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Mr. Butterfield T. Mouse lives alone in the little town of Mouseville. His friend, Mrs. Mary Mouse, takes care of him and works as his cleaning mouse. Mr. Mouse isn't very messy, but Mary likes to help out just the same. They went to school together in Mouseville. They are good friends.

Mary Mouse always prepares something different for Butterfield for dinner each night. She knows that he doesn't cook much for himself. He can make toast, and heat up water for tea. Sometimes he can even make a sandwich. Mary is the real cook. She can make toast and heat up water, too. She can also make big, fancy meals.

Mary's best dinner is her Beef Stew. She uses fresh vegetables and lets the stew cook for hours. that's her secret--low heat and plenty of cooking time. The stew wouldn't taste good if she rushed it. Mary cleans up the house and reads a book, while her stew is cooking. Mr. Mouse always has a second bowl of Mary's stew. He can usually have leftovers the next day, too!

Baked Chicken is another delicious dish Mary prepares. She makes carrots and potatoes with her chicken. Mr. Mouse loves carrots and potatoes. He loves all vegetables.

One day, Mr. Mouse decided to make dinner all by himself. Go to the next chapter to find out more!

"Mary Mouse always makes something for me," Butterfield said to himself. "Today, I'm going to try to make my own meal."

That morning, he told Mary. She was so happy for him. She went about her cleaning, and didn't cook any stew. That afternoon, when Mary was finished, she talked with Mr. Mouse.

"Are you ready to cook, Butterfield?"

"Yes, Mary. I'm all set," replied Mr. Mouse.

"Would you like me to leave a little something for you, just in case?"

"No, no, I'll be fine. Thank you Mary."

"See you tomorrow," Mary called as she left for home.

"Now," Mr. Mouse said to himself. He was all alone in the kitchen. "What shall I make for dinner tonight?"

Mr. Mouse decided right away.

"Aha! I shall make soup!"

But how does one make soup? He would have to look it up in a book.

Mr. Mouse opened up his cabinets and found Mary's cookbook. At the front of the book, he looked for soup. When he found a list, he read the different kinds of soups he could make:

Chicken Soup
Vegetable Soup
Beef Soup...

"And Min... is... trone. Hmm. I love chicken soup, so I think I'll make some chicken soup tonight."

Mr. Mouse read the recipe. He discovered that he didn't have all of the ingredients. He didn't have any chickens.

"How can I make chicken soup without any chickens???"

Mary wasn't home yet, so he couldn't telephone her. It was time to call on another friend.

Mr. Mouse decided to call his friend Markus Mouse. Markus was a cook at The Mouseville Grill. It was the best restaurant in town. Mr. Mouse had to ask him how to make chicken soup.

"Hello, Butterfield. Do you need any help in the kitchen?"

"How did you know? I'm making soup," said Mr. Mouse.

"That sounds delicious."

"But I don't know how," Mr. Mouse told Markus. "Can you help me?"

Markus said that it was very simple.

"You take a can of chicken soup and open it," he said. "Then you cook it and eat it."

"Aha. That sounds quite simple," said Mr. Mouse.

He thanked his friend the chef, then went to his kitchen. He looked in his cabinets for a can of chicken soup. He couldn't find any soup.

"Oh no!" he cried. "I forgot to buy soup at the grocery store!"

Mr. Mouse had no soup. Whatever could he do?

Just as Mr. Mouse began to worry, Mary Mouse returned.

"Mary! I'm so glad to see you," Mr. Mouse told her.

"Hello, Butterfield. I brought you some cans of soup, in case you had trouble making dinner."

"Do you have chicken soup?" asked Mr. Mouse.

"Yes, I do. Two cans," Mary said.

"Oh, thank you so much, Mary! I forgot to buy soup at the grocery store. Now I can make chicken soup for dinner!"

Mary wished him luck and went on home.

Mr. Mouse was so excited. He opened the can, put the soup into a pot. Then he cooked it. The soup was warm and delicious. In fact, he ate every drop.

And, it was the best chicken soup that Mr. Mouse had ever eaten. He had made it all by himself. Well, he almost made it all by himself. He had a little help from his friends.

Butterfield T. Mouse learned how to make all kinds of foods after that day. He even learned how to make Beef Stew!