.
‘Well, we’ve started now,’ said Purvis, ‘so we might as well get to the end!’
‘If you say so,’ said Howard.
He left them to it and went to fetch the cardboard tubes from the storeroom, which was down a corridor, along a corridor, and up a flight of stairs. But when he arrived, the door wouldn’t open.
‘That’s funny,’ muttered Howard, rattling the handle. He put his shoulder against the door and shoved.
It crashed open and Howard tipped in, tripped over,