Mouse Without A House.

Once upon a time there was a mouse named Ben. Ben lived in a cosy little house beneath some trees in the middle of a wood. It was made of timber and mud. He was a lazy mouse and loved to sleep alot.

One night in bed, he noticed it was getting very windy and rainy outside. Becoming rather cold looking at this weather he decided to put some more logs on the fire which he kept lighting at the bottom of his bed. But, as he went to the fire he noticed the sticks and logs were low so he had to make a trip outside to gather some more. When he opened the front door the wind blew him back slightly "oh dear it's a terrible night out there" he said, returning to his feet. Nevertheless he stepped outside.
                     Wind and rain was making it difficult to gather the sticks. When he had enough of them he started making his way back towards his home. Suddenly "BANG!" Ben watched as a huge tree fell on his house and crushed it! "Oh no my house!" cried Ben "My lovely cosy house! Where will i live now?" he went to the house to see if any of his belongings had survived. Just about everything but a few items of clothing and his bed clothes had been destroyed. He picked up anything he could, rolled it up and carried it on his back as he set off in the storm in search of a new home. "I'm so cold and wet" said a miserable Ben "I'll never find a house as cosy as my old one"
                      Ben walked a long time in the wind and rain. It was morning and by now the storm was settling and becoming less windy. He came to a tree with a big hole at the bottom and went inside.
Inside the house, Ben looked around and thought "Maybe i could live here". There was a hole in the ceiling perfect to light a fire beneath. He was cold so gathered up some sticks outside and began to set up a fire. He lit it and put down his blanket to try and get some sleep but as he was getting into bed he heard much too loud crackling behind him and he turned to see what was going on. "Oh no! the tree has caught fire!" He threw some wet leaves on the flames to put it out, grabbed his things and left the tree. It was not for Ben.
                     Again he walked for a long time and sat for a rest on a log. Just then a bird flew down when she saw the sad mouse. She was a Wren. "Hello, what's the matter? why are you so sad?" she asked. "It's my house, it was crushed by a tree last night and now i have nowhere to live" he replied.
"Oh, you poor thing i think i know somewhere you could live. Follow me." said the little bird as she took flight. Ben jumped up and ran after the her. He followed her until he came to an old shoe. The little mouse climbed in and said "You know, it is very cosy. I think i shall be very happy here thank you. "You are most welcome" replied the bird and flew off without another word. Ben tried to settle into his new house and was a bit cold. He gathered some sticks and this time the shoe did not catch fire but all the heat went out the big opening at the top of the shoe. So Ben had no choice but to keep looking, for he was cold and miserable and could not live in a cold shoe.
                    On his journey, he again became tired and sat for another rest. Up high he heard movement. It was a squirrel she too had seen the sad little mouse. "Hello. What's wrong? Why do you look very sad?" asked the squirrel. "Well" replied Ben, "last night my house was destroyed in the storm when a tree fell on it" "Oh no! That's terrible" replied the squirrel "and you don't have anywhere else to go?" "No" said Ben sadly "I have been searching all night but cannot find the right place for me". "come with me". said the squirrel, "I think i know just the place". So he followed the squirrel until they came to a little birds nest high up in a tree. It was round like a ball and had a little hole in the front. "Are you sure nobody lives here?" Ben asked. "Yes i am certain. This nest has been empty for years". Ben climbed up and into the nest. "Wow this is the cosiest house yet thank you very much" "You're welcome" replied the squirrel as she climbed and jumped away from tree to tree. So Ben lay down his blanket and as the nest was warm didn't need to light a fire. He closed his eyes and was about to go to sleep when suddenly the nest began to move slightly. It brought Ben to his feet and before he knew it he was tumbling towards the ground as the nest came away from the tree. "Ah!"  cried Ben. He hit the ground and some moss broke his fall. He set off again.
                    Ben was very tired, cold and sad that he could not find a new house. He came to a river and sat down beside it. "I'm going to be cold and wet forever!" he said to himself with certainty. "If only i could live here and enjoy this lovely river view everyday." The river was surrounded by trees with flowers scattered all around the bottom of them. Although it was cold, the sky was blue and the sun began to shine. Everywhere looked very beautiful. Then something caught Bens eye. There was something shining over by a tree at the riverside. He went for a closer look and what was it only an old kettle.The kettle was surrounded by flowers of every colour there was a hole in the side and the lid remained intact. The spout would make a great chimney and the lid would keep the heat in. It was perfect! Ben lit a fire and set out his blanket and got into bed and lay down. He was the most snug, cosiest mouse that ever lived in that wood. Finally he had found a new home in the loveliest place imaginable. Ben slept well that night.

                                                                                                                     by Paul Broughall.