'I think I'll go to Iceland,'
Mervyn told the rest.
'I'll get myself an overcoat
And wear a woolly vest.'

'Why go there?' asked Lucy.
You must be feeling bold
You'll turn dark blue, freeze to death
And slowly die of cold.'

'Wheatgerms!' shouted Mervyn,
'My plans have all been made
I've bought a plastic bucket
With a little matching spade.'

'You won't need those,' laughed Henry
Screwing up his eyes -
'Unless, of course you plan to build
A million snowflake pies!'

'Nonsense!' shouted Mervyn,
'Whiskers to you all
I'm sailing off to Iceland
And mean to have a ball.'

Mervyn hurried quickly
To the local passport place
Posing for his photograph
With a very solemn face.

With passport stamped and ready
Our mouse was set to sail
With 'distinguished marks' recorded
As A Long Brown Rubber Tail.

He bought himself a camera
And some tissues for his nose
Plus a pair of furlined boots
To warm his little toes.

'I'm sailing off to Iceland
Across the mighty sea
Farewell everybody -
And Tallyho for me...'

On Iceland's shores he landed
One day in mid July
The weather was a little cool
But the sun shone in the sky.

CUSTOMS:

'What's dangling behind you -
We really must enquire,
Need it travel with you
Will it catch on fire?'

'M - m - my mother tied it to me,'
Mervyn turned quite pale.
'I have to wear it all the time
It's my little rubber tail.'

'Be off!' replied the custom's man,
Before I ping it TWICE -
I've never heard of such a thing:
Rubber tails on mice!'

Mervyn nodded, grabbed his bag
And ran out through the gate
Wishing he had never come
But knew it was too late...

He booked into a smart hotel,
Ordered cheese on toast,
Drank a cup of milky tea
And viewed the mighty coast.

An orchestra was playing...
A group began to dance
Mervyn jumped up from his chair
And waited for his chance...

'Tra-la, tra-la I'm coming
Make way I'm joining in
Let us all enjoy ourselves
And dance round chin to chin.'

One dancer grabbed his rubber tail
And swung him round the floor
Mervyn screamed in wild delight
And shouted: 'More, more more'.

Then suddenly he gave a shriek
And stopped dead in his track:
Something long and rubbery
Was missing from his back...

'My tail has gone,' he stammered,
'It's flown off like a kite
One of you must have it -
I have no wish to fight.'

The dancers roared with laughter
As Mervyn searched around..
It wasn't on the ceiling:
It wasn't on the ground.

'I know the police will help me
They'll find my rubber band
I can't go home without it -
Do you understand?'

He hurried to the station:
Marched in through the door
And stood a little frightened
In the middle of the floor.

As Mervyn told his story
The policeman shook his head
Until he had a bright idea:
A piece of string instead!

Lifting Mervyn on his desk -
(Which rather made him jump)
He carefully attached the string
To Mervyn's little stump.

'Thank you sir,' said Mervyn,
'You really are most kind
I won't forget you - ever -
But keep you in my mind.'

Later Mervyn sailed for home
Waving from the deck -
With string a-blowing in the wind:
Iceland became a speck...

by Sylvia Creche

Author of the Mervyn Mouse Books