Little Jasper and the Rainstorm

By Grandpa Peet

Illustrated by Pam Astrup



"Now don't go very far from home. The weather man predicted a rainstorm for this afternoon." Mama Mouse was looking right at Little Jasper. Little Jasper was the youngest and tiniest one of the Mouse family. The oldest and biggest member of the family was Papa. Then came Mama. Sissy was the oldest of the children and Bennie was the middle child. But Little Jasper was the one that seemed to get into the most trouble. That is why Mama was looking at him as she warned the family of the coming rainstorm.

The Mouse family lived right under the northwest root of the old elm tree out by the garden. Their home was always nice and warm and dry. But when it rained, the path to the garden filled with water, and the grass leading up to the northwest root became wet and slippery.

Bennie said, "This is the kind of day for reading. I'm going to stay home and read my book today."

"Well, I know exactly what I am going to do," Sissy said. "I am going to spend the whole afternoon fixing my hair. I saw an ad in the MOUSY magazine with a whole bunch of pictures of the new ways to fix your hair. I'm going to try them all and see which one is the best for me."

Little Jasper didn't say anything. But he was thinking that Sissy and Bennie did not know how to have any fun. He got up from the table and started to leave the room.

"Where are you going young man? You forgot to put your plate in the sink," Mama told him.

Little Jasper silently returned to the table to pick up his plate. As he put his plate in the sink he saw Mama talking to Papa. Little Jasper tiptoed out into the hall, up the steps, and out the front door that was under the northwest root of the old elm tree. He quietly closed the door behind him.

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