Runaway Ralph

As children one of our favorite authors was Beverly Cleary, the author of the Ralph S. Mouse series.   In second grade, I (Julie), remember listening with great anticipation daily to hear how Ralph bonded with Keith and was fitted with an eggshell helmet so he could ride a motorcycle.   Yesterday, we went to a grilling party at some friends' house after church.   To our surprise and Sabrina's delight, they had a pet gerbil in a clear ball rolling around the house.  In our daughter's words, "She is SO cute!"     The rest of the afternoon, although she was swimming and playing with another four year old, she had to check in on the cute gerbil.   Later that evening we were informed that she would like a pet mouse.   I scratched my head and thought "Wow, she really did receive some of my DNA!"   (For those of you who did not know me - Julie- as a child, there were years of raising gerbils and playing with them and searching for them when they escaped.)