This is a fable about the Mayor of Mouse Town and its Council. Of course, any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental.
Once upon a time, in an idyllic seaside village, there was a house. Not an ordinary house. Oh, no. A special house, an historic house. Some say a magical house. The first house ever built in the village.
Inside this house lived a community of mice. Not ordinary mice. Oh, no. Special mice who learned to read and write, and work at jobs. These mice even elected one special mouse to be the Mayor of Mouse Town, and four others called the Council. Their job was to create an idyllic place where the mice could live, work, and play in peace and tranquility. Where the mice could go about their day enjoying open space, quiet and clean air.
Or so they thought.
One day, the Council made a special announcement. The shoeboxes it used for offices were falling apart, dark and moldy. The council wanted to replace them with something new. Something that all the mice could use to live, work, and play.
“It sounds like a good idea” the mice said. “Especially if it’s for us to live, work, and play.” So, weeks and months passed. All the Council talked about was how its brand-new offices would provide better service to all mouse needs.
Then, the Mayor of Mouse Town called special meetings to discuss the wonderful project and ask the town for their input. There were lists of things in which the town might have interest. Each mouse was given color stickers to place on the list. A green sticker for what they wanted. A red sticker for what they didn’t. Most of town wanted small shops and restaurants. But the Council wanted tall office buildings and condominiums. So, the lists were never seen again.
Still, the town was excited. In meeting after meeting, Council told them how important the project was and how it would place Mouse Town on the map. The Mayor of Mouse Town and the Council interviewed developers from Mouse Town and beyond. Then they announced that they came to a decision.
The excitement built and built. Until…
Everyone in Mouse Town was talking about it. “It will be wonderful,” the mice exclaimed. “We can’t wait,” they yelled. And finally, a meeting was held for the mice to hear the plans.
Almost the entire town was at the meeting. Even a reporter for the Coastal Mouse! The Mayor of Mouse Town stood. The room became silent. Then the Mayor of Mouse Town spoke.
“I am sad to announce that we do not have enough nuts to build this project. (Because nuts were currency used in Mouse Town.)
Now everyone was sad. “Why did it take so long for Council to know this?” they asked. “We really were excited about it,” they cried. But soon the town forgot about their disappointment and went on with their lives.
Then one day, the Mayor of Mouse Town made a new announcement. “We are going to revitalize a 33-acre area in downtown area to replace the aging government buildings. A public-private partnership called P3 will even make it free!”
“Free” the mice rejoiced. “What a wonderful Mayor” they exclaimed.
Dark cloud over Mouse Town
But suddenly, a dark cloud descended over Mouse Town. Under the mayor’s spell, the Council no longer believed as their fellow mice. Rather than an idyllic setting, they dreamed of a mousetropolis. Crowded streets, little open space, and tall buildings where mouse families had to lock their doors and live with strangers.
As it turned out, there was a small detail that surprised the mice. Mouse Town planned to just give away the city land! And for the free! The developer would build the government buildings, along with gigantic project of tall office buildings and condominiums. Just what the Council wanted all along.
“What’s happening?” screamed the mice. “This is not what we wanted” they cried. “Where is the Mayor of Mouse Town?” they yelled. They felt trapped.
Indeed, where was the Mayor of Mouse Town?
He was celebrating with the architect and builder mice who would create the new mousetropolis. The mayor no longer