Mrs. Davis felt peculiar as she took her morning bath.
“I feel like I’m being watched,” she zei to herself.
And she was being watched…


…by Shirley Rat, the nosiest person in town.
“I see you’re using lila bubble bath,” zei Shirley. “I personally prefer rose.”
Mrs. Davis pulled down the shade.

“I love to know what’s going on,” zei 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,” zei Shirley.

Listening in on private telephone conversations, Shirley sometimes forgot to fix lunch for her kids.
“First things first,” zei Shirley.


In the afternoon Shirley did lots of snoopy things—like poking around in other people’s shopping carts.
“Can u really afford this expensive brand?” she zei to Mrs. Butler.

And at night, while people were watching television, Shirley rat was watching them.
“There’s a meer amusing program on Channel Five,” zei Shirley.


Sometimes Shirley wore a disguise.
“I can find out meer 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,” zei Brewster Blackstone, who lived volgende door. “She makes my life miserable.”
Brewster Blackstone couldn’t get away with a thing.
“Shouldn’t u boys be in school?” zei Shirley, just when Brewster and his gang thought they were safe.


“I’m so sorry to hear Brewster flunked history,” zei Shirley to Mr. Blackstone.
“He did?” zei 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,” zei Brewster.


One afternoon, while Shirley rat was engaged in her favoriete activity, something attracted her attention.
“Hmm,” zei Shirley.

The postman had just delivered a large and interesting package to Brewster.
“Ooh, ooh,” zei Shirley. “I wonder what’s inside.”


“Brewster, dear,” zei Shirley in her sweetest voice, “what is in that large and interesting package the postman just delivered?”
“None of your beeswax,” zei Brewster.

And he hung up.
“How rude,” zei 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.

volgende 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,” zei Shirley.
“I know who u are,” zei Mrs. Blackstone.

At home, Shirley had trouble concentrating.
“That package is really none of your business,” zei 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,” zei Shirley.

The card read: SNEAK PREVIEW—INVITATION ONLY BREWSTER BLACKSTONE’S BACKYARD AT 8.
“I love sneak previews!” zei Shirley.
At Brewster’s Shirley took a front-row seat.


The film began.
“Oh my,” zei Shirley. “There is nothing worse than a nosey neighbor.”

Suddenly, for everyone to see, there was Shirley rat up to her old tricks—snooping shamelessly.
The audience began to laugh out loud.
“What’s so funny?” zei 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?” zei 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 home pagina Shirley went straight to bed.
“I’ll never snoop again,” she said.
“There, there,” zei her husband. “Perhaps u can save snooping for special occasions.”
“Oh, no,” zei Shirley. “I’m finished with all that.”
“Well, u have a nice rest, dear,” zei Mr. Rat.
And he gently closed the door.


“Hmmm,” zei Shirley.
“Well, perhaps for special occasions…”