Legend from Mouseville

The summer heat was dying like the leaves on the trees. Gusts of wind whisk the fields of hay. Not so long ago, fresh bales roll across the scape of the horizon. A lull glow shined through the shadows on the field's edge. As the sun-kissed, the sky ever so gently in its morning rise.

All the little mice in the field were getting ready for the winter's wake. They were hustling around gathering stings, stands of long grass, making little hideaways for them to rest the winter away.

One mouse named Raymond didn't like the snow. No mouse does! He was constantly complaining to all the other mice that they shouldn't have to live this way. "Out in the field, impoverished." As he would tell the other mice. "Gullible to the eagles, hawks and whatnot." He would rant on and on.

The other mice told Raymond to stop complaining because it wasn't that bad, but Raymond wouldn't stop.

Now there is one thing you need to know about Raymond's family; it's big! He has several cousins, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, parents, and extended family. Each mouse was tasked with a job picked for them by their mother mouse's on the first day of Spring each year.

Mother mouse was always busy with baby mice and tending to the tummy aches and wounds on the tiny furry legs of her family in the fields of Mouseville. She often got distracted, despite choosing a task for all her little ones; it got a bit confusing, as you can imagine.

One morning as Mother mouse was getting ready to get her little ones fed and off to mouse school in the fields, she noticed Raymond was missing. His task was to do perimeter checks, which he challenged constantly. Arguing with Mother mouse saying, "I seen nothing bad, we should expand the perimeter." Mother mouse had her reasons; she refused him and told him that his job was to walk the perimeter, not extend it. She assumed he was off doing his task and carried about her morning.

There was a reason why Mouseville kept to its self. Cattle were roaming the fields at times, among all the predators, just yonder the area was a homestead with a domesticated animal. There were cats. But Raymond believed something much bigger existed. Undermining his mother at times. Often not regarding her polite, "Be careful!"

Little Raymond didn't understand what the problem was with a cat. He had never seen such an animal in his life. Hardly even believing it existed. Nevertheless, the little mouse did go check the perimeter that morning. It's what happened that morning that changed Raymond.

He walked off to the path scampering all the way. When a quick claw hooked his neck. He wondered if this beast of an animal was, in fact, what his mother warned off all these years. He was pierced by fangs into his neck. A Spike of pain paralyzed the little mouse. As he dangled from the mouth of this farm feline.

Martha was a lovely cat with a fresh batch of kittens. Her kittens were hungry, and she often went to the field just beyond the barn to fetch her young a snack. She was gentle and loving with every lick of her tongue.

Martha carried Raymond to the kittens. They were all resting in the chicken barn on Gloria's fluffy nesting box. One kitten, two kittens, three kittens, four. Sitting in the hay in the barn box. When their snack arrived, the littlest kitten noticed that Raymond was alive. Runt meowed to the others, saying, "Come on, let him go, he's just little like me. I wouldn't want to be eaten. How would you feel?

Martha went off to find some shade. The kittens alone with Raymond in the chicken barn. The kittens meow back and forth, and Raymond makes a run for it in a moment of duress. Gloria clucks at Raymond, "Run!"

Raymond leaps for the barn door, each step pain riddled and frantic. He could feel wet dipping drops drizzling down the sides of his neck, and he began to feel weak. The dizziness took over, and in the heat of the morning sun, Raymond fainted.

When he awoke, he was surrounded by his family, all filled with joy that he survived. They rallied around him. They cheered, and Raymond asks his Mother mouse what happened. She replies, "Do you remember anything, my love?" Raymond was stunned with no response.

Mother mouse went on, "Gloria and Martha found you fainted. Your brother and sister mice came to your aid. Gloria helped us find you and Martha carried you home for us. She didn't like the idea of one of her kittens being gobbled up by the sly fox. So together Gloria and Martha made sure you made it home safe. You owe them a grand thank-you little Raymond. Other cats may not be so nice."

She continued telling him how they all worked together to rescue him from the barn. "We were able to locate you. I told you about the cats. Do you believe me now? I don't ever want you to question me again Raymond" She said in the sweetest, most loving yet firm tone. Kissing the little mouse on his head.

Raymond humbly stayed in Mouseville the rest of his days. He told his story of the day he nearly died to the children mice from far and wide. Telling them to stay hidden and prevented thousands of deaths. He became to advocate for the mice community to create new laws to protect the mice and create jobs. This experience truly shaped the young mind, Raymond. Becoming a legend from Mouseville. No more did Raymond complain about living in the field. Beyond the communities perimeters lay danger. He never saw Martha or Gloria again. But he understood the importance of team work and having faith. He never complained about the field life after that. And no mouse was to go to the barn ever again.