My Christmas Gift To You

Oh My Gosh!

I was tightly tucked into my soft cozy bed
On a miserable, rain-pelting night,
When all of a sudden I heard a “squeak squeak,”
And shot up in bed in a fright.

I flicked on the light and to my delight,

Saw the tiny black eyes of a mouse,

I laughed with relief and then blurted out loud,

“Oh my gosh, there’s a mouse in my house!”

“Oh dear Mr. Mouse you half-scared me to death,

Please, never do that again.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I’m glad to be here,

My name is Benny-- or Ben.

“The cat in the barn was chasing me round,

No fun for a mouse you’ll agree.

Your home is so warm, and I mean you no harm,

Is there room in that fine bed for me?”

“I can’t sleep with a mouse, you’ll keep me awake,

But there’s room in the shawl on the chair.”

He snuggled right down, said thanks and goodnight,

Content in his new little lair.

It was just before dawn when Ben woke me up,

His whiskers tickled my nose,

He said, “Breakfast is served, my special Monsieur,

Ground grains, some milk and a rose.”

“There’s raw oats in my bowl,” I said with a laugh,

“And where did you learn to speak French?”

“I’m quite well-schooled for a mouse,” he said,

As he leaned on my old parson’s bench.

“If you get rid of that cat I’ll leave you alone

And go back to my home in the shed,

But if the cat still remains and you send me back out,

By morning I’ll surely be dead.”

“Dear Benny or Ben, I won’t send you back,

But that cat keeps my grain sacks intact.

Without that big Tom I’d have holes in each bag

And the barn would be full of fat rats.

“Oh dear, what a problem we both have to solve,

Let’s put our bright brains to the test,

We’ll make up a plan that will satisfy all

And then we can both take a rest.”

“You could grow rows of oats on the back of your farm

And the rats could live way out there,

Tom can come in and be a house cat

And finally be out of my hair.”

“I don’t really want a cat in my house

And Tom wouldn’t like to be here.

But perhaps the idea of oats grown out back

Might work as a plan for next year.”

“Next year, dear Monsieur, is a lifetime away,

Where will I lodge in the cold?

Perhaps I could stay in this fine house of yours?

I know my request is quite bold.”

“A mouse in my house? I’ll have to think long

For it’s a strange thing to do, I must say.”

“But Monsieur, I can bring you breakfast in bed

And help in a thousand more ways.”

“And what would those be, my new little friend?

Just what would you do in my house?”

“I could dust with my tail and carry small pails,

I’m quite an industrious mouse.

“I can read all those stories you have on the shelf,

I can scare away burglars and mice,

I can check out your drains and hide behind doors

And clean up spilled cheese bits and rice.

"I can thread a needle to darn your socks

When your hands begin to shake,

And I can gnaw through hard-to-open bags

To help you when you bake.

"I can shred old files or paper towels

For lining your pillows and hats,

I can look in the attic for leaks in the roof

And squeal to scare off the bats."

“You’re very convincing, and I must agree

You could be of help my dear Ben.”

“Oh thank you Monsieur, you’ll have no regrets,

I think we’ll become best of friends.”

“It’s agreed. For the winter, we’ll both share my house,

And revisit the plan in the spring,

Now scoot to the barn and gather your stuff,

While I clean out a drawer for your things."

© 2008 Karyn Ruddick

A song for Ben and the farmer with the big heart.

Many thanks to Caren, Cynthia, my writing club and many others who continue to encourage me to write.

Merry Christmas!