All Sam wanted to do was live a simple life. Enjoy some nice cheese, a glass of wine or two, and write a book.

Sam’s grandfather was a mouse hero. The sort of mouse that you read about in a book. In fact, from the comfort of his cozy nest, Sam is writing that very book about his grandfather.

Sam’s world is turned upside down by a single letter, and soon he is forced to question everything that he knows and believes in.

Sam was rather annoyed as he tore open the letter, making a slight muttering sound, his whiskers twitching in annoyance ‘Dear me, this is no good, no good at all!’ The rather formal looking letter, printed on a lovely cream parchment, was from the Committee for the Protection of Mice (and affiliated rodents), Sub Branch 27. Now Sam acknowledged that from time to time the committee had done some fine work. Most fine. Indeed, if it were not for the committee, Sam’s grandfather would have died before he sired his first litter of pups, and there would have been no Sam! Fine work the committee did, and Sam said the same to anyone who bothered to ask (and to some who didn’t!).

With further tutting and whisker shaking, he quickly read through the letter.

“Oh dear.” he said, for the letter had alarming news about the new cat. ‘Oh DEAR” he said once again, for this cat had already claimed some good and gentle mice. Not mice that Sam knew personally, but certainly mice that Sam had heard of, mice that were, as the saying goes, friends of a friend. Which is almost like knowing them.  Indeed, now that he thought of it…maybe he had met o-ne of the poor chaps. At a party perhaps, or was it from school?

“Oh my goodness” Sam exclaimed,  almost shrilly, for the letter informed him that the committee had passed a resolution.  Sam wasn’t the wisest of mice, nor perhaps the most politically astute, but he  certainly knew, like we all do, that once committees get it into their heads to do things such as pass resolutions, why who knows what will happen next?

Indeed, Sam’s nervous curiosity was soon satisfied, for, in the floweriest of prose, with much ‘Thereforing’ and not a little ‘henceforthing’, and just a smidgen of ‘wherefore’, the letter proclaimed that the Committee for the Protection of Mice (and affiliated rodents), Sub Branch 27, did declare, on behalf of all Mice (and affiliated rodents) that the Cat must be dealt with, and dealt with in no uncertain terms, so that all mice (and affiliated rodents) could ‘henceforth enjoy such pursuits that mice (and affiliated rodents) did choose to undertake, for the further pursuit of happiness, and for the furtherance of mice etc etc etc’

With a nervous sigh, Sam read on and came to the sections dealing with exactly how the committee intended to deal with the condemned Cat. With squeak, this time quite clearly shrill, the letter informed Sam that the committee had selected a mouse to deal with the cat. But no ordinary mouse. Indeed the mouse was to be a noble mouse, a mouse of impeccable breeding, most admirably suited to out smarting such a cat. A cat killer, from a line of cat killers! A champion mouse among mice.

Sam almost fainted as he thought how exciting it all was (although, it also occurred to him, it would also be somewhat dangerous to confront this rather vicious, and indeed villainous, cat) Sam thought that he would be quite inclined to meet this chap and shake his paw. Give him a few encouraging words.

Perhaps pass on some of the wisdom that his grandfather had passed on from his battles against cat, generations ago. For Sam’s grandfather was considered quite an authority on cats.

With a decidedly shrill shriek, Sam dropped the letter, clapped both paws over his eyes. His body shivered, and his tawny fur stood up o-n end. Uncovering one eye, he gently bent down and picked up the letter. Holding it delicately by one corner, as if were now dirty, he peered at again.

 He peered, specifically, at the bit that said, quite simply, ‘The Committee hereby declares Sam, currently residing at no 28 Herring Place to be the Champion Mouse. The Committee wishes to be the first to congratulate this most brave mouse on his selection as Champion Mouse and wishes him every success in his endeavors to rid the community of this most vexatious of problems.