90. A Pet Mouse

Betty was not like most kids, who had dogs or cats or fish as pets. Betty had a mouse. She liked mice because they were small, easy to take care of, and cute. 

Betty was probably the only one who thought mice were cute. Whenever her friends came over to her house, they were disgusted by her mouse. The mouse was male; his name was Augustus. Augustus was the name of the founder of the Roman empire.

When Betty went to feed Augustus, he was nowhere to be found. He wasn't under his little dome or running on his wheel. How did he get out? After hours of looking around the house, Betty put up signs around the neighborhood. 

Her neighbor ripped it off. "Hey! Why did you do that?" Betty asked. "I lost my dog, so I'm going to put my sign up. Besides, no one cares about a mouse. Someone probably ran over it with a car already," her neighbor said.

Betty didn't let what her neighbor said discourage her. She continued putting up "Lost Mouse" signs. Betty then heard a scream. "Ew, it's a mouse!" someone cried out loud. 

Betty followed the scream and it led her to the gas station, where she found Augustus. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly.

Vocabulary

1. Pet – an animal kept for companionship
   Betty had a mouse as a pet.

2. Mouse – a small rodent with a long tail
   Augustus was Betty’s pet mouse.

3. Disgusted – feeling strong dislike or sickness
   Her friends were disgusted by the mouse.

4. Dome – a round structure, often used as shelter
   Augustus wasn’t under his little dome.

5. Wheel – a toy that mice run on for exercise
   The mouse was not running on his wheel.

6. Founder – someone who starts something (like a city or empire)
   Augustus was named after the founder of the Roman Empire.

7. Nowhere – not in or at any place
   Augustus was nowhere to be found.

8. Neighborhood – the area around where someone lives
   Betty put signs around the neighborhood.

9. Ripped – tore something forcefully
   The neighbor ripped her sign off.

10. Discourage – to make someone lose confidence or hope
    She didn’t let her neighbor’s words discourage her.

11. Sign – a poster with information
    Betty made “Lost Mouse” signs.

12. Scream – a loud, high-pitched cry
    Betty followed the scream to the gas station.

13. Gas station – a place where people refuel their cars
    Betty found her mouse at the gas station.

14. Grab – to take hold of something quickly
    She grabbed Augustus when she saw him.

15. Hug – to hold someone or something tightly with your arms
    Betty hugged her mouse tightly.

16. Ew – an expression of disgust
    Someone yelled “Ew, it’s a mouse!”

17. Lost – unable to be found
    Betty made signs for her lost mouse.

18. Searched – looked carefully for something
    She searched the house for hours.

19. Male – a boy or man
    Her mouse was male.

20. Cute – pretty or attractive in a small way
    Betty thought mice were cute.