'Whatever is a Stately Home?'
Lucy asked one day.
'Does it mean it's in a state
And why you do have to pay?'

'Let's find out,' said Henry
'There's one not far from here
It lies just north of Old Pete's farm
And open all the year.'

Lucy went with Henry
To prepare a picnic lunch -
No country mouse went visiting
Without a thing to munch.

'I wonder if it has a ghost -
I'm scared,' said Skinny Bill.
'Oh, 'fraidy cat,' teased Mervyn,
'You know ghosts never kill.'

'But they can haunt you Mervyn,
They like to tease and play.'
'Then just ignore them Skinny Bill -
Look the other way.'

Skinny bill turned very pale.
Fat Mervyn was a pest
Always out for fun and games
And puffing out his chest.

With picnic hamper ready
They set off through the wood.
Three felt quite excited:
One felt not so good...

Soon the House came into view:
It looked a splendid sight,
Soft green lawns surrounded it -
Gates were gleaming white.

Two great lions with flowing manes
Stood proudly by their posts
Were they made of marble?
Or were they really ghosts...

'Excuse us sir, I'm Henry
We've come to see the House,
This is Lucy, Skinny Bill,
And lastly - Mervyn Mouse.'

'How interesting,' they chorused,
Young mice don't have to pay
Keep squeaking to the minimum
And don't get in the way.'

The gleaming gates were opened -
Everything looked grand.
But Skinny Bill was shaking
So Lucy held his hand.

A guide was waiting at the door
To escort round the place
He seemed a little grumpy
And they didn't like his face.

'Run for it!' yelled Mervyn,
We can't get stuck with him
We'll show ourselves around the House
He does look very grim.'

Off they scampered up the steps
Through the open door
Then slid upon their bottoms
Across the slippery floor.

Mervyn gazed around him:
A staircase to the right -
Seven suits of armour
Looked ready for a fight...

Everything seemed miles away
They really were marooned
And footsteps were approaching -
Everyone felt doomed...

'On your tummies,' Henry hissed.
'Pretend we're little toys
Keep quite still, close your eyes
And don't make any noise.'

Just then a giant machine appeared
Followed by the guide -
And before you could say 'wheatgerms'
It had sucked them up inside.

Up and down and round and round
Those mice were tossed about
All of them could hardly breathe
And Skinny bill passed out.

Quite suddenly their ordeal stopped.
A voice was heard to gripe:
'This vacuum cleaner's had it -
There's something in the pipe!'

'I'm gonna have to blow it out -
Can't think what it is.'
He switched the nozzle, pressed the switch -
Four mice shot out: Whiz,whiz,whiz,whiz...

Henry sailed through windows
Lucy blew upstairs
Skinny Bill the chimney breast:
Mervyn said his prayers.

He seemed to fly for ever
His heart so full of fear -
Then found himself suspended
From a crystal chandelier.

And there he dangled - helpless -
Suspended by his tail
He rubbed his eyes and peered around:
Then, wheatgerms, did he wail...

'Henry..Lucy..Skinny Bill
Let's go home to bed.'
But not a sound could Mervyn hear:
He thought they must be dead.

And so he cried himself to sleep
Exhausted by his fright -
The House became a silent tomb
As day turned into night...

...But then the sounds of chanting
Echoed all about
Mervyn woke up from his sleep
His mind confused by doubt.

'Ah - ho, ah - oh, we're the ghosts of ah - oh..
We're here to haunt and scare
Those who don't believe in us
Aren't going anywhere.'

Mervyn gulped and stared below
Three shapes were moving round:

'I do believe, I do believe
Please get me to the ground.'

'You laughed at your poor skinny friend,
You said we never KILL
But we believe in justice
And come to do our WILL.'

'We're coming up to get you
Prepare to meet your fate
We have spared your other friends
For YOU it is too late...'

Mervyn started howling
As a suit of armour walked
And doors were banged and rattled;
The ghosts no longer talked.

The chandelier was swung about
They pinged him to and fro
And then with one almighty push -
They screamed and let him go...

Falling, falling, falling,
He had no time to fret
Then found himself entangled
In a massive fishing net.

He lay there with his eyes closed
Pretending to be dead
Till someone started laughing
And hugged him round the head.

'Let's get him home,' said Lucy.
'He's had enough today.'
Mervyn lay there panting:
He had no words to say.

Henry, Lucy, Skinny Bill -
Each a dreadful mess.
Then Mervyn saw the funny side:
Let's say more or less...

'I feel STARVING,' Mervyn laughed,
Let's eat our picnic stuff!'

And there inside that Stately Home
They dined on food and fluff.

by Sylvia Creche

Author of the Mervyn Mouse Books