A Chronicle of the Lives of Four Mice

By Wu Yan of Sucheng

Mama Mouse’s four sons had grown up and it was time for them to move out. The top priority was to expand the Mouse Clan’s territory in all four directions.

The eldest, Rice Mouse, set up his home in the drain pipe of a high-class hotel in the big city. He lived like a king: Every day he got to eat exotic delicacies which had been thrown away by consumers on

government expense accounts.

The second son, Fruit Mouse, built a happy, peaceful nest above the ceiling in a newlywed couple’s new home in the city. He lived a very contented life, too: Every day he could steal leftovers to eat, and fruit

or cookies to nibble on.

The third son, Barn Mouse, lived well in his own right, in a provincial-level grain warehouse: He passed his days in a place where he could eat, drink and go about his business without running around, and not

have to suffer from the blowing wind or the heat of the sun.

The youngest, Field Mouse, dug a hole in a dike between rice paddies to make his home, but he was comfortable with it: He specialized in stealing melons and fruit and greens and vegetables to eat.

After a year, the four brothers got together again when they all went home for a visit during the Autumn Festival. Each of them was very whiney and grouchy, which really surprised Mama Mouse. She pushed up the spectacles she wore for farsightedness and, looking over her sons, who were greatly changed,

asked: “Do you remember when you would write to me, or call me on the phone, and tell me how well you were doing, and how you were so happy you didn’t even think about coming home?”

The eldest, Rice Mouse, was the first to speak: “Ma, don’t just look at how fat I am now, or what a prosperous belly I have. The truth is I’m really sick. Last time at the hospital they diagnosed me with an adipose liver, gastric ulcers, coronary heart disease and a bunch of other ‘rich people’s ailments.’ The

doctor told me I’m going to die if I don’t go on a diet!”

The second son, Fruit Mouse, whose emaciated figure stood in stark contrast to his brother’s corpulence, gulped before opening his mouth. He wiped his nose and said miserably: “Give me a

cigarette, Rice Mouse.” He lit it and took a deep drag, then said in a dispirited voice: “The landlords where I live, the young couple, they were in the clothing business and made over ten thousand a month,

so every day they left fresh fruits and fine gourmet foods for me to try. Then the man had to go get hooked on drugs, and the woman went along with him. It wasn’t six months before they were cleaned out. They screwed me, too, got me hooked to where I couldn’t pull out. Now I need a fix every day and

I’d really be better off dead. The family cat, a Persian – my drug buddy – he told me he had at most six months to live, and I only have thirty days!”

The third son, Barn Mouse, shuddered as though he were freezing. Rice Mouse was puzzled and asked: “It’s only the Autumn Festival, Barn Mouse. The weather’s not that cold, and you’re not sick, so why are

you shaking?”

Barn Mouse turned grim as he told his brother: “You don’t know it, Rice Mouse, but I lay around in the warehouse every day, eating grain and not getting any exercise. And besides, the heat and humidity in the warehouse are computer-controlled and kept at the same level all the time. Now I can’t take the

heat or the cold. If I’m away from there too long, there’s no way I can stay alive.”

The three brothers turned their gaze to Field Mouse, but he just shook his head and said: “Don’t think I’m so healthy, my brothers. Truth is, I’m a mess. They use more and more fertilizer and insecticide every year on the farm, and there’s a factory nearby that spews out pollution, too, so I eat contaminated food

every day. Too much heavy metal has collected in my body and the doctor says I’ve lost the ability to father children.”

Mama Mouse burst into tears when she heard all this. “Oh, God, all four of my kids are useless! When will the Mouse Clan ever be able to fulfill its duty to go forth and multiply?”