literature

Of Mice and Men, Part 3

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Mona and Fievel peered down curiously at Bridget’s office building.
  “What’s going on down there?” Fievel puzzled.
  “Perhaps the building’s on fire,” Mona hazarded.
There appeared to be a mass evacuation taking place. Every mouse in the building was running out of every available exit and rushing off in the direction of the pier, creating a giant mouse stampede.
  “It doesn’t look like there’s a fire,” Fievel opined. “But they’ve obviously got some reason to…”
  “Look!” Mona exclaimed. “More mice are coming to join them from all over the dockside! What the hell is going on around here?”
  “They’re giving out free cheese at the pier!” someone yelled very loudly. “Come on, everyone – it won’t last long!”
  “Free cheese,” Fievel whispered longingly. “I haven’t eaten cheese for so long…”
  “Neither have any of this lot, by the looks of things,” Mona mused, “which makes me think that whoever’s giving out this free cheese is well aware of the fact, and is counting on it. This smacks of something suspicious, Fievel.”
  “What could be suspicious about free cheese?” Fievel queried absently, as he began to trot off in the direction of the pier. “I told you, Mona, how we mice share whatever we have with each other, and now someone’s obviously got some cheese to share.”
  “Hmm, I wonder,” Mona frowned. “We’d better investigate this. Even if there’s nothing suspicious about it, if Bridget’s as hungry for cheese as the rest of her co-workers, we’re sure to find her over at the pier.”
Mona and Fievel scurried over to join the large gang of mice that had gathered at the entrance to the pier. A large ginger cat in a cowboy suit and hat was looming over the gathering, and leaning on a large wooden barrel.
  “That’s right, folks, I’ve got a barrel full of cheese here!” the cat declaimed. “And I’m gonna share it with you all, my little friends.”
  “A cowboy cat…” Mona muttered to herself. “Reminds me of what Fang said earlier. I was right, Fievel – this situation is highly suspicious!”
  “The simple fact that he’s a cat is enough to make me suspicious,” Fievel remarked. “It looks like most of the other mice feel the same way.”
It appeared that Fievel was correct, for none of the mice seemed to be particularly keen to take advantage of the free offer. They exchanged worried looks, and eyed the cowboy cat suspiciously.
  “I got ‘em all, folks!” the cat called loudly, in order to try and persuade his potential clientele to bite. “Cheddar, edam, brie, gorgonzola, camembert, and even limburger!”
  “Mice hate limburger,” Fievel muttered.
  “I wouldn’t trust this guy as far as I could throw him,” Mona said darkly. “Which certainly isn’t very far at the moment! I hope these mice continue to exercise caution, and don’t let their stomachs rule their heads.”
  “Come on, guys,” the cowboy cat grinned widely. “I just wanna be your friend. Please, come and have some cheese.”
It looked very much as though no one was going to take up this offer, but then, all of a sudden, a lone mouse scurried up to the top of the barrel of cheese and banged her umbrella down hard on the wooden surface. She glared out at the assembled mice through pretty, dainty features.
  “For the love of Saint Patrick, shame on the lot of you!” the mouse squeaked in a trilling Irish accent. “This here cat is offering us his friendship, so he is, but you’re all letting your fears and prejudices eclipse your common sense, so you are. We’re all hungry, and this gentleman is kindly offering to share his food with us. I, for one, intend to accept his kind offer, so I do!”
  “It’s Bridget!” Fievel gasped. “What’s she doing? I thought she hated cats, just like any self-respecting mouse.”
  “You’re a mouse, and you don’t hate Tiger,” Mona pointed out.
  “Tiger’s different,” Fievel said dismissively.
  “Obviously Bridget thinks this guy’s different too,” Mona said.
  “Come on, let’s all take up this kindly fellow on his offer!” Bridget trilled further.
  “But he’s a cat!” someone yelled from the crowd. “He’ll try to eat us.”
  “Aw, no I won’t,” the mysterious benefactor smiled innocently. “I love mice, but not in the same way as other cats do! I just want to be a friend to all of you!”
  “I believe you, my feline friend,” Bridget told the cat, and allowed him to stroke her head with one of his fore-claws. “My fellow mice, if we let our prejudicial doubts and fears rule our heads, how can we call ourselves an open-minded, sophisticated society? This cat offers us friendship, so he does, and gives us no reason to doubt his sincerity.”
