A Surprise Visitor

Party Time!
All week long, Sophie had been looking forward to Saturday.

Now—finally—the day was here. The Mouse family was having a dinner party. Their guests would be arriving any minute!

Sophie studied the dining table. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect.

“Oh! The place cards!” Sophie said suddenly. “How could I forget?”

She scurried up to her bedroom. On her drawing table were ten cards, set out to dry. Sophie had painted them by hand.



Back downstairs, Sophie walked around the table. She smiled as she put down the first card. It read HARRIET in neat brush strokes. The I was dotted with a flower. Sophie was one of few who knew her best friend Hattie Frog’s real name.



At another spot, Sophie put down a place card for her other best friend, Owen Snake. She had made a smiley face inside the O.



“I’ll put my place card right between theirs,” Sophie decided. She’d get to sit next to both of them!

She knew her little brother, Winston, would want to sit near them. So Sophie put his card at the spot right across from her own. She put the place card for Hattie’s big sister, Lydie, across from Hattie.

Finally, she placed the cards for the grown-ups: George and Lily Mouse, Mr. and Mrs. Frog, and Mrs. Snake.

“There!” Sophie said. “Now everything is ready.”

“Good!” said Winston. He was peering out the front window. “Because here they come!”



Sophie and Winston raced to the door. Good hosts always give their guests a warm welcome! Sophie thought.

She flung the door open. “Hello everyone!” she called.

“Sophie!” Hattie and Owen cried and ran toward her. Their families were right behind them.





Sophie welcomed all the guests. She and Winston took coats while George and Lily Mouse came out from the kitchen to say hello.



Sophie and Winston had already decided that the kids would play a game of hide-and-seek. It was one of their favorites! Sophie drew the short stick and had to be the seeker. But she didn’t complain. She knew a good host probably shouldn’t.



When it was time for dinner, Sophie helped everyone find their place. She poured water from the walnut jug into the acorn cups. Then she helped her parents serve the food.





Before Sophie knew it, it was time for dessert. She jumped up from the table as her parents cleared the dishes. Because she—Sophie Mouse—had made the dessert all by herself. She could not wait for everyone to see it!

Sophie hurried down into the root cellar. She opened the icebox. Very carefully, she took out the trifle. It was made of eight layers of sponge cake, berries, and whipped cream. They made a pretty pattern through the sides of the glass bowl.



Sophie climbed up the cellar stairs. She grinned, imagining what everyone would say. As she reached the top step, she called out, “Time for dessert!”



Only it wasn’t the top step. There was one more step. And Sophie tripped on it. The serving bowl went flying. Sophie lunged for it. She got a grip on the base. But then the whole bowl turned upside down. The contents of the bowl tipped over and—

SPLAT!



Whipped cream, berries, and cake fell in a heap at Sophie’s feet.



All heads turned. For a moment, no one spoke. Surprised faces looked from Sophie to the dessert puddle—and back again.

Sophie felt like crying. Her whole dessert—it was ruined! But Sophie took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. She figured that’s what a good host would do.

“Well, I guess we’re having tea for dessert,” she said, forcing a smile.