Suddenly the garage was bathed in flashing blue light. A megaphone voice boomed out, ‘This is the police. Throw your weapons out of the building and come out with your hands in the air.’
Louise looked up and saw the gun barrel being raised. She took her chance and with her last bit of strength limped as quickly as she could across the floor and hide behind the motorcycle.
The biker surveyed the devastated garage and gulped.
Five minutes later the biker was being lead from the garage in handcuffs by two police officers. He protested, ‘I was just trying to kill a mouse.’
The policemen glanced at each other. One said, ‘Of course you were.’ He made a crazy sign to his colleague.
Louise was covered in oil, cold, tired, hungry and her body ached. She looked at her tail and saw a powder burn. She limped to the oily rag, wrapped it around herself and tried to sleep. A tear rolled down her cheek. In her half-conscious state she thought of the theatre, Squeak and Rolo. She mumbled, ‘I wish I was back there. I wonder if I’ll ever see them again.’
Squeak and Rolo sat on the rail watching the screen. A handsome singer appeared and music filled the theatre. They both looked across at where Louise used to sit. Squeak’s shoulders sagged. Rolo puts his paw on Squeak’s shoulder. ‘I’m sure she’ll be back.’
Squeak did a half smile. ‘I hope she’s OK.’
The morning light filled the den at the top of the theatre. Squeak stretched and then made his way out on to the rail. He looked down and saw Mr Rae and Froggy.
The theatre manager appeared. ‘Good to see you both again. Has Froggy done his patrol to make sure the pesky mice don’t come back?’
Mr Rae shook his head. ‘He’s just about to start.’ He looked down at Froggy. ‘Aren’t you boy?’
Froggy nodded.
The theatre manager rubbed his hands. ‘Good. I’ll get the usher to start cooking the burgers and get you some toffee coated popcorn.’
Mr Rae smiled then stroked Froggy. ‘Off you go boy.’
Froggy started his patrol. Squeak climbed down to the theatre floor. Froggy was sitting in their usual meeting place.
Froggy asked, ‘How are things? You look really down.’
Squeak shook his head. ‘Not good. Louise went off on a motorcycle.’
‘Are you serious?’
‘Yes. She saw a film about a woman travelling across the country on a motorcycle and decided she wanted to do the same. Then a biker stopped across the road from the theatre and she leapt on to the motorbike. Then her and the motorcycle disappeared into the distance.’
Froggy patted Squeak’s shoulder with his paw. ‘I’m sure she’ll be OK.’
Squeak did a half-smile. ‘Can you ask your friends to keep an eye out for her?’
‘Of course.’
‘Thanks.’
Froggy winked. ‘I supposed I’d better report the theatre is still mouse free.’
Squeak put his paw on Froggy. ‘You’re a true friend.’
The morning light flooded into the garage. Louise woke slowly. Her body ached and her leg hurt. She looked at her scorched tail and gently stroked it. The sound of a car drawing up and a door slamming broke into her thoughts. She crawled under the remains of the work chest.
A minute later the biker appeared in the garage. He looked around at the wreckage and shrugged. ‘How am I going to get that mouse? They took my guns!’ He scratched his head then clicked his fingers and smiled. ‘I’ll call the exterminator.’
Louise felt her heart sink.
Two hours later the front door rang. Louise peered out from her hiding place.
The biker opened the door. ‘Thanks for coming so quickly.’
‘No problem. We are always ready to help.’
Louise instantly recognised the voice. Mr Rae.
Then the biker and Mr Rae appeared in the garage. Mr Rae stood opened mouthed. ‘What happened here?’
The biker shrugged. ‘I saw a mouse and tried to kill it with a shotgun.’
Mr Rae smiled benignly at the biker. ‘I’ll go and get my tools.’ Moments later Mr Rae re-appeared with a big wire cage. He looked into the cage. ‘Well Froggy, second job of the day. In this garage there’s a tasty mouse for you to get your teeth into.’ He opened the cage. ‘Now go and get the little blighter.’ Froggy strode out and sniffed the air.
The biker asked, ‘How long will it take?’
‘Froggy’s the best. He’ll catch the mouse in a few hours.’
‘I hate mice more than anything in the world. While your cat’s catching the bugger, why don’t we have a drink?’
Mr Rae’s eyes lit up. ‘It’s a bit early, but I’m sure a small one wouldn’t hurt.’
The biker gestured and Mr Rae followed him. As he went through the door he winked at Froggy. ‘We won’t be long.’