Once the other mice saw Bridget eating a piece of the would-be philanthropist’s cheese, their rumbling stomachs overtook their natural wariness. There was a rush of movement, and soon the content of the barrel of cheese was being distributed to the hungry mice. Fievel, however, hung back with Mona.
  “It’s just like Bridget to get all political like that,” he remarked. “But I don’t think she’s backing the right horse this time.”
  “You’ve got that right,” said Fang’s voice from behind them, causing Mona and Fievel to turn around in surprise. “That’s Sweet William, the one who’s planning to trick the mice into accepting him as their friend!”
Fang and Tiger had arrived from the direction of the boardwalk. Fang looked very harassed and out of breath, but there was a look of certainty and determination on his face.
  “Here’s your buddy, Mona,” Tiger smiled winningly. “I brought him straight here as soon as he turned up.”
  “Thanks, Tiger,” Mona nodded curtly. “Are you sure that’s the guy, Fang?”
  “I spent the whole of yesterday evening in a nightclub with him,” Fang pointed out. “Believe me, I know Sweet William when I see him.”
  “Then we have to get over there and convince the others not to trust him!” Fievel exclaimed. “Come on!”
  “Jeez Louise!” an anxious shout suddenly met their ears. “Is that Bridget up there with that cat?”
Mona thought quickly as Tony ran up to join them, and decided to try and put her matchmaking plan into operation.
  “It sure is, Tony!” Mona exclaimed urgently. “Your true love is in terrible danger – you’d better get up there and save her!”
  “Yeah, I better had!” Tony agreed. “Hold on, baby – I’m coming!”
Tony ran off, and Mona nodded in grim satisfaction.
  “Good, that should get the two of them talking again,” she predicted. “In the meantime, Fievel, I suggest we follow your idea – let’s see if we can disperse some of that crowd!”
Mona and Fievel ran into the fray. Fearful that they might accidentally tread on a few mice, Fang and Tiger decided to stay put, for the moment at least. They watched as first Tony, then Fievel, and finally Mona disappeared into the thronging crowd of hungry rodents.

Fievel soon saw a group of mice he recognised very well, all of whom were apparently as desperate for a piece of cheese as the rest of the thronging stampede.
  “Mama! Papa!” Fievel yelled out shrilly. “Hey, Tanya! Get away from that cat – he’s evil!”
Fievel’s family heard his shrill voice calling to them, and turned around to face him.
  “What are you talking about, Fievel?” Tanya frowned. “This guy may be a cat, but he’s giving out free cheese! How can you say he’s evil?”
  “He’s trying to trick us!” Fievel trilled. “I don’t trust him.”
  “Why, because he is a cat?” Mama tutted. “Really, Fievel, that is very bad of you. Tiger is a cat, and yet you would trust him with your life. Why should this cowboy be any different?”
  “Mona says we shouldn’t trust him, and I believe her!” Fievel said with conviction. “She’s got this friend, who’s also a cat, and he says that the other cats have got this whole complicated plan against us…”
  “That is enough of your tall tales, Fievel,” Papa tutted reprovingly. “I may have been wrong about there being no cats in America, but I’m sure that not all the cats here are our enemies. Come, Mama, we must get some cheese before it is all taken!”
  “Yes, Papa, we must,” Mama agreed wholeheartedly. “Fievel, make yourself useful and hold Yasha.”
Fievel grasped tightly to the bundle of baby sister that was thrust hurriedly into his hands. He adjusted his grip on the infant, who smiled at him affably.
  “Fievel,” Yasha remarked approvingly.
  “At least someone loves me,” Fievel sighed heavily.
  “Fievel, it’s not a matter of love,” Tanya said patronisingly. “It’s a matter of common sense. We’re all hungry for cheese, and this cat is offering it to us out of the goodness of his heart. Seems like a simple equation to me.”
  “No one ever does anything without wanting something in return,” Fievel replied sceptically. “This cat wants something from us, believe me.”
At that moment, Mona scurried up to join Fievel, Tanya and Yasha. The crowd around them was beginning to disperse now, as more and more mice approached Sweet William in order to sample his cheese.
  “Damn right he wants something,” Mona said gravely. “And if these guys keep falling for his tricks like this, they’re gonna end up paying a heavy price!”
  “I really hope you’re wrong about this,” Tanya remarked, suddenly sounding worried. “I’m not sure why, Fievel, but I do believe you… I think. But even if this cat is trying to trick us, what can we do about it?”
  “Well, that’s Fang’s job, really,” Mona realised. “I should be trying to get Tony and Bridget back together, but I don’t seem to have got very far with that particular mission.”
