There's a Mouse In the Store

by Timothy Ayers

  "Mr. Candyman, sir. That is what I want for my friends. It is absolutely delicious. In fact it is fudgilicious delicious. Give me two pounds of your finest fudge." Judachew was amazed that the Candyman didn't react to the fact that he was a mouse. As the Candyman packed up his fudge, Judachew wanted to ask why the Candyman was such a nice person when suddenly Riley poked him.

  "Hide! Tony is coming," she whispered.

  Judachew turned to see a young man talk into the two-way radio he held to his ear. He called out, "Security" in his hispanic accent.

  "Oops, we're busted," came from Riley's mouth.

  Chapter 6

  Riley jumped in front of Tony and pleaded, "Tony, no don't. This is my friend, Judachew. He is here doing his Christmas shopping before he goes back home."

  Tony smiled at Riley. Judachew was beginning to think that everyone at Boscov's smiled all the time. "You better explain yourself, Miss Riley. Does your grandmother know that you brought a mouse into her store?"

  "No and, please, don't tell her or I am going to get grounded until I get married. I am trying to help out my friend, Judachew. That is all we are doing. He just bought awesome-triple-fudgilicious-delicious-chocolately-heaven fudge and now we are headed to the Auditorium for a few more gifts, then home. I promise it will only be another minute," Riley begged before hearing someone clear his throat behind her. She turned slowly and saw the penetrating eyes of her grandmother's assistant manager, Frank, staring down at her.

  "Riley, do you always bring your pet mouse into the store? Do you know what your grandmother will do to you?" he asked. Riley was getting her reprimand from both sides as she swiveled her head from back to front to back again.

  "Yeah, she'll ground me until I go to a nursing home but please don't tell her, Frank and Tony. We'll get our gifts and run out of here quickly," she promised while crossing her heart like a cub scout.

  "Yes, gentlemen. I just need something for my mother, brothers, sisters and my friend, Alexa. Then I promise I will scurry out of here like the mouse that I am. If I was a scout then I would say, 'scout's honor,'" Judachew told them after watching Riley.

  Both men took a step back as their mouths dropped open. They had never heard of a talking mouse before. Tony looked at Frank and said, "Is this one of our new toys? This is going to be a big, big seller. We need to order a truckload of these cute little guys."

  "There aren't any rumors about such a thing. He is perfect. You are right about ordering a few semi loads of this adorable fellow. I have get them for all my relatives. This is great," Frank said as he stooped down to pick up Judachew. Riley stopped him.

  "He's not a toy. He is a real mouse," she reported defiantly as she stood up for Judachew's mousehood.

  Judachew knew that if they believed he was a real mouse, they would have security cage him and toss him out back by the dumpster. He had to make them believe he was the adorable toy they wanted to see. If they thought he was a toay then they would let him stay. Judachew began a stiff-legged march with his arms swinging wide from front to back while saying, "Where is the cheese? Merry Cheesemas!"

  Tony looked at Frank again, shaking his head and beaming with happiness and said, "Why didn't Pat tell us about this new toy? That must be why Mr. Boscov is in town today and at the store. He is going to unveil the new Boscov Toy Mouse. What a touch of marketing genius this is. "

  "Mr. B is in the store with my grandmother?" she exclaimed then looked right at Judachew. "We have to get out of here. If Mr. B catches us in here then he will ground me and my grandmother. Let's hurry. Come on!" Riley scooped Judachew up with his large bag of fudge and raced towards the Auditorium. Her friend, Pete, would sneak them out somehow. Riley's sneakers slapped the floor as she ran down the aisle heading for the room called the Auditorium. It was filled with great gifts at super low prices and was one of Mr. Boscov's favorite departments. Her friend, Pete, worked in there and he was such a good, nice man. He would help. Pete could fix it.

  As Riley turned the corner, she was unable to stop and ran right into the store trainer, Val. She crashed into Val and fell backwards to the floor. Judachew scurried off to hide under the curtains on display.

  "Oh, hi, Val. Didn't see you there. Sorry for running into you. I was just going to see my grandmother before leaving but I heard Mr. B is in town. Maybe it would be best if I just left without seeing her. Of course, you won't have to tell her I was here. It would just make her wonder and we don't want the boss wondering, do we?" Riley rattled on.

  "Riley, you do realize that this is not a playgound? You could have run into a customer and that would not turn out good for you or for the store. So, slow down. Have fun but please slow down," Val scolded.

  "Roger dodger, Val. I will obey and get myself out of here right away." Riley stood to her feet and crossed over to the curtains to find Judachew. She was pulling up each curtain to look for him when she got to the last pleated panel and raised it slowly. There behind the curtain, she found her mouse friend but next to him was a pair of legs with high heels. She remembered playing in those high heels just the week before in her grandmother's closet. It was too late. She was caught. Judachew was caught and this was not going to be a holly, jolly Christmas this year.

  Chapter 7

  Riley stood to her feet and looked at her grandmother. This was not going to be pleasant. Standing next to her was an older gentleman in a crisp, dark suit. Neither of them were smiling.

  "I guess I need to explain," Riley said.

  "We will talk at home," Grandmother said. "First though, explain what possessed you to bring a mouse into my store?"

  "No need to explain to me," said Mr. Boscov. "I know who this mouse is. He is Judachew, the singing mouse. I saw his concert last month in Philadelphia." Mr. B. bent down and shook Judachew's tiny paw. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Judachew. I hope your shopping experience at Boscov's has been a pleasant one."

  "Oh, it really has. Everyone smiles all the time and is so friendly and nice, and the Candyman makes the most wonderfully awesome-triple-fudgilicious-delicious-chocolately-heaven fudge in the world. I want to tell the whole world about Boscov's," Judachew said.

  Mr. Boscov turned to Pat, Riley's grandmother, and said with a beaming smile on his face and a gleam in his eye, "We can continue our discussion later. I want to show my new mouse friend around the store and go taste some that awesome-triple-fudgilicious-delicious-chocolately-heaven fudge." He bent over and picked up Judachew and sat him on his shoulder. As they walked away Mr. Boscov was heard saying to his mouse friend, "Have you ever thought of being a spokesperson for a store such as this? I could sure use you."

  "Do you pay in awesome-triple-fudgilicious-delicious-chocolately-heaven fudge?" Judachew asked.

  "That can be arranged," Mr. Boscov told him as they strolled through the store together.

  As Mr. Boscov and Judachew disappeared through the towels and pillows, Riley looked at her grandmother and said, "I guess I'm grounded until I die or later."

  "No, sweety. This little adventure just may turn out well for you. So, I think that, just maybe, a weekend of grounding will be sufficient. Will that be okay with you?"

  Riley smiled. A weekend hanging out with her Grandmother wouldn't be that bad at all. "Can we do popcorn and a movie? Or read a book together?" Grandmother mussed her hair and the two walked back towards Grandmother's office.