Flash! Fiction by Peter McMillan - HTML preview

65

Mouse Trapped

Alright, little mouse, I've got a special treat for you tonight — a big chunk of stinky limburger. You'll love it. Here, I'll set it out in the middle of the room. Don't worry about the propped-up shoe box.

Think of it as a ... drive-in. I'll turn off the big light so you feel more comfortable. I'm going to bed anyway. Big meeting tomorrow with the new boss.

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Good morning, little mouse! Anybody in there? Finally! Listen, I don't have a lot of time—

You're such a smart little mouse. Here, give me a couple of minutes. You can't see it right now, because you're still in the box.

Soon you'll be inside a maze. A maze I made myself. Sixteen cardboard dividers. It's the most I could fit in this one-room apartment.

You could say you're gonna have the run of the place today.

When I raise the shoe box, you'll have to find your way out. Only two exits, and one will get you killed. If you go this way, you'll have to walk across a sheet of glue paper, which sounds harmless enough, except that I'm leaving the window open a crack for Felix.

The other exit takes a lot of patience, but I think you'll appreciate how much time I put into it. If you find this exit, it'll get you home safely if you can move faster than Felix. As a special reward, I've got a fresh block of old cheddar — non-toxic, I promise — waiting for you in your mouse hole.

Either way, you'd better move fast. Remember, the window will be open, and I'll leave a can of Whiskas on the fire escape to get Felix's attention.