Mable Finds A Home


from the ABC set Childrens Animal Stories

She lay there alone on the floor . Her little eyes twitched but
refused to close as sleep begged to invade another lonely night .
A cold silence engulfed her in its heavy grip .
The little teddy bear tried not to feel sad as she looked up at the
window of the empty house . Raindrops run down the window pane . Her
eyes began to close and suddenly opened wide as the silence was broken
by a little mouse that scurried across the wooden floorboards .
The mouse stopped dead in its tracks and looked at the teddy bear
.
" What's the matter ?"
Said the mouse .

"What do you care ?"
The teddy bear replied .

"I guess you don't want to talk then ."
The mouse said .

"If you want to listen I will talk . "
The teddy bear said .

The little mouse moved across the floor and sat beside the teddy bear
.
"Ok then I'm listening .
Said the mouse ."

The teddy bear started to talk .
"Well you see its like this I used to have a family . They all lived
here in this with me . My friend's name was Molly . Sometimes she took
me to school with her and she told me stories . Then one day I woke up
and she was gone . Everything in my life had just disappeared ."

"I have an idea . If you just give me a day or two I'll be back
."
Said the mouse and then scurried off .

The next day the mouse returned and came over to the teddy .

"I've investigated the situation . Your family have moved house.
All the mice in the neighbourhood saw the big removal truck arrive one
day and take everything away . I tracked down the removal company and
there record book show that Molly and her family are in a place called
Beijing
In China ."

"In China ?"
The teddy said .

The mouse continued .
"That's right . Now Teddy my friends and I are going to help get you
back to your family . Don't worry about a thing . I've done this kind
of thing before ."

"I don't know what to say .Could you really bring me back to Molly
?"
The teddy said .

The mouse smiled and said ,
"Sure . Now listen . The first thing we have to do is get you on the
milk truck in the morning . That will bring you to the bridge at the
end of the village . From there you will have to jump off the bridge on
to the roof of a passing harbour train . You must stay on that train
until it stops at the wharfs . I've already made arrangements with the
dock rodents to get you on board a ship for China . Once you are on
board find a place to rest until you make it to China . I've had to use
some special telepathy skills to contact our mace relations in China .
They will meet you as soon as you land . My Chinese connection know
where Molly lives and they will bring you to her home . Send me a post
card and let me know how you things go ."

The teddy did a back flip and screamed out for joy .
"Thank you ."

"The mouse said ,
"Just be happy ."

Action started early the next day . As the milkman walked up the path
next door the teddy jumped inside his hand crate and got a lift up on
to the truck.
The milkman was soon back on the road and heading down towards the
bridge . Right on time the train was passing by and teddy made a leap
from the truck landing on the roof of the train . later that day the
train arrived near the docks . At twilight a group of friendly water
rats came and said hello and brought the teddy to the waiting ship
.

A week passed and the ship arrived in China . A number of mice greeted
the teddy and took over the final stage of the journey .
In no time at all the little Teddy was waiting there outside the front
door of Molly's house . The door bell was rung by one of the acrobatic
mice .
The door opened and Molly screamed . She grabbed the teddy and raced
inside the house . Filled with delight Molly hugged the teddy and said
,

"Mable I thought I lost you . "

"That's right "
Thought teddy .
"My name is Mable. "

Molly rushed over to her mother and ssaid ,
"Look what I just found Mum ."

She held Mable up in the air . Mollys Mum took the teddy and checked it
over .
"Why I can't believe it . It's Mable . Where was she ?"
Said Molly's Mum .

"Outside the front door Mum "
Said Molly .

Her mum replied ,
"Didn't you say you forgot to pack her when we left New York ?"

"I did . But here she is ."
Molly said .

From that moment on Molly and Mable were permanently attatched .
They lived in China for three months before returning back to New
York.
Teddy was never alone again . Molly grew up and became a Mother herself
and Mable was still a big part of the family .

By Paul McCann

THE END

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