Jaq and another mouse scurried under the door into Cinderella’s room just as Cinderella finished tying her hair ribbon. They climbed on top of her dresser and babbled in unison.

“Wait a minute, one at a time, please!” said Cinderella as she tried to calm the mice. “Now, Jaq, what’s all the fuss about?”

“There’s a new mouse in-a the house,” Jaq began in his not-quite-perfect mouse chatter. “Tizavor!”

“Oh, a visitor,” said Cinderella. She clearly understood Jaq’s funny speech. Cinderella opened one of her dresser drawers, which was filled with little mice clothes, and pulled out a shirt, a hat, and shoes.

“Please get ’im out!” continued Jaq frantically, seeing that his human friend did not fully understand the situation. “Trap! It’s a trap!”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Cinderella said, springing into action. She grabbed the mouse clothes and went running out of her room, down the long tower staircase. The mice raced after her.

Cinderella found the trap at the bottom of the stairs. She kneeled down and looked in to find a frightened mouse.

“Oh, the poor little thing is scared to death!” She opened the trap. “Jaq, maybe you’d better explain things to him.” She gently placed the open trap on the floor. Jaq approached the mouse, who put up his fists, ready to defend himself.

“Now, now, now,” Jaq began. “There’s nothing to worry about.” He pointed to his friends reassuringly. The frightened mouse looked up and saw a group of mice smiling down at him. “We like-a you,” continued Jaq. Cinderella looked inside the trap and smiled, too. “Cinderelly really likes-a you, too. She’s-a nice.” Jaq put his arm around the new mouse’s shoulder and led him out of the trap.

Cinderella held up the tiny shirt and shoes she had brought for their new guest. The mouse was rather plump, and Cinderella wasn’t sure the clothes would fit. “Let’s just slip it on for size,” she said, pulling the shirt over his head. “It’s a little snug, but it will have to do.” After putting on his hat and shoes, it was time for Cinderella to give him a name. “Octavius. But for short, we’ll call you Gus.”

Jaq turned to Gus the newcomer and nodded in approval. Gus agreed that the name was a good fit. He was excited about his new friends, his new clothes, and his new name. He had a feeling that the other mice and Cinderella would take good care of him.