The Collected Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

By Susan Bourrie

This collection contains three books describing the misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse.

The Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse (C 2016)
After Mistletoe Mouse befriends a doll that has been left behind in Santa's workshop on Christmas Eve, he experiences a year of adventures and misadventures. With the help of Molly Dolly and an express reindeer, he works to make terrible Christmases terrific. Whether he is dangling from a tree, covered with seaweed, confronting a stranger, or scampering through a skyscraper, Mistletoe Mouse tackles every surprise and challenge with bravery and imagination.

More Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse (C 2020)
It has been two years since Mistletoe Mouse and Molly Dolly joined forces. With the help of Express, a reindeer who has super powers, they continue working to make terrible Christmases terrific. In this sequel, the friends help put out a forest fire, find a home for a homeless family, visit patients in the hospital, and teach a reluctant elf that there’s no place like school.

The Merry Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse (C 2021)
In this third Mistletoe Mouse book, Molly Dolly and the intrepid mouse expand their business to include not just Christmas, but the entire year. They do this by becoming Caring Consultants rather than just Christmas Consultants. Mistletoe Mouse has even more adventures and misadventures as Molly Dolly embraces technology and Junior Elf works to invent a cure for the worldwide sickness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Bourrie
• Release date: Oct 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005576707

Book preview

The

Collected Misadventures

of

Mistletoe Mouse

Susan Bourrie

Books by Susan Bourrie

The Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

More Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

The Merry Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

The Collected Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

Princess Meander

Editing, print layout, ebook conversion, and cover design by

DLD Books Editing and Self−Publishing Services

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www.dldbooks.com

Wood mouse photograph by Rudmer Zwerver

Purchased from Shutterstock

Christmas tree photograph for

this collection and

The Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

by Albie Bredenhann

Purchased from Shutterstock

Christmas tree photograph for

More Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

by Smileus

Purchased from Shutterstock

Christmas tree photograph for

The Merry Misadventures of Mistletoe Mouse

by Take Photo

Purchased from Shutterstock

Copyright 2021 by Susan Bourrie

All rights reserved

For

Mary Margaret, David Michael, Mama, and Daddy

Acknowledgements

Writing is a solitary and sometimes lonely activity. Publishing, however, takes a leap of faith and the encouragement and support of others. Therefore, it is with the deepest appreciation that I acknowledge the people who were instrumental in the publication of these books. First, there are Miss Barbara Tonelli and Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg, my high school and community college literature and writing teachers, who let me know that I was not just someone who could write, but that I was, at a very young age, also a writer. Dr. Jacquie Bowman, my career counselor at The University of Michigan Center for the Education of Women, helped me make the leap back from academic teaching to freelance writing and library services. Josie Parker, Director of the Ann Arbor District Library and her staff of reference, technology, and children’s librarians, assisted me with patience, enthusiasm, and tireless dedication as I made the adaptive technology area of the Washtenaw County Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped my office for several years. My gratitude also goes out to the Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library, where Taylor Villarreal narrated the first book in this collection and brought the characters to life for me and my readers who are also blind or visually impaired. Most of all, however, I want to express my admiration for my editor, Leonore Dvorkin, and my graphic designer, David Dvorkin, who have taken time away from their successful writing careers to mentor and groom newcomers to the challenging world of book publishing. Their special mission to help writers who are blind or visually impaired is creating a body of blind literature that includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, autobiography, memoir, and books for children.

EBookCover

The Misadventures

of

Mistletoe Mouse

For

Mary Margaret and David Michael

Chapter One

First Christmas

Christmas can be a lonely day at the North Pole. Santa and his reindeer spend hours and hours resting after their long sleigh ride. And the elves who cleaned their workshop until very late like to sleep the next day.

It sure is quiet around here, a little mouse named Mistletoe thought. He let out a big yell to try to break the silence, but it seemed to close in around him until he almost couldn’t breathe.

Surely someone is up and about, he grumbled as he walked into Santa’s workshop.

Inside, a beautiful doll was sitting all alone. The other toys had been loaded on Santa’s sleigh and were being played with by boys and girls all over the world. Molly Dolly could not go on Santa’s sleigh. Her long, silky hair lay around her shoulders, waiting to be curled. Her white bow needed to be tied. And her shiny silver shoes were still on the cobbler’s bench. She was very sad. She missed all the other toys. She missed the elves and Santa. But most of all, she missed Christmas. One tiny snowflake tear glistened in the corner of her eye.