  “Look, I can see them!” Fievel exclaimed, pointing over to where Tony and Bridget were conversing underneath a pier strut. “Perhaps they’re getting back together already.”
  “Yes, perhaps,” Mona mused. “I really should go and check on them, but I can’t just let this Sweet William guy get away with… whatever it is he’s up to. I need to talk to Fang and make sure he knows what he’s doing. Fievel, can you go over to Tony and Bridget and make sure they don’t go anywhere until I come and join you? I’ll try not to be too long.”
  “You can count on me, Mona,” Fievel said staunchly.
  “Can I do anything to help?” Tanya asked unexpectedly.
  “Yes!” Fievel decided. “Take Yasha, and find Mama and Papa. Get them back home as soon as you can, and try to keep them away from Sweet William.”
  “Okay,” Tanya agreed numbly, as she took Yasha into her arms. “I’ll do my best, Fievel.”
Tanya scurried off to find her parents. Mona nodded to Fievel, and he nodded back in understanding. They separated to carry out their individual tasks. While Fievel scampered towards Tony and Bridget, Mona ran back towards where Fang and Tiger were waiting. She was keen to find out exactly what Fang knew about the cats’ plan, and to come up with a strategy for foiling it.

  “What did you think you were doing, getting that close to a cat? He could’ve had your head off!”
  “That cat is a kind and charming gentleman, so he is, and we have nothing to fear from him. Besides, I don’t see why what I do is any concern of yours anymore, so I don’t!”
Fievel’s heart sank when he heard these words wafting out from behind the pier strut, for it did not sound as though Tony and Bridget were on the best of terms at all.
  “Hey there, guys,” Fievel smiled winningly, as he strolled into the picture. “What’s going on?”
  “Oh, hiya Philly,” Tony said disinterestedly. “Buzz off, will you? We’re busy.”
  “Tony, you shouldn’t talk so harshly to the poor wee lad, so you shouldn’t!” Bridget admonished. “It’s nice to see you again, Fievel, so it is. How’s your family been keeping?”
  “Great, just great,” Fievel chattered merrily. “I haven’t seen you around much lately, Bridget. Are you enjoying your new job?”
  “Oh, bless you, I’ve been working every hour God sends to pay those cleaners, so I have,” Bridget sighed. “There’s so many of them to sort out, I’m there ‘til well after dark every day, so I am.”
  “You shouldn’t spend all your time working, Bridget,” Tony advised. “It ain’t good for ya.”
  “Someone’s got to pay those cleaners, and if I don’t do it, who will?” Bridget bristled. “Besides, it’s better than being an out-of-work deadbeat like you, so it is!”
  “Hey, I get plenty of work!” Tony frowned. “That rat who runs the general store paid me fifty dollars to clean out his storeroom last week. Good money, that was.”
  “Maybe so, but you can’t earn an honest living doing odd jobs here and there whenever someone happens to need something doing,” Bridget tutted. “If you hope to settle down and raise a family some day, Tony, you’ll need to be able to supply a regular income for them, so you will, to provide them with some stability!”
  “It’s not easy for a guy like me to get a regular job,” Tony muttered sulkily. “I just don’t… work that way. But you know how much I want to raise a family, Bridget.”
  “Well, if you’re ever going to find a nice young mousette to help you with that, you’ll have to learn to be a responsible member of society first, so you will!” Bridget bristled. “I’ve had enough of this conversation now, so I have. I need to get back to work. Nice to have seen you, Fievel.”
Bridget stalked off haughtily. Tony stared after her, depressed and downcast.
  “Aw, it’s no use, Philly,” he sniffed sadly. “She’s never gonna love me again, and I’m never gonna have the life with her I’ve always wanted; the sooner I get used to the idea, the better.”
  “Never say never, Tony,” Fievel said rousingly. “You and Bridget will get back together, I just know it!”
  “Oh yeah?” Tony snorted sceptically. “How?”
  “Well, I’m not exactly sure yet,” Fievel confessed. “But don’t worry; Mona will be here soon, and I’m sure she’ll know exactly what to do!”

Fang related to Mona all he knew about Cat R Waul and his plan. Mona listened gravely, considering the best course of action to take.
  “Okay, Fang, we have to stop this evil plan from succeeding,” Mona stated. “I don’t know how much it’s got to do with Tony and Bridget getting back together, but seeing as you were brought in to keep the mice safe from the cats, that’s what you’d better do.”
