Drama at Mouseford (Thea Stilton Mouseford Academy #1) Read online

  Hello! Welcome to the

  fabumouse world of the

  thea sisters!

  Hi, I’m Thea Stilton, Geronimo Stilton’s

  sister! I am a special reporter for The

  Rodent’s Gazette, the most famouse

  newspaper on Mouse Island. I love

  traveling and meeting new mice all over the world,

  like the Thea Sisters. These five friends have helped

  me out with my adventures. Let me introduce you

  to these fabumouse young mice!

  Colette

  has a real

  passion for fashion. She loves to design her own clothes in her favorite color, pink.

  Violet

  loves studying

  and learning new things. She is a fan of classical music and dreams of becoming a famouse violinist someday.

  Pamela

  loves pizza

  so much she eats it for breakfast. She is a skilled mechanic who can fix just about any motor she gets her paws on.

  Paulina

  is shy

  and loves to read about

  faraway places. But she loves traveling to those places even more.

  Nicky

  is from the

  Australian outback, where she developed a love of nature and the environment.

  This outdoors-loving mouse

  is always on the move.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or intro- duced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or here- after invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, please contact Atlantyca S.p.A., Via Leopardi 8, 20123 Milan, Italy; e-mail [email protected], www.atlantyca.com.

  e-ISBN 978-0-545-64671-0

  Copyright © 2009 by Edizioni Piemme S.p.A., Corso Como 15, 20154

  Milan, Italy.

  International Rights © Atlantyca S.p.A.

  English translation © 2014 by Atlantyca S.p.A.

  GERONIMO STILTON and THEA STILTON names, characters, and related indicia are copyright, trademark, and exclusive license of Atlantyca S.p.A. All rights reserved. The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  Based on an original idea by Elisabetta Dami. www.geronimostilton.com

  Published by Scholastic Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012.

  SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered

  trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

  Stilton is the name of a famous En glish cheese. It is a registered trade-

  mark of the Stilton Cheese Makers’ Association. For more information,

  go to www.stiltoncheese.com.

  Text by Thea Stilton

  Original title L’amore va in scena a Topford!

  Cover by Giuseppe Facciotto

  Illustrations by Giuseppe Facciotto (pencils) and Davide Turotti (color)

  Graphics by Yuko Egusa

  Special thanks to Tracey West

  Translated by Julia Heim

  Interior design by Theresa Venezia

  First printing, January 2014

  600

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY,

  MOUSEFORD!

  The air at Mouseford

  Academy was filled with

  excitement. The school was

  turning SIX HUNDRED

  YEARS old!

  A big birthday like that called for a big

  CELEBRATION. The professors at

  the academy had been trying for weeks to

  come up with the perfect event to mark

  the occasion.

  The school’s headmaster, Professor

  Octavius de Mousus,

  pawed

  through the pages of ideas. But he just couldn’t make up his mind. There were so

  many to choose from!

  1

  A CHEESE festival? A cheese-sculpting

  contest? Fireworks? Nothing seemed quite perfect enough. He just couldn’t decide.

  an important

  decision

  The Thea Sisters could all feel the

  excitement in the air. They felt lucky to

  be at the school during such an important anniversary.

  “

  wow, can you believe this place has

  been here for six hundred years?” Nicky asked.

  “I can’t wait to find out what the big

  celebration will be,” Pamela said. “I hope it’s

  a SUPER-CHEESY feast!”

  ”Oooh, or a really big dance!”

  Colette exclaimed, clapping her paws.

  “I was thinking that a

  concert

  would

  be nice,” Violet added.

  3

  “Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be

  mousetastic,” Paulina said confidently. “The

  professors are working really hard

  on this.”

  Pam suddenly looked alarmed.

  “Hey! You don’t think they’ll do

  a math marathon or a spelling

  bee, do you?”

  Her friends all burst out laughing.

  “I hope not,” Paulina answered. “I’m sure

  whatever they’re planning will be FUN.”

  Nicky frowned. “Unless the Ruby Crew

  decides to spoil things, like they usually do.”

  The Thea Sisters all knew what Nicky

  meant. Ruby Flashyfur and her

  friends weren’t exactly team players.

  Any time they got involved in an event, they wanted to do things their way.

  “I hope not,” Pam said. “That would stink

  4

  worse than rotten cheese!”

  While the students waited to hear the

  news, Headmaster de Mousus gathered all the professors in the staff room. Time was

  RUNNING OUT, and they had to make

  a decision!

