Murphy & Mousetrap Read Free

neatly into the cardboard boxes he used to store his collection. He shut down his computer and climbed into bed. Mousetrap jumped up beside him. Murphy shut his eyes tight and listened for the low rumbling purr from deep in Mousetrap’s belly.

3
    â€œFebruary first,” Mom said. “Only four weeks until we have to be out of this apartment.”
    She dragged boxes home from the grocery store and piled them in each room. She pulled blankets, old clothes and books from shelves and closets and folded them neatly in the boxes. When a box was full, she taped it closed and wrote boldly with felt pen on the top: MURPHY’S CLOTHES or BOOKS or BLANKETS or SHOES.
    The apartment didn’t feel like home after Mom started packing. Mousetrap crept around the giant cardboard towers, and Murphy tried to ignore them. He didn’t want to play hide-and-seek after school anymore, and Mom didn’thave time to play anything. One week before they had to leave the apartment, Bernie and Chas drove into the parking lot in a big green pickup truck.
    Murphy stood at the door of the apartment with Mousetrap wrapped in his arms watching Mom and Bernie and Chas carry out box after box after box.
    â€œWe’re just leaving the stuff we’ll need in the next week,” Mom said.
    They left the beds, the sofa and the kitchen table and chairs. The bathroom closet was empty except for the toothbrushes and a few containers of Mom’s things. Two plates, two glasses and two bowls sat in the kitchen cabinet. The only thing left in Murphy’s room was a laundry hamper next to his bed with a few pairs of socks, underwear, jeans and a couple of T-shirts. Even his dresser had been packed in the truck.
    â€œAre you sure you want to do this?” Chas said to Mom once the truck was loaded. Chas and Bernie lived in the apartment across the street from Mom and Murphy. They had beenMom’s best friends for as long as Murphy could remember.
    Mom slumped forward. “It’s kind of late to be asking that now, don’t you think?” she said. Chas put her arms around Mom’s shoulders.
    â€œBut we’re going to miss you,” Chas said.
    â€œI have to go,” Mom insisted. “Don’t make me cry. It’s an opportunity for me. I won’t get a job offer like this again.”
    â€œI know, I know,” Chas said.
    â€œI have to, Chas,” Mom threw her arms around her friend.
    â€œQuit it, you girls,” Bernie said. “We’re only going up for the day. We’ll be right back.”
    Mom checked the boxes piled in the back of the truck, nodded and said, “We’ll follow behind in my car and meet you there.”
    â€œCome on, Murphy,” Mom said. “Time to go.”
    Murphy’s chin drooped. His hands gripped Mousetrap firmly.
    â€œYou better put Mousetrap back in the apartment,” Mom said. “He won’t want to drive all that way.”
    Murphy turned back to the empty apartment. “He doesn’t want to stay home,” Murphy said. “How about if I stay home with him?”
    â€œGrandma’s expecting us,” Mom said. “She’s cooking supper.”
    Mousetrap curled his paws around Murphy’s wrists. Murphy knew Mousetrap didn’t want to ride all the way to Grandma’s. It would take three hours to get there and three hours to get home. But Mousetrap wouldn’t want to stay home either, not in an empty apartment, or a nearly empty apartment, all by himself.
    â€œWe’ll be okay here,” Murphy said. “Bernie and Chas can eat Grandma’s supper. And you.”
    He dipped his nose into the soft belly of his cat. How would Mousetrap be sure they were coming back?
    â€œTake him back inside, Murphy,” Mom said. “And hurry up. We have to go.”
    Mom’s words were sharp. She was tired. It wasn’t a good time to argue with her.
    â€œThen let’s take him with us. He won’t