Tonight…the “Tale of Chuckles the Mouse”…. a little dude who had the last laugh.  (The events of this story are true.  The names have not been changed because no one was innocent.)

Now, I know there are a lot of people who don’t care for mice. Some folks are horribly afraid of them.

It is curious, really.   I mean… I’ve never heard of “Death By Mouse” before.

I am much less concerned about mice than I used to be. In fact…. if I come clean about it here and now…. I’ve never really met a mouse that I didn’t like. I think they are kind of cute.  And funny.

Seems I am not alone in this. Mice have long been celebrated in stage and film. There was Mickey, and Mighty…. both of the same generation….. one with cute little button-up shorts and the other….. very beef-cake with a nice pair of tights.

There have been smart mice, like Jerry.  Tom was a bit of a schmuck though.   Undoubtedly.

Mice certainly took off in film with Fivel, the singing Kosher Mouse. Classic-of-all-classic mice (and rats) in The Secret of NIHM. Cutie Stuart Little. Then there was debonaire Millicent Bystander in Flushed Away. Chef-extraordinaire Remy in Ratatouille. Big-eared brave mouse as Despereaux.  Well….so many more, from Cinderella to Mouse Hunt and back again.

And who could ever forget….. the ever-so-talented Mr. Jingles in The Green Mile. (One of my very favorites!)

So you see, mostly, people are fascinated with mice. Entertained at the very least.

That was the case with me today.

Our three dogs discovered a little mouse outside. They gave chase. Speedy Ollie caught that mouse. Bossy Maxine stole the mouse. Happy Frances jumped up and down in support of the entire mouse-melee. As I started toward the commotion, all I could see were three dog butts, tails-a-wagging, huddled together like an NFL team in the playoffs. They sniffed and snorted and pawed at the grass, prancing and jostling. They were filled with raw enthusiasm, all three. So very much energy… being focused in one little spot.

That poor mouse. Minding his own business. Probably snacking on some Brie and warm bread… when his day is met with this fracas. But wait! What do I see? What is this? Could it be? Ever so carefully, and discreetly….. that little furry fellow was sneaking right out of that huddle….as quite as… a mouse. Yes… he must have caused some sort of distraction in the dog meeting. (Maybe he yelled “Squirrel!”)   And now, slowly…. and inconspicuously… that little guy crept away… lifting one tiny paw after another. Tiptoeing. I swear…… I think I could hear him whistling.

Those dogs stayed busier than a one-eyed cat watching two mouse holes. Rummaging. Searching. Cavorting.  Clever mouse. Oh… the mouse’s favorite game…. Hide and Squeak.   It seems he was the one who had the last laugh.

“We don’t laugh because we’re happy — we’re happy because we laugh.”  – W. James