  The headmaster cleared his throat.

  “My distinguished colleagues,” he began. “There are exactly

  THREE MONTHS

  until the official ceremony, and we need to come up with a proper celebration.”

  The professors began to talk all at once. “What about my idea?”

  “No, mine is the best!”

  The headmaster tapped his paw on

  the table. “Now, all of your proposals

  were good, but none of them were quite

  right,” he said. “We need something . . .

  mousetacular!”

  5

  Across the table, Professor

  Margaret Rattcliff

  gave a little

  cough.

  A professor of literature and

  creative writing, she was usually

  very quiet and kept to herself.

  “The answer is obvious,” she

  said. “William Squeakspeare, the

  great playwright, attended this

  academy many years ago. We should perform

  one of his great works!”

  The headmaster’s eyes lit up. “A play? That’s just the thing!”

  “This way, both students and teachers

  can be involved,” said Professor Rattcliff. “We haven’t had a play performed here since

  we shut down the theater department years

  ago. Mouseford Academy could use a little

  drama in these hal
ls.”

  Headmaster de Mousus nodded. “It is

  exactly the mousetacular idea that we

  needed!”

  7

  an awkward

  spy

  All of the professors agreed that a William

  Squeakspeare play was the perfect idea

  for a celebration.

  “This is a wonderful opportunity

  for the students,” said Professor Mousilda Marblemouse. “The students who don’t want

  to act can work behind the scenes. Others

  can handle publicity and make posters. Or they can —”

  Before she could finish her sentence, a

  loud noise that sounded like an out-of-

  tune piano interrupted her.

  “What is going on?” asked Headmaster

  de Mousus.

  Professor Marblemouse got up to

  investigate, and Professor Bartholomew

  Sparkle joined her. The noise was coming

  from a room next to the staff room that was

  used to store musical instruments.

  cautiously

  The two professors

  approached the door and opened it. A streak

  of light lit up Ruby Flashyfur,

  who was hiding under a grand piano.

  “What are you doing here?” asked

  Professor Sparkle.

  Ruby quickly got to her feet. “I was, um . . .

  you see, I was . . . practicing the piano!”

  The two teachers exchanged glances. They

  both knew Ruby well. It was clear that she wasn’t there to practice the piano. She had

  been eavesdropping!

  9

  “I know what you’re up to, Ruby,” Professor Marblemouse said. “And I guess I

  understand. I know all of the students are

  curious to find out what the big

  celebration will be.”

  “But eavesdropping is still wrong,”

  Professor Sparkle added.

  Ruby tried to look innocent. “But I

  wasn’t —”

  “No excuses, Ruby,” Professor Marblemouse

  said. “Now get to your room.

  And don’t whisper a word

  about this to anyone. Not

  until the headmaster’s BIG

  ANNOUNCEMENT.”

  “Oh, I promise,” Ruby said,

  batting her eyelashes. But as soon

  as she got back to the dorm, she BURST

  into the room where her friends were

  eagerly waiting for her.

  “You won’t believe what I found out!”

  she squeaked.

  11

  squeakspeare’s

  cheesy play

  The next day, the school auditorium was

  buzzing with anticipation. Headmaster de

  Mousus was about to make a BIG

  announcement.

  “I can’t wait to find out what the

  celebration will be,” Nicky said,

  practically bouncing in her seat.

  Ruby walked past, her snout in the air as

  always. “Some of us in the know already

  know,” she said mysteriously.

  Pam frowned. “What does that mean?”

  Paulina nudged her friend. “Sssh! The

  headmaster’s about to speak.”

  Headmaster de Mousus cleared his throat.

  “Dear students, I am sure you are aware of

  12

  the IMPORTANCE of this announcement,”

  he began.

  “Oh no,” Nicky groaned. “It’s another one

  of his long lectures!”

  “Six hundred years is a major anniversary,”

  the headmaster went on. “Therefore, it

  deserves a celebration worthy of . . . blah

  blah blah . . . one that will stand the test

  of . . . blah blah blah . . .”

  He never stops talking!

  “nooo! ” Nicky wailed, covering her

  ears with her paws, and her friends giggled.

  “Sssh!” Violet warned. “He’ll hear you!”

  The headmaster droned on. “blah blah

  blah . . . after much deliberation . . . blah

  blah blah . . . and an excellent suggestion

  by Professor Rattcliff . . . blah blah blah . . .

  we all agreed that we will put on a play!”