  “How do you suggest I go about it?” Fang queried.
  “You’ve got to find a way to put Sweet William out of the picture,” Mona told him. “Find him before this meeting tonight, and make sure he gets on the next train back to Green River.”
  “If Cat R Waul catches me doing that, I don’t think he’ll let me stay in his gang,” Fang demurred.
  “That doesn’t matter anymore,” Mona opined. “Without Sweet William, Cat R Waul’s plan will fall to pieces.”
  “How can you be sure?” Fang was uncertain.
  “Because our arrival here coincided with Sweet William’s,” Mona explained. “That’s very significant, from a saving-the-universe point of view. He’s the rogue element that’s been thrown into the fray to threaten the mice, just as we’ve been told to come here and protect them. If we save the mice from Sweet William, our job will be done. Trust me, Fang; this is how these things work.”
  “Sure, I trust you, Mona. But how am I gonna persuade Sweet William to leave?”
  “Well, use your feline cunning! Tell him Cat R Waul doesn’t want him in on his plan anymore, or tell him that the railway company’s decided to cancel all the train services out west from tomorrow, so he’ll be stuck here unless he goes home tonight. Or you could even rough him up a bit if nothing else works.”
  “I don’t know about that,” Fang demurred. “He’s very strong and rough. But I’ll do my best to get Sweet William out of New York by tonight, Mona. What are you going to do in the meantime?”
  “I’m going to arrange for Tony and Bridget to go out on a date this evening,” Mona replied.
  “You are?” Fang frowned. “Hmm, sounds like I drew the short straw this time.”
  “Hey, the Oracle gave us each a mission to fulfil,” Mona pointed out. “You’ve got your work to do, and I’ve got mine. I’m sure we’ll both be helping out the cosmic balance of the universe in equal measure.”
  “Doubtless,” Fang said dryly. “Well, I’ll see you later, Mona. If there’s anything left of me to see, of course…”
Fang sloped off, clearly feeling very sorry for himself. Tiger had been dozing on the boardwalk beside him, but now he looked up with interest.
  “Can I do anything else to help you, Mona?” the large orange cat asked hopefully. “I’m really good at missions.”
  “Oh, I don’t know,” Mona replied distantly, and then a thought occurred to her. “Wait, maybe you can help! Do you know any good places to eat around here?”
  “Do I ever?” Tiger replied enthusiastically. “I know all the best places to eat in New York – a girl as classy as Miss Kitty has very expensive tastes, you know.”
  “Do you know any good Italian places?”
  “Sure. Luigi’s on Central Park West does the best Italian food in New York City. Do you want me to show you where it is?”
  “Not yet,” Mona replied with a smile. “But I want you to take a couple of my fellow mice there tonight; I’m going to make sure they have the most romantic evening of their lives!”

Mona and Tiger returned to the pier to find Fievel consoling a very depressed Tony.
  “Where’s Bridget?” asked Mona.
  “She’s gone,” Tony sniffled. “And now I’ll never get her back!”
  “Yes you damn well will!” Mona exclaimed decisively. “Pull yourself together and stop blubbing – you’ll never impress Bridget tonight if you’re crying like a little baby!”
  “Tonight?” Tony queried bemusedly.
  “You’re going to Luigi’s on Central Park West for some of the finest Italian food in New York,” Mona stated flatly. “There’ll be candlelight, music, dancing, the works! Tiger, take Tony to wherever they sell classy suits for mice and get him dressed to impress.”
  “Yes, ma’am,” Tiger grinned.
  “Make sure he looks sharper than a pin that’s been drenched in lemon juice and jabbed into someone’s eye,” Mona ordered. “It shouldn’t be a problem, really – everyone knows that mice make the best tailors.”
  “What are we gonna do while Tiger and Tony buy a suit, Mona?” Fievel piped up.
  “We’re going to find Bridget and persuade her to join Tony for dinner tonight,” Mona explained. “Where did she say she was going?”
  “Back to work,” Fievel replied. “I watched her go back inside her office building, and she hasn’t come out again.”
  “Great, then we know where to find her,” Mona nodded approvingly. “Come on, Fievel, we’re going into that office building, and we’re not coming out until Bridget’s agreed to meet Tony for supper at Luigi’s tonight. If that’s not enough of a push for the pair of them, I don’t know what will be!”

Mona marched into the reception area of the large office building, where a bespectacled, grey-haired mouse in a sensible suit was sitting behind the reception desk. Mona marched brazenly up to her, with Fievel scurrying along behind.
