Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary

“My oldest cousin first,” he directed. His relative climbed into the passenger’s seat and pulled his tail in after him. “That’s the way,” said Ralph with approval. “Now take a deep breath, and we’ll both go vroom .” Together the cousins vroomed around the lobby, down the long hall and back, faster than Ralph could have driven alone.
    â€œNext,” Ralph said, when he had returned his passenger. “And by the way,” he said to his relatives, as his next cousin in line climbed into the car, “in school human beings learn things by grades. So older human children learn harder things than younger human children.”
    The mice caught on at once. “Riding in sports cars is for older mice,” one cousin said. “It’s too dangerous for little mice.”
    â€œWe won’t even tell our little relatives about it,” said another.
    â€œWe can’t have them messing up the lobby,” said a third.
    â€œWe’ll keep it a secret,” said a fourth.

    â€œGood thinking,” complimented Ralph. As he and his cousins sped down the hall, Ralph was happy. He felt proud because he had helped Miss K educate her class. But he was humble enough to admit that he had learned from the children too, even though he never did find out where Miss Heidi Kuckenbacker kept her toothpaste. He guessed it really didn’t matter.

Epilogue
    W hen Brad’s father came to the Mountain View Inn in his tow truck to take Brad home, he met Ryan’s mother. Six months later they were married, and Ryan and Brad became brothers. They all lived in a house in Cucaracha, California. Ryan was pleased to have a father, and Brad was happy to have a mother. Most of the time the boys were glad to be brothers.
    And Ralph? The boys decided that the dog Arfy might take an interest in a mouse for the wrong reason. Ralph remained behind at the inn, where he rides around every night in his sports car, generously giving rides to his relatives and enjoying their company now that they have benefited from his education. He is strict about one thing, however. Ralph is the only mouse who sits in the driver’s seat of the Laser XL7.

About the Author
    BEVERLY CLEARY is one of America’s most popular authors. Born in McMinnville, Oregon, she lived on a farm in Yamhill until she was six and then moved to Portland. After college, as the children’s librarian in Yakima, Washington, she was challenged to find stories for non-readers. She wrote her first book, HENRY HUGGINS , in response to a boy’s question, “Where are the books about kids like us?”
    Mrs. Cleary’s books have earned her many prestigious awards, including the American Library Association’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, presented in recognition of her lasting contribution to children’s literature. Her DEAR MR. HENSHAW was awarded the 1984 John Newbery Medal, and both RAMONA QUIMBY, AGE 8 and RAMONA AND HER FATHER have been named Newbery Honor Books. In addition, her books have won more than thirty-five statewide awards based on the votes of her young readers. Her characters, including Henry Huggins, Ellen Tebbits, Otis Spofford, and Beezus and Ramona Quimby, as well as Ribsy, Socks, and Ralph S. Mouse, have delighted children for generations. Mrs. Cleary lives in coastal California.
    Visit Beverly Cleary on the World Wide Web at www.beverlycleary.com.
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Enjoy All of Beverly Cleary’s Books
    FEATURING RAMONA QUIMBY :
    Beezus and Ramona
    Ramona the Pest
    Ramona the Brave
    Ramona and Her Father
    Ramona and Her Mother
    Ramona Quimby, Age 8
    Ramona Forever
    Ramona’s World
    FEATURING HENRY HUGGINS :
    Henry Huggins
    Henry and Beezus
    Henry and Ribsy
    Henry and the Paper Route
    Henry and the Clubhouse
    Ribsy
    FEATURING RALPH MOUSE :
    The Mouse and the Motorcycle
    Runaway Ralph
    Ralph S.