What are you doing here? Mistletoe Mouse asked. Hey, can’t you hear me? I said, what are you doing here?

The tiny snowflake tear in Molly Dolly’s eye grew and grew until it had no place else to go except down her cheek, where it melted.

Oh, dear, Mistletoe Mouse said.

A second later, Molly Dolly felt a warm, soft kiss where the snowflake tear had fallen.

Who are you? she sobbed.

I’m Mistletoe Mouse! he answered.

Mistletoe Mouse? Molly Dolly sniffled. That’s a strange name for a mouse.

Not really, he said. I am the tiniest mouse at the North Pole, and my job is climbing to the tops of trees and shrubs where the branches are all shoved together to get the mistletoe no one else can reach. I put the last of the mistletoe on Santa’s sleigh yesterday.

The mention of Santa’s sleigh made another snowflake tear start to form in Molly Dolly’s eye.

Oh! No! No! You mustn’t do that, Mistletoe Mouse said firmly. You mustn’t cry on Christmas Day. This is a day to be happy.

But how can I be happy? Molly Dolly cried. It’s Christmas Day, and I’m not ready. My hair isn’t curled. My bow isn’t tied. And my shoes are still over on the cobbler’s bench.

You still look beautiful to me, Mistletoe Mouse said, kissing her cheek again. But if you want all that other stuff done, I guess I’ll just have to do it.

He scurried over to the cobbler’s bench and slowly pushed and pulled and tugged and strained until he reached Molly Dolly with one of her shiny silver shoes. Then he hurried back to the cobbler’s bench and slowly brought her the other one. Here, he panted. Put these on.

Molly Dolly put on the shiny silver shoes and smiled. Oh, they are so beautiful! she said. They make me want to dance.

Mistletoe Mouse watched as Molly Dolly danced around the toy shelf. Sit down, now. Sit down, he warned. You will trip over that bow if you’re not careful. Come here and let me tie it for you.

Molly Dolly sat down on the edge of the shelf and dangled her feet over the edge. Mistletoe Mouse tried several times to tie the bow on her dress, but he kept getting caught inside the knot and had to ask Molly Dolly to untie it for him. But he didn’t stop trying. On the twenty−fifth try, he succeeded in making a perfect bow.

Now all that needed to be fixed was Molly Dolly’s hair. Mistletoe Mouse patiently wrapped each strand around his tail and thought warm, steamy thoughts. He thought about Florida and Hawaii. He thought about fireplaces and roasting marshmallows. And he thought about being chased by Mrs. Claus’ cats. In no time at all, his tail was as hot as a curling iron, and Molly Dolly’s hair was as curly as a pig’s tail.

Mistletoe Mouse stepped back and took a long look. You’re the most beautiful doll I’ve ever seen, he whispered.

Thank you very much, kind mouse. Molly Dolly smiled brightly. But when she remembered that it was Christmas Day and she was left behind in Santa’s workshop, she began to cry an avalanche of snowflake tears.

Mistletoe Mouse wanted to tell Molly Dolly to stop crying, but he knew that would only make her cry more. And he wanted to tell her some funny stories and jokes to make her laugh, but he knew that would only make her sadder. So he just sat beside her and rested his tiny head in the palm of her hand. When she sighed, he sighed. When she pouted, he pouted.

Why are you so sad? Molly Dolly sniffled.

Because you are, he sobbed. Because this is your first Christmas, and it is just terrible, and no one should have a terrible Christmas.

But I’ll have many other Christmases, she said, trying to sound cheerful. And they won’t be like this one. They will be great.

But what will you do this Christmas? Mistletoe Mouse asked. Will you just sit here and pout and cry?

Oh, no! Molly Dolly said quickly, jumping to her feet. I will make plans. I will dream about next Christmas and the Christmas after that and the Christmas after that. I won’t be left behind then. I will be way ahead of everyone else.

Mistletoe Mouse liked Molly Dolly’s ideas. Can I help? he asked.

Of course, she answered. We will be partners: ‘Molly and Mistletoe, Christmas Consultants.’

Excuse me, Mistletoe Mouse interrupted shyly. But, er, ah, ‘Mistletoe and Molly, Christmas Consultants’ sounds much better.