  “I’m here to see Bridget,” Mona stated. “Where does she work?”
  “Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked haughtily.
  “God, do we really have to go through all this?” Mona sighed wearily. “I’m on a mission of love here, lady – just tell me where I can find Bridget!”
  “No one sees any of our employees without an appointment,” the receptionist bristled. “It’s company policy.”
  “Well I’m Mona the Vampire Mouse, and it’s my policy to kick your ass unless you start being more helpful!” Mona growled threateningly. “Now, I’m not gonna ask you again…”
  “Hey, Mona, how about we try in there?” Fievel piped up, tugging on Mona’s sleeve and directing her attention to large door in the wall nearby, which bore a plaque with the word PAYROLL printed on it in large capital letters.
  “Oh yeah, good idea,” Mona agreed, striding over towards the door. “I’ll just bet she’s in there somewhere.”
As the receptionist lifted her telephone to call security, Mona threw open the door to the payroll department. The office beyond contained six desks, which were all joined together (with three on each side) like an island. Each desk contained a young female mouse and, sure enough, one of them was Bridget. As Mona and Fievel went over to her, she was in the process of picking up the telephone and placing it to her ear.
  “Hello, payroll,” Bridget chimed cheerily. “This is Bridget here speaking, so it is.”
Mona frowned at the inconvenience, and leant heavily against Bridget’s desk to wait. Bridget’s co-workers looked at her suspiciously.
  “Oh dear, has the money not gone through to your bank?” Bridget tutted sympathetically. “Well, we can send you a cheque, so we can, but to be perfectly honest, you’d do as well to wait until we put in next week’s payroll, what with the time it takes for cheques for clear.”
Mona drummed her fingers on the desk impatiently. Fievel stared nervously around, feeling very awkward. After a few more seconds, Bridget managed to terminate the conversation.
  “Yes, I’ll get the cheque in the mail for you tonight, so I will,” she said, still in her very cheery tone of voice. “Okay, no problem. Bye, then.”
Bridget slammed down the phone and then scowled at it, sighing heavily as she did so.
  “By Saint Patrick, these cleaners and their enquires are driving me mad, so they are!” she exclaimed. “I don’t know how many more phone calls I can… oh, hello there. Who are you?”
  “My name’s Mona, and I’ve come to invite you out to dinner,” came the reply.
  “Well, that’s mighty kind of you, but we hardly even know each other,” Bridget replied bemusedly.
  “Not with me; with Tony,” Mona explained patiently. “So, how about it?”
  “Well, I’m really not sure about that,” Bridget demurred. “I’ve got all this payroll to enter, so I have…”
  “Aw, come on, Bridget, you know you want to,” Fievel smiled sweetly, looking up at Bridget with large, soulful eyes. “He still loves you, you still love him… things should work out nicely, shouldn’t they?”
  “It’s not that simple,” Bridget sighed wistfully. “I do love Tony with all my pure Irish heart, but I can’t be with him until he learns to be a useful, responsible member of society.”
  “Don’t be silly,” Mona laughed airily. “Love is all you need, Bridget; everyone knows that.”
  “But that’s not true,” Bridget disagreed. “To raise a family, you need so much more. You need money, and food, and a proper home, all of which there’s precious little of in New York for any of us, let alone a drifter like Tony!”
  “Look, Bridget, you’ve got to leave some room for compromise here,” Mona reasoned. “Let’s face facts - Tony’s never going to become a high-powered businessman, or a wealthy property investor, but I’m sure he can pull himself together, go out there, and earn an honest living, as long as he has the right incentive to do so.”
  “Like what?” asked Bridget.
  “Like you, of course!” Mona exclaimed. “Tony’s wallowing in self-despair right now – he’s never going to get his life back on track unless you give him a reason to! If you let him know you’re prepared to meet him halfway, and the pair of you agree to make a go of it, which you both obviously really want to, I think you’ll find he’ll be more like the kind of husband you think he should be.”
  “Oh, I so want to believe that,” Bridget admitted, her eyes shining with renewed hope. “But I still worry that Tony is basically a layabout by nature, and I’m never going to be able to change him.”
  “Of course not,” Mona shrugged. “But you shouldn’t try to change him; he’ll soon learn to provide for his family and be a responsible husband, but you’ve got to give him a chance to be a husband first! As I said, it’s all about compromise.”
  “Come on, Bridget, you have to come to dinner!” Fievel pleaded sweetly. “Please!”
