“C’mon Dot!” said Mr Mouse from under the table. “Chill out! Let’s hit the net!”

The sassy little rodent led the way as they all sneaked back into the office where the computer was kept. The restaurant was busier than ever, so no-one noticed them leaving.

As they lined up next to the office computer ready to go back home again, Mister Mouse looked up at Dot with his head on one side. He just COULDN’T stop himself having a go!

“Oh - thanks for the burger kid - nice of you to think of us!” Dot's cheeks felt herself go all red – it was true, she had been so wrapped up talking to Floyd that she’d rather forgotten Mister Mouse and Wizard in the restaurant.

Mr Mouse let out an indignant squeak as Wizard butted him with his nose. “Cool it mouse!” he said with a doggy laugh. “Really glad you had a good time Dot, but we’ve got to go – and you’ve still got all that work on the laptop to do for your dad!”

Mr Mouse grunted. “Let’s do it!” Once again he double clicked on his backpack.

“Hang on tight Dot!” said Wiz.

Dot grabbed his lead with both hands – and with a ZERWHOOOSHH!!! they were off again, back on the Internet heading for home.

As they reached the router station they’d passed on their way to Texas, Dot suddenly realized she was actually enjoying net-voyaging for the first time. She was just going to tell Mister Mouse how relaxed she was feeling when suddenly everything changed!

Instead of staying close, the mouse went “YAY! Cool running!”, curved sharply to the left and disappeared! She couldn’t even see where he’d gone because the tunnel that had opened up for him – sweet-smelling and shimmering with gold and blue and green – closed as soon as he went into it. The last sight she had of him was his tail, frisking from side to side like a happy dog’s!

In a panic, Dot opened her mouth to warn Wizard – but it was so noisy in the router she could hardly hear herself think, as masses of data packets rushed through in all directions. But she had to say something! She took a huge breath and yelled:

“WIZ! WIZZIE! WE’VE LOST MR MOUSE!!”

Wizzie turned his head back to her with a shake of his floppy ears.  “We should be so lucky!” he laughed as they flew along – faster than ever, it seemed. “They’ve just put him on another route home. The software will make sure we all end up back at the house. And here we are!”

With a thump and a bump Wizard and Dot landed in a heap on the floor in Dot’s bedroom. And sure enough, just seconds later Mister Mouse joined them, going head over heels into the big pile of scatter cushions next to Dot’s desk.

“Don’t you just hate it when they do that?” he grumbled, getting up and putting his baseball cap back on straight. “Why can’t those guys give some kinda warning when they’re gonna split a party up? Sheee!”

“Well you seemed to be enjoying it all right!” said Dot with a laugh.

But Wizard wasn’t listening to Mister Mouse’s grumbling - his eyes were wide open and his head was on one side.

“Look out!” he barked. “Your mum’s on her way up!”