Yes, it does, Molly Dolly agreed. We must begin now. There isn’t a minute to lose. There are so many people who need our help—so very many people who are always running late at Christmas.

Like Santa’s elves, Mistletoe Mouse grumbled. They are always running late. We’ll make sure no toys are left behind next year.

Make a list, Molly Dolly told the mouse as she jumped down from the toy shelf and put a piece of paper in the elves’ typewriter.

Mistletoe Mouse hopped up on the typewriter keys. While Molly Dolly walked anxiously across the room, telling Mistletoe Mouse her ideas, he jumped from key to key, typing their Christmas checklist.

No one will start making toys after November 30th, she said. And Rudolph must start polishing his nose by December 15th.

All trees must be decorated before Christmas Eve, Mistletoe Mouse said as he jumped merrily from the t to the r.

And extra Christmas cookies must be baked for friends and neighbors, Molly Dolly added.

Mistletoe Mouse agreed and stopped typing long enough to take a deep breath. Then he started typing again. By the time Santa and his elves came out to the workshop, Mistletoe and Molly Dolly were in the middle of their tenth page.

Hey! What do you think you’re doing? the elves asked angrily when they saw Mistletoe Mouse hopping on their typewriter.

Making sure no one ever has to have a terrible Christmas, Molly Dolly answered.

Helping people to have a little more peace on earth, Mistletoe Mouse added.

How do you think you can do that? Santa asked.

By teaching people to plan ahead, Molly Dolly answered.

And by telling them that even when Christmas doesn’t turn out the way they planned, it can still be great, Mistletoe Mouse said cheerfully.

Santa looked carefully at Molly Dolly with her hair curled, her bow tied, and her shiny silver shoes on. He was very pleased. You did a fine job, Mistletoe Mouse, he said.

Mistletoe Mouse bowed his head bashfully and turned a pale shade of red.

Come up to the house and join Mrs. Claus and me for Christmas dinner, Santa said as he walked out the door. The turkey is just about ready.

Molly Dolly and Mistletoe Mouse ran eagerly behind him. When they reached his house, Mrs. Claus was waiting at the door. Merry Christmas, she said.

Merry, merry Christmas, said Molly Dolly and Mistletoe Mouse. Merry, merry Christmas.

Chapter Two

Snow Business

The year passed quickly, and a new Christmas was only a few weeks away. We will be very busy soon, Santa told Molly Dolly and Mistletoe Mouse. My reindeer, Express, will whisk you off to a warmer climate for a rest and some sunshine before the hard work begins. Have a good time, and come back ready to start working.

Mistletoe Mouse gasped as the biggest reindeer he had ever seen clip−clopped over to them. I can’t sit way up there, the little mouse teased. I’ll get a nosebleed!

Hop on, the reindeer ordered. I’ll give you some gum to chew so your ears won’t pop.

Molly Dolly put Mistletoe Mouse on her shoulder and climbed on Express’ back. In a wink, they were standing on a sandy beach in California and waving goodbye to their new friend. Call me when you’re ready to return to the North Pole, Express told them as he flew up into the clear blue sky.

Within minutes, Molly Dolly and Mistletoe Mouse were playing in the sand. Molly Dolly built an Alpine village, while Mistletoe Mouse burrowed between the houses, making hills and valleys.

We must talk, Molly Dolly said. When we go back to the North Pole, it will be time for us to start helping people make terrible Christmases terrific.

Okay, Mistletoe sputtered, coming up for air. But first, I’ll help you fill in the holes in your buildings.

Molly Dolly added more water to the sand in front of her. Then she took small amounts of wet sand and carefully put them in place near the chimney of one of the houses. Mistletoe Mouse took smaller pieces and began filling in holes.

Hey, rodent! a voice called. What do you think you’re doing?

Mistletoe Mouse looked up and saw two boys stomping through the sand.

Hey, rodent! the voice said again. I asked you a question.

Mistletoe Mouse stood up as tall as his tiny frame could stretch. I am not ‘Hey, rodent,’ he said firmly. I am Mistletoe Mouse, and this is my friend, Molly Dolly.

Hi, straw head, the voice replied. I’m Joey, and this is my friend, Jamie. What’s this crummy thing you’re building?

This is an Alpine village, Molly Dolly said proudly.

Oh, yeah? Joey said in a very mean voice. Well, if this is an Alpine village, it should have some snow. He bent down and picked up handfuls of sand and threw them down at the village.