  “Oh, all right then, I’ll do it, so I will!” Bridget decided, smiling to herself. “Where’s Tony taking me, then?”
  “To Luigi’s, on Central Park West,” Mona replied. “They serve the finest Italian food in New York, I’m told. Plus there’ll be candles, music, dancing and everything!”
  “It sounds very romantic,” Bridget flushed. “How do I get there?”
  “Tony will be here at six o’clock this evening to pick you up,” Mona grinned widely. “You’ll be travelling by cat.”
At that moment, two burly security mice burst into the payroll department. Exchanging worried glances, Mona and Fievel leapt through the open window and ran off along the boardwalk as fast as their tiny legs would carry them.
  “Well, I think that went very well indeed,” Fievel panted as they ran. “Now what?”
  “Now we’d better sort out the entertainment,” Mona decided. “Do you know anyone who can sing?”

As Sweet William slunk his way along the darkened alleyway that led to the saloon where Cat R Waul’s base of operations was located, he suddenly saw two green eyes watching him intently from the shadows.
  “Who’s there?” the large ginger cat demanded. “Show yourself!”
A sleek brown body sloped its way into the half-light of the alleyway, as Fang put himself firmly in Sweet William’s way.
  “Good evening, Sweet William,” Fang said silkily. “Going somewhere, are you?”
  “Oh, it’s you,” Sweet William remarked disinterestedly. “I’m going to Waul’s meeting, as if you didn’t know. I’m sure you’re planning to be there yourself, unless you want your boss to be very upset with you.”
  “I’m not the one my boss is upset with,” Fang replied, picking up on this nice opening from Sweet William. “You are!”
  “What do you mean?”
  “Cat R Waul wants you out of New York, Sweet William, and I mean tonight! You haven’t followed his orders. You can either leave quietly, or… well, you’ll be out of here by tomorrow morning, one way or the other.”
  “This is ridiculous!” Sweet William fumed. “I did exactly what Waul told me to do - I was nice to the mice, and I’m winning them over! What more does he want? Why, I oughtta…”
  “Don’t be getting any ideas about roughing up my boss,” Fang said levelly. “He’s surrounded by loyal followers, but you’re here on your own, with no one to back you up. I suggest you go back to Green River right now, while you still have the chance to do it in one piece.”
  “I don’t like this,” Sweet William frowned. “There’s something fishy going on around here. Are you sure Cat R Waul told you to give me this message?”
  “Sure I’m sure,” Fang replied, trying desperately to stop his voice from wavering. “He always gives me important tasks like this - I’m one of his oldest and loyalest followers.”
  “Don’t give me that!” Sweet William scoffed. “You only started working for him last night. I smell a rat here; I’m going to speak to Waul myself!”
  “If you don’t go back to Green River now, you’ll never get another chance!” Fang cried, slightly desperately. “The train company is stopping all services out west from tomorrow – tonight is your last chance to go home!”
  “Bull!” Sweet William snarled. “Now I know you’re playing games with me, you guileless greenhorn! Stand aside, and let me by, or it’ll be the worse for you!”
  “I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Fang growled, arching his back and raising his hackles. “I have to get you out of town!”
  “Hah!” Sweet William scoffed, dropping down onto all fours and preparing himself for battle. “I’m gonna enjoy this!”
Gathering all his courage, and concluding that he really was in over his head, Fang leapt at Sweet William. However, he did not reach him. Fang felt a sharp tug at his neck, as the crook of a walking stick made contact with it. Fang was stopped short and tumbled awkwardly to the ground. Righting himself as quickly as he could, he found himself staring up into the inquisitive eyes of the owner of the walking stick – Cat R Waul.
  “Well, Fang, perhaps you would like to explain what is going on here?” the refined feline asked expectantly.
  “This upstart told me to get out of New York!” Sweet William exclaimed. “He said you didn’t want my help anymore. That ain’t true, is it, Waul? I might have to show you how angry I’m feeling if it is!”
  “My dear fellow, of course it’s not true,” Cat R Waul laughed airily. “I’m looking forward to hearing the details of your mission to make friends with the mice today, and so are all my followers. Fang, I demand an explanation for your actions here this evening!”
Fang had to think very fast indeed. He was in danger of being shown up as a double agent, but Cat R Waul had graciously allowed him the opportunity to explain himself; it was an opportunity that Fang did not intend to pass up.
  “I don’t trust this guy,” Fang told Cat R Waul. “You didn’t see him with the mice today; I did! He wants to eat them all himself, I know he does!”
