Mr. Beethoven at the zoo

Yesterday we were good and finished school but we skipped out on the Lenten Spring cleaning and went to the zoo. (This fellow was very miffed with us when we moved Mr. Beethoven out of reach!)

Mr. Beethoven goes to Buffalo

He was in town to visit the bishop ... (Altar Servers Awards Banquet)

Beethoven's First Trip

Beethoven sat on his Jacob's Ladder meditating, when Mrs. Ladybug came flying by with the daily news."She never comes at a convenient time,"he grumbled to himself.
She landed in front of him and said in her squeaky voice," Uh,oh, Beethoven! The boys' parents are taking them to D.C. to visit their sister living on the outskirts of the city. I saw them looking up the distance. It's a six hour drive!" she finished, out of breath.
"So what does that have to do with me?" the musician said irritably.
"I brought you the news because the little boy,Ken, asked if he could bring you," Mrs. Ladybug said in her fast way taking breaths as she spoke. "They are leaving in three days, on Monday morning."
"How long are they staying?" Beethoven asked, maintaining his outward calm with difficulty.
"Three days," the little ladybug added shortly.
"Three days!" Beethoven said, cracking. "I'll never live that long in such a huge city. If I make it, I'll die on the car ride!"
Mrs. Ladybug looked at him sympathetically. "Six days is torture," she agreed.
"Why six?" the musician asked cautiously.
"Oh, come now, Beethoven. I know you. You'll be stewing in sweat at least until you get back," the bug answered exasperatedly.
Ans she was right. Beethoven was thrust unceremoniously into a backpack with some granola bars and batteries. The only thing to pass the time was a grumpy toy dwarf who had been packed with him. The dwarf introduced himself as Gimli. He spoke very highly of a battle ax he remembered having. It was not on him but Beethoven was glad when they made it to D.C. and were unpacked and put on a shelf. The dwarf grew restless but thankfully Beethoven was used to this and suffered without complaint, which earned the dwarf's respect. They spent the time chatting amiably about this and that.
The trip was uneventful until the mouse came. Beethoven was just describing Zeus, the pet dog and a friend of his,"And he has big, brown eyes, bigger than my head. Irresistible, they are, and we..."
"Please, sir," said a tiny voice. Beethoven nearly fell off the shelf.
"What is it, my dear mouse?" Gimli said, quite politely.
"Please, sir," she said again timidly,"They said you were coming here. I did not believe them. But they want me to bring you to the mayor. Please come with me."
"The mayor," said Beethoven recovering from his surprise.
"Apparently," Gimli said thoughtfully,"We are in trouble."
The little mouse led them into a crack between the floor and the heater. As soon as they stepped in a loud voice boomed,"I said no, never, n-e-f- whatever, no, not ever. Mrs. Little Sticks I said do not bring those invaders into our defenseless abode."
An enormously fat mouse led six other mice armed with tooth picks and sewing needles up to Beethoven and Gimli. "What are you doing here, Invaders?"
"We are not invaders,"Gimli said defensively. "We are just looking."
"Ah, hah!" said the fat mouse, "Scouting the path ahead of the others, are you? Well, they will never hear the news. Guards! Attack!"
Just then Beethoven had an idea! He called to the mayor (the fat mouse)"Ho, great, governor, king, mayor, whatever, we are actually bringing a peace treaty to you from our king. He is starting a long campaign to take over the world starting here, and if you join him he will spare you." That stopped the guards in their tracks.
"You..ah..have a great army?" the mayor asked slowly.
"Oh, yes,"said Beethoven. "It is magnificent!"
The mayor thought for minute. You could see his gears working. Finally he said,"Very well. Tell your king I accept his peace. Go tell him....please."
Beethoven bowed and dragged the laughing Gimli behind him.
"That was brilliant," Gimli said. "I can't believe he fell for that."
"It was a stroke of genius," Beethoven chortled,"And you know what? I think I might even survive the trip home after all!"

The Amazing Adventures of Beethoven

If your take a step into our house and enter a certain bedroom you will see many things which include a faded blue rug, and two homemade bunk beds pushed into the corners. The beds are slept in and used for the storage of fondly cared for stuffed animals.

By one of these bunks is a large dresser. Two crates are placed on their sides and used as transportable shelves.Between them is an old shoe box which holds an uncountable number of audio tapes. CDs are neatly organized on top. Placed in front of all this is a folded Jacob's ladder. Seated on top is a little toy musician looking sternly ahead. We call him Beethoven. He spends most of his time here, alone, if no ladybugs visit, and he doesn't fall. If he gets bored I do not know. I haven't asked him. But I would think not because sometimes...he goes on adventures. To be continued...