Tony leaned his head against the cold glass hoping it would numb the screaming pain that was shooting through his body…..no it just lingered there. Almost like it was laughing at him because there was nothing he could do. He was almost asleep when he heard Luke and Mike walk in talking amongst themselves.

“So what do you want to do today?” he asked

Mike sighed “I don’t know.” He said but then looked at the jar that Tony was in and walked over to the table and picked up the jar and tossed it from one hand to the other

“Hey I just had a thought.” He said thinking out loud

“Oh yea?” Luke asked “What’s your thought?”

“Well you know how mom won’t let us have a cat?” he asked

“Yea, so what?” Luke answered

“And you know how a lot of cats hang around outback near the fish markets near the alley?” Mike asked

“Yea, what your saying that we should go over there and try to catch one?” he asked

“Yea and we can use Bernard as bait.” Mike said

“But the cats will eat him!” Luke explained

Mike looked over at a nearby table and grabbed some string and tied it around Tony’s waist and then dropped Tony. Tony covered his eyes and waited for the pain to come but then Mike yanked the string up and caught Tony in his hands.

“You see Luke we can dangle Tony on this string and wait for a cat to come and then yank him up and then grab the cat.” He explained

“Oh…….well what if the string comes loose and it eats Bernard?” he asked worriedly

“Why do you think I tested it first?” Mike asked as he again dropped Tony and then pulled the string up again as if he had a yoyo.

“Ok.” Mike said as he started heading towards the door “I’ll go by myself if your too scared to go.” He said

“WAIT! FOR ME!!!!!!”Luke shouted as he came running

AT THE FISH MARKET………………………..

Both of the boys waited and watched over the fence at all the cats waiting for just a scrap of fish to fall from one of the carts

“Ok we dangle Bernard over the fence and wait for one to spot him.” Mike said as he dropped Tony over the fence. He hit the ground with a thud. He got up and brushed himself off and than froze as one of the cats was walking by. He tried to be as quiet and still. He wasn’t going to be dinner for a hungry alley cat. He had had plenty of encounters with cats when he was little in Italy. He tried to be quiet but he did have a chance to get this rope off of him and run for it. He picked at the string but then he heard a growl. He looked up just in time to see a cat pounce on him with his claws out. He was yanked up just in time and caught in Mike’s hand and Luke tried to grab the cat but didn’t have any luck.

“Man!” Luke said “Let’s try that again.”

“Ok” Mike dropped Tony again but the cat was watching and waiting.

Mike dropped Tony and just as he was about to reach the ground the cat jumped up and the last thing Tony saw was a dark………wet……..mouth……….and teeth…………………..

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” Tony screamed as he woke up and sat up in bed still shaking from the dream. He gasped for air and then looked around. He was in a room with the only light that was coming in was through the cracks in the wall. It smelled musty and dirty.

“How did I get here?” he thought

He tried to get up but the all the pain from his injuries wouldn’t let him, so he laid back down in bed. He looked his injuries over. Someone had bandaged him up. The only question was who. He looked up just as he saw the door opening and two mice walked in.

“About time you woke up.” Said one of them

“Who are you?” Tony asked

“Tony it’s me.” He said as he came closer

“Wait……who?” Tony asked

“It’s Philly.” He said

Tony gave him a weird look “Philly?” he asked and than suddenly he remembered “FIVEL?!” he asked

“He you remembered!” he said as he came over to the bed

“Where have you been for the past 10 years we missed you?’ he asked

Tony looked down at his injuries “It’s………it’s better if you don’t know that. “ was the only reply

“Why?” Fivel asked “the only thing was that I know that you were in pain and you were hurt.”

Tony sighed “You don’t miss a thing.” He said

“Tony really where were you?” Fivel asked “After all the cats disappeared we searched everywhere for you.” Fivel said

“I told you it would be better if you didn’t know.” Tony said “It’s not something I want to go through or remember, ok?” he asked

“Fine.” Fivel sighed

Tony looked over at the other mouse standing next to Philly

“Who’s your friend?” he asked

Fivel looked over at her “Oh this is Alicia.” He said “Her mother and her live with my family and me.” He said

“Why?” he asked

“Because my mother is dying.” Alicia said

“I’m sorry.” Tony said “where’s your father?” he asked

Alicia looks away “ He’s dead, he died when I was just a couple days old.” She said

“I’m sorry do you know anything about him.” Tony asked

“Only from what the Mousekewetz and my mom and Fivel tells me.” She answered

“Ok” tony said

“Tony looked at his friend. “what was his name?”

“I forgot.” Fivel said as he looked at the ground.”

“Anyway what were you doing in the sewer?” fivel asked

“I think that I should ask you the same question.” Tony responded

Fivel sighed “Well……the cats came back…….again……...and………we lost…….our family.” Fivel tried to explain

“We were hiding in the sewer and that’s when we found you.” Fivel said

“Well we have to find your family.” Tony said

“Well you can’t go anywhere until your injuries heal.” Alicia said

“What about the cats?” Tony asked

“Well tiger is standing watch outside, plus we are in an old house where the cats can’t get us.” Alicia asked “I know where all the cat’s hideouts are.” “So yea, I’m pretty street smart.” She informed

“Ok fine.” Tony said

“We should let you get some sleep.” Fivel said as he started walking towards the door with Alicia following him

“night Tony.” He said

He and Alicia walked towards the kitchen

“So when do you think that we should tell him?” Alicia asked

“Tell him what?” fivel asked

“Well you know about him being…………………..” she asked

“Being what?” he asked

“FIVEL!!!” she whined as she hit his arm

“Well what should we tell him?” he asked

“About him being……” she trailed off again

“Being wh-…….oh.” Fivel said

“I-I….think that your mom should tell him that.” He said