  “So, Fang, you’ve been doing a little spying, have you?” Cat R Waul smiled amusedly. “Keeping an eye on our friend here in order to protect my interests, perhaps? Very decent of you, I’m sure.”
  “I want more than anything to help you realise your western dream, Cat R Waul, but I’m sure Sweet William is trying to stop that from happening!” Fang exclaimed passionately.
  “Such a suspicious nature, Fang,” Cat R Waul tutted. “I trust Sweet William to keep his promise to me and, much as I admire your initiative and determination, those I trust must also be trusted by my loyal followers. Do you understand me, Fang?”
  “I understand you, boss,” Fang replied, lowering his head. “I’m sorry; it won’t happen again.”
  “Good,” Cat R Waul nodded acceptingly, his face registering no emotion. “Well, we can’t stand around here chatting all night; there’s a meeting we should all be attending!”
Cat R Waul turned and stalked off, leaving the other two cats to follow him. Sweet William gave Fang a black look and a threatening scowl, but Fang’s mind was on other matters. There was no way he could get Sweet William to leave town now, which was a fact that would not please Mona at all.

Tanya looked at Fievel with a questioning look on her pointy face.
  “I thought you didn’t like my singing,” she said at length.
  “I don’t,” Fievel shrugged. “We’re just desperate for a singer for Tony and Bridget’s date!”
  “Is that right?” Tanya bristled. “Well, I’m not sure I…”
  “Don’t pay any attention to him, Tanya,” Mona laughed. “I asked him if he knew anyone who could sing, and he brought me straight to you. I’ve heard you sing, and I just know you could help to create the right kind of atmosphere to get Tony and Bridget in the mood for love. How about it?”
  “Well, I don’t know,” Tanya demurred. “I’ve never really sung in public before.”
  “You’ll have to get used to it if you’re going to be a famous singer someday,” Fievel pointed out. “Come on, Tanya, please!”
  “Oh, all right,” Tanya agreed airily, smiling secretly to herself. “What do you want me to sing?”
  “Something really romantic,” Mona replied. “You know the kind of thing –really slow and full of emotion.”
  “Hmm, well I’ve been learning this song called Dreams to Dream,” Tanya mused. “That could fit the bill.”
As Tanya spoke, there was a knock at the front door. Fievel rushed to open it.
  “That’ll be Tiger and Tony,” Mona remarked. “Dreams to Dream sounds fine, Tanya. Are you ready to go? We need to go and pick up Bridget.”
  “Yeah, I’m ready,” Tanya sighed wistfully. “Perhaps someday I’ll have a sparkly dress and a bit of makeup to put on for my performance, but today isn’t that day.”
  “You don’t want to worry about that kind of thing,” Mona advised. “It’s what’s behind the makeup that counts.”
  “Hey, guys, are we going or what?” called Fievel, who was helping Tony to straighten his bowtie.
  “I’m not so sure about this, Philly,” Tony demurred. “What if I make an ass of myself? What if Bridget doesn’t like Italian food? What if…”
  “What if we get moving?” Mona cut in, as she and Tanya strode past Tony and Fievel, and then made their way up onto Tiger’s vast orange back. “Don’t worry, Tony – everything’ll be fine!”
  “Jeez, I hope so,” Tony fretted. “I’d give anything in the whole world to get Bridget back.”
  “Well, just be yourself, not what you think she wants you to be, and I think you’ll find that tonight will have a happy ending,” Mona advised.

Twenty minutes later, Mona and Fievel were peering surreptitiously over a large menu from a booth in Luigi’s Italian restaurant, taking in the finer details of Tony and Bridget’s date.
  “Does it look like they’re getting on well, do you reckon?” asked Mona.
  “Yeah, I think so,” Fievel replied. “They’re not arguing, anyway. I hope they’ve both admitted that they love each other and they want to be together.”
  “I hope so too,” Mona sighed. “Sometimes it can be difficult to tell someone how you really feel about them, though. Actually giving word to those deep, personal emotions – it’s hard.”
  “Sounds like you know what you’re talking about,” Fievel remarked.
  “Oh, not really,” Mona shrugged. “I was just feeling a bit guilty about how I treated one of my friends just before I left to come to New York. Looking at Tony and Bridget having a heart-to-heart like that, it’s made me think that I should have one with her.”
  “Yeah, you should totally do that!” Fievel encouraged her.
