"There!" she sighed happily, "It looks wonderful..."
And with a happy little smile she went out into the kitchen, closing the diningroom doors behind her.
Now Alvin, being the curious little creature he was, wanted to get a look at this perfect arrangement, but since he was too small to climb onto a chair, he had to think of another way. And then he spotted the drapes...
"Of course! The drapes!! I'll be able to see everything from up there!" And in less time than it takes to tell he skittered up the curtains. But there was a problem. These weren't like the ones in the livingroom. There was no cornice for him to sit on, and if he had to hang on like that he couldn't see anything! What was a 'gator to do?
He cautiously turned his head from side to side, looking for a more secure
perch. And there, less than an arm's length away, was a shelf holding
some pieces of lovely old glassware. It was perfect!
Alvin carefully edged toward it, then, giving a hard push, he swung the drape outwards towards the shelf. When it got close enough he let go and gave a mighty leap, landing safely on the broad wooden surface.
It was the crash that brought everyone running.
"Oh NO!!!" cried the boy's mother as she surveyed the glass-covered room. "My beautiful things! What happened?"
They all stood there in shock, almost afraid to move, until, as one, they all looked up. And there, peering over the edge of the shelf, was Alvin.
From the looks on the faces staring up at him, Alvin knew that this time he had done something that even his being "Alvin The Great" might not get him out of.
So, when the boy called, he came down right away and perched on the boy's shoulder, looking as sad and contrite as an alligator can look. But all for naught.
The sentence was swift and severe. Alvin was banished to the basement. This time there was no appeal for mercy, no pleading, no promises. Alvin was doomed and he knew it.
"Come on Alvin," the boy said sadly, as he gathered up Alvin's carrier and food bowls and toys. "Let's get you settled downstairs."
In the basement the boy carefully set up Alvin's things, making sure he was warm enough and could easily get in and out of his little "home".
"There," he said putting Alvin in his carrier, "Now this isn't so bad. You can run around down here all you like, and I'll come down and play with you every day." He gently scratched the little 'gator's head affectionately.
"I'd better get up there and help Mom clean up" he said finally. "Don't worry...I'll be back soon." And with that, the boy disappeared up the stairs, leaving Alvin all alone.
By now Alvin had recovered his usual attitude, and he grumbled and squeaked in a highly indignant tone.
"How could they do this to me?" he asked no one in particular. "It's not my fault! They know how I like to climb! If that stuff was so important why did they leave it where I could find it? Besides, how was I supposed to know it would break?" And so on and so on until he realized that no one could hear him.
Giving an angry little snort, he curled up and went to sleep, still grumbling softly to himself.
