By Debra Bruch

Page 4

He got to the Hidden Exit and paused because it was exposed; the humans could see it. Then he remembered about Rex and knew that he went through it and a big rule was that when you go outside, another mouse had to replace the Hiding Gate, the stuff that kept the Hidden Exit from the humans knowing about it. A mouse going outside couldn't do it by himself. He knew that if he went through, he couldn't replace the Hiding Gate and they'd know he went outside. He had an overwhelming feeling that if he went through the Hidden Exit, he couldn't come back. He just couldn't. But taking a deep breath, he made a big decision. He did the forbidden thing and didn't have some other mouse there to replace the stuff. Feeling totally worthless and alone, he felt compelled to run away, just run away from everything, from Big Jess, to try his very best to run away from himself. It was just another one of their stupid rules anyway. So he went through, all the way out the Temple. Philip ran and ran, right into the gardens near the stone benches and right into Rex.

"Hey! Watch where you're going!" Rex said, pushing Philip to the ground. "Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"

From the ground, Philip looked up and felt like punching him. He didn't. He just said, "Nothin'. I just had to get out."

Rex thought for a minute and smoothed his whiskers. Then with a gleam in his eye, he said, "What are you hanging around them for? They don't know nothin' about the real world."

"I don't know," Philip replied. "They're all right, I guess."

"All right? They're a bunch a losers. That's what they are. They just tell you what to do all the time."

At that, Philip thought. "Yeah, they do."

"Yeah, they all feel superior. Like they know better than the rest of us."

"Yeah, they do!"

"Rules, rules, rules. Nothin' but rules. Who needs it?"

"Not me," said Philip proudly.

"You know who's the special one, don't you?" Philip just looked at him dumbly. "You, stupid. You're the special mouse around here. Why, they should treat you a whole lot better than what they do. I bet nobody likes you. Am I right?"

"Well ... "

"I like you, kid. Stick with me, and you'll be top cat in no time at all. No time at all. You'll show them. 'Cause you're special. You're the cool cat."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really!" stated Rex. "They're just a bunch a losers."

"Yeah, losers," agreed Philip.

"Come on, kid. You're with me now." And Philip found himself following Rex to a tree and down a hole.