  “It’s not like we haven’t done it before,” Mona reflected. “But some of the emotions that got stirred up inside me when we last met… well, they were confusing, and worrying, and very strong. To even talk about some of the things I was feeling… I just don’t think I could do it.”
  “Sure you can,” Fievel smiled reassuringly. “I’m sure Tony and Bridget didn’t think they could ever open up to each other like they’re doing now, but there they are, obviously setting their world to rights. I’m sure you can do the same for your world, Mona, when your work here is done.”
  “Hopefully it will be before long,” Mona remarked. “Not that I haven’t enjoyed our time together, Fievel, but…”
  “I understand,” Fievel told her. “You have your own home and your own life to get back to, somewhere out there.”
Mona smiled at Fievel, but she did not seem to have anything further to say on this subject. Her eyes drifted back to Tony and Bridget, who were now looking at each other with very mushy expressions.
  “Why aren’t they kissing yet?” Mona queried. “Based on my past experiences of these matters, they’ll need to kiss in order to seal the deal and make my mission a success.”
  “Look, Tanya’s coming onto the stage,” Fievel pointed out. “Perhaps her romantic song will do the trick.”
Mona looked over to the small wooden podium that acted as a stage for the restaurant’s entertainment. Tanya had emerged from behind a tatty green curtain, looking slightly nervous.
  “Good… good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” she said uncertainly. “My name’s Tanya Mousekewitz, and I’m going to be singing for you tonight.”
She paused for a reaction from her audience, but none was forthcoming. Fievel scowled at the unresponsive patrons, and began to clap himself.
  “Yeah, Tanya!” he yelled out shrilly. “Knock ‘em dead, sis!”
Mona joined in with Fievel’s applause, and the patrons gradually followed suit until the room was filled with the sound of tiny hands clapping. Tanya smiled appreciatively and began to relax a little.
  “Thank you,” she addressed the room in a stronger voice, giving Fievel a surreptitious nod of gratitude. “This is a little number called Dreams to Dream, and it’s going out to Tony and Bridget with this message – hurry up and get it together, guys! Ahem… Dreams to dream, in the dark of the night. When the world seems wrong, you can still make it right. I can see so far in my dreams, I’ll follow my dreams, until they come true. There is a star…”
  “Hmm, she’s good,” Mona remarked to Fievel.
  “Not everyone thinks so,” Fievel grinned mischievously.
  “Look, I think they’re gonna kiss!” Mona suddenly exclaimed, grasping Fievel’s arm in excitement. “Tony’s moving in… yes, they’re going for it!”
Sure enough, Tony and Bridget had locked their lips together in a long-awaited kiss. Fievel smiled widely, and Tanya began to sing with more volume and passion to accompany the scene.
  “Come with me, you will see what I mean, in your dreams tonight…”
  “Excellent!” Mona beamed. “I’ve done what I came to do – I’ve given Tony and Bridget the push they needed. Now, Fievel, I’m trusting you to make sure they stay together forever, okay?”
  “You can count on me, Mona,” Fievel nodded staunchly. “I’ll make sure they never drift apart again.”
  “Somehow, I think you will,” Mona smiled at him fondly. “Now, if only Fang were here, we could think about going home.”
  “He is here!” Fievel exclaimed. “Look!”
Fievel pointed over to the window, where a large brown feline face could be seen peering in. Full of curiosity, Mona slipped out of the restaurant and into the street, where Fang was waiting for her.
  “Mona, I’ve just been to Cat R Waul’s meeting!” Fang exclaimed. “He’s told Sweet William to go in for the kill with the mice tomorrow morning!”
  “So you didn’t manage to get Sweet William out of town, then?” Mona frowned in consternation.
  “I did my best, but Cat R Waul busted me!” Fang replied defensively. “He really wants the mice to fall into his trap, and he really wants Sweet William to be the bait! He’s going to offer the mice free railroad tickets for Green River tomorrow morning, to leave by the evening train!”
  “Well, then,” Mona mused, “we must stop him, mustn’t we? I may have succeeded in my mission, but I’m not about to stand by and let these mice fall into Sweet William’s trap.”
Part 3 of 4.

This is the thirty-sixth in a very large collection of fanfics I have written based around the excellent Canadian cartoon show Mona the Vampire.

The "guest star" film series is An American Tail. As you can probably tell, this slips neatly into the chronology between The Mystery of the Night Monster and Fievel Goes West.

This fic was written in December 2006.
© 2009 - 2024 TheEyeShield
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