Froggy grinned and started to prowl. ‘Show yourself mouse!’
Louise croaked, ‘The last time we met you crushed my tail!’
‘Louise! Squeak has been really worried about you.’
Louise’s heart lifted. She crawled out into the light. Froggy ran across to her. ‘You look like you need help.’
Louise nodded.
‘Climb on to my back. I’ll take you back to the theatre.’
‘Do you know the way?’
‘No but I’m sure we’ll find it.’
‘What about Mr Rae?’
‘He’ll be gone for hours. As soon as he starts drinking he doesn’t stop until he falls asleep. Come on we’d better get moving.’
Froggy crouched down on the floor and Louise slowly crawled on to his back and then snuggled deeply into his long fur. The next thing Froggy heard was the sound of Louise sleeping. Froggy liked the feel of Louise curled up on his back and felt protective.
Froggy looked around and saw an opening at the side of the garage door. He squeezed through and stood in the bright sunlight. He looked left then right. Scratched his chin and began to walk along the path into the town.
Froggy had been walking for thirty minutes when he saw a fenced in Cairn Terrier madly barking. Froggy looked at the dog. ‘Can you tell me the way to the theatre?’
‘I can’t help you I’m too busy trying to get my toy back.’ The dog looked up and started barking at a small white toy bear stuck in the fence.
Froggy asked, ‘Is that your toy?’
‘Yes. I was shaking it and let go. It ended up in the fence.’
‘How are you trying to get it down?’
‘I’m barking at it.’
Froggy rolled his eyes then glanced around and saw a low hanging branch. ‘If I get your toy will you help us?’
‘It’s against the dog code but if you get my favourite toy I’ll help you.’
Froggy climbed along the branch and pushed the toy which landed at the dog’s feet. The dog wagged it tails. ‘Thanks. Where are you going?’
‘I’m taking my friend back to the theatre.’ Froggy leans forward so the dog could see Louise curled up on his back.
‘The mouse looks pretty battered. You’re a cat. Why are you helping a mouse?’
‘We’re friends.’ Froggy waved his paw down the road. ‘I think it’s that way.’
The dog shook his head then ran off to get a stick. He drew a series of lines in the dirt. He spat out the stick and pointed with his paw. ‘You are here. The theatre is thirty or forty streets down and probably ten across.’
‘Thanks.’ Froggy turned to walk away then looked at the dog. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Ollie.’
‘Thanks Ollie.’
‘I’ll bark out to all the other dogs and they’ll point you in the right direction.’
Froggy smiled. Then Ollie started to howl.
As Froggy turned to walk away, Ollie called after him, ‘Better take care. A mad Alsatian lives near the theatre.’
‘Don’t worry we’ll be careful.’
Froggy carried on walking for half an hour. As he walked a
long various dogs pointed him in the right direction. Eventually he looked at the road signs and wondered if they were close. Then he saw a mouse trying to drag a package of sandwiches along the street.
Froggy asked, ‘Can you help me?’
The mouse looked up, stared at Froggy and froze.
Froggy pointed with his paw. ‘Is it that the way to the theatre?’
The mouse turned to run and Froggy instinctively landed his paw on the mouse’s tail. The mouse tried to run, but it paws just slipped on the pavement then it closed its eyes, put its paws together and started to pray.
Froggy said, ‘I’m trying to get back my friend back to the theatre. Do you know the way?’
The mouse opened an eye. Froggy leant forward so the mouse could see Louise. ‘I need to get her home. She’s been hurt.’
The mouse’s jaw dropped open then he pointed. ‘It’s one street down and one street across.’
Froggy removed his paw from the mouse’s tail. ‘Thanks. Do you want a hand with the sandwich?’
The mouse nodded and with a single swipe of his paw, Froggy opened the package and sliced the sandwich into easily manageable chunks.
The mouse smiled then stood and stared as Froggy made his way along the street. As Froggy went round a corner he saw a large dark Alsatian. The Alsatian sniffed the air, turned and stared at Froggy. The Alsatian snarled, ‘I know you.’ It bared its teeth and started to drag its owner towards Froggy.
Froggy immediately turned and ran back the way he’d come with the Alsatian in hot pursuit, its owner desperately trying to keep hold of its lead. As Froggy turned the corner he saw the mouse. Froggy yelled out, ‘Run. We’re being chased by a mad dog.’
The mouse jumped out of the way as Froggy bounded past. Then the mouse pushed a drinks bottle out into the path. The Alsatian side-stepped the