“I feel like I’m being watched,” she کہا to herself.
And she was being watched…
…by Shirley Rat, the nosiest person in town.
“I see you’re using بان bubble bath,” کہا Shirley. “I personally prefer rose.”
Mrs. Davis pulled down the shade.
“I love to know what’s going on,” کہا Shirley. “I don’t get paid for it—it’s my hobby.”
And Shirley’s hobby kept her very busy.
Reading other people’s mail took half the morning.
“You learn such interesting things,” کہا Shirley.
Listening in on private telephone conversations, Shirley sometimes forgot to fix lunch for her kids.
“First things first,” کہا Shirley.
In the afternoon Shirley did lots of snoopy things—like poking around in other people’s shopping carts.
“Can آپ really afford this expensive brand?” she کہا to Mrs. Butler.
And at night, while people were watching television, Shirley چوہا was watching them.
“There’s a مزید amusing program on Channel Five,” کہا Shirley.
Sometimes Shirley wore a disguise.
“I can find out مزید if people don’t recognize me,” she said.
“There’s that nosey Shirley Rat,” whispered one of her neighbors.
Most folks had gotten used to Shirley’s little ways.
“There’s one in every town,” they said.
But not everyone was so understanding.
“I hate that Mrs. Rat,” کہا Brewster Blackstone, who lived اگلے door. “She makes my life miserable.”
Brewster Blackstone couldn’t get away with a thing.
“Shouldn’t آپ boys be in school?” کہا Shirley, just when Brewster and his gang thought they were safe.
“I’m so sorry to hear Brewster flunked history,” کہا Shirley to Mr. Blackstone.
“He did?” کہا Brewster’s dad. “That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”
Brewster Blackstone was grounded for a whole week.
And he had plenty of time to think.
“This calls for a creative solution,” کہا Brewster.
One afternoon, while Shirley چوہا was engaged in her پسندیدہ activity, something attracted her attention.
“Hmm,” کہا Shirley.
The postman had just delivered a large and interesting package to Brewster.
“Ooh, ooh,” کہا Shirley. “I wonder what’s inside.”
“Brewster, dear,” کہا Shirley in her sweetest voice, “what is in that large and interesting package the postman just delivered?”
“None of your beeswax,” کہا Brewster.
And he hung up.
“How rude,” کہا Shirley. “I’ll find out what’s in that package if it’s the last thing I do!”
Using her special sticky shoes, Shirley scaled the Blackstones’ house to get a look in Brewster’s window.
But Brewster had pulled down the shade.
اگلے Shirley sifted through the Blackstones’ garbage.
“You’ll never know what clues you’ll find,” she said.
But the Blackstones’ garbage gave Shirley no clues.
Shirley tried to disguise herself to get inside Brewster’s room.
“I’m the Roach Patrol,” کہا Shirley.
“I know who آپ are,” کہا Mrs. Blackstone.
At home, Shirley had trouble concentrating.
“That package is really none of your business,” کہا her husband.
But he wasn’t heard.
Shirley went to the park to sit and think.
Suddenly she spotted a small envelope marked CONFIDENTIAL—DO NOT OPEN.
“Oh goody,” کہا Shirley.
The card read: SNEAK PREVIEW—INVITATION ONLY BREWSTER BLACKSTONE’S BACKYARD AT 8.
“I love sneak previews!” کہا Shirley.
At Brewster’s Shirley took a front-row seat.
The film began.
“Oh my,” کہا Shirley. “There is nothing worse than a nosey neighbor.”
Suddenly, for everyone to see, there was Shirley چوہا up to her old tricks—snooping shamelessly.
The audience began to laugh out loud.
“What’s so funny?” کہا Shirley.
And when the film showed Shirley trying different ways to peek in Brewster’s window, someone called out, “That’s our Nosey Mrs. Rat.”
“Nosey?” کہا Shirley. “Nosey?”
Soon the audience was in hysterics.
They laughed so hard they fell out of their seats.
Shirley made a quick exit.
“I’m so humiliated!” she said.
At ہوم Shirley went straight to bed.
“I’ll never snoop again,” she said.
“There, there,” کہا her husband. “Perhaps آپ can save snooping for special occasions.”
“Oh, no,” کہا Shirley. “I’m finished with all that.”
“Well, آپ have a nice rest, dear,” کہا Mr. Rat.
And he gently closed the door.
“Hmmm,” کہا Shirley.
“Well, perhaps for special occasions…”