  The chattering students suddenly became

  quiet. He had their attention.

  “And not just any play,” Professor de

  Mousus continued. “We will perform a work

  by Mouseford Academy’s most FAMOUSE

  alumnus, William Squeakspeare!”

  The audience burst into applause.

  “And now Professor Rattcliff will give us

  more information about the performance,”

  the headmaster announced.

  “For the performance, we have chosen

  14

  Squeakspeare’s greatest play,” the professor

  said.

  Everyone began to chatter. Which one

  would it be? A Midsummer Night’s Cheese?

  Much Ado About Cheddar? Rodent III?

  “This play tells the tale of two young

  friends from rival cheese-making families,”

  Professor Rattcliff continued. “One makes a

  fine blue cheese, and the other makes a tasty

  mozzarella. The CHEESE-CROSSED

  young rodents want to open their own cheese

  shop together, but their jealous families

  want to keep them apart.”

  The students let out a cheer. Everyone

  knew that play. . . .

  “It’s Mouseo and Juliet!” Professor Rattcliff

  announced, and the students started to talk

  excitedly.

  Ruby raised her paw. “I know every line,

  15

  Hooray!

  Hooray!

  Yippee!

  Great idea!

  Professor,” she bragged. “Mouseo,

  oh, Mouseo, wherefore art thou, Mouseo?”

  “Please save it for the audition, Ruby,”

  Professor Rattcliff said. “Tomorrow, we’ll

  post an audition schedule in the main hall.

  Everyone is welcome to try out.”

  The students started to whoop and cheer

  again.

  Headmaster de Mousus stood. “ Settle

  down, students. This meeting is over. Please

  proceed to your next class.”

  The young rodents RUSHED out of the

  auditorium, eager to start practicing for the

  tryouts.

  THE COMPETITION HAD BEGUN!

  18

  the auditions

  begin!

  The Thea Sisters stayed up LATE that

  night talking about the play. The next day,

  they walked together to the main hall to

  see the audition ANNOUNCEMENT.

  A crowd of excited students had already

  gathered around the board.

  Auditions for the Mouseford Academy

  production of Mouseo and Juliet will be held

  this Saturday at 3 p.m. in the auditorium. All

  students interested in acting roles should

  attend.

  Headmaster Octavius de Mousus

  Paulina turned to her friends. “Are you all

  thinking of auditioning?” she asked.

  “You bet!” said Nicky. “I’ve climbed

  mountains and slept in the desert, but I’ve

  never had a lead in a play. Playing Juliet

  would be an awesome challenge.”

  “Juliet is such a BEAUTIFUL soul,” Violet

  said. “Like a lilting concerto. I would love to

  win that role.”

  “I thi
nk Juliet is such a romantic part,”

  added Colette. “I’d love to play her, and I’d

  wear a beautiful pink dress.”

  “Juliet is my favorite literary character,”

  Paulina added. “I have stage fright, but I

  might try to get over my fear if I could play

  her.”

  “I’m just thinking about how proud

  Thea would be if I got the lead part!”

  Pam exclaimed.

  20

  “It’s too bad we all can’t play Juliet,”

  Colette remarked.

  The Thea Sisters got quiet. They knew that

  only one mouse could get the part of Juliet.

  Yet they all wanted it.

  Paulina spoke up first. “I think I would be

  happy as long as one of us got the part,”

  she said.

  Pam nodded. “Me, too.”

  “We should make a pact,” Nicky

  suggested. “No matter what happens, we’ll

  be happy for whomever gets it.”

  She held out her paw. Violet, Paulina, and

  Pam each put a paw on top of hers. Only

  Colette held back. She was staring

  dreamily into space.

  “Hey, Coco?” Nicky asked. “What’s up?”

  “Sorry,” Colette said, shaking her head. “I

  was

  dreaming about that pink dress.”

  22

  She added her paw to the pile, and the

  friends made their pact.

  “You know, we should get to the library,”

  Violet suggested. “We need to find a copy of

  that play.”

  But when they got to the library, an

  Unwelcome surprise awaited.

  really, ruby?

  “How could there be none left?” Nicky

  asked the librarian. “There used to be a

  whole shelf of copies.”

  “I’m sorry,” the librarian replied. “But two

  days ago, every copy of every one of

  Squeakspeare’s plays was checked out.”

  “Hmm. TWO DAYS AGO?” Paulina

  asked. “And every single copy?”

  “Maybe we can find some copies

  online,” Violet suggested.

  “But we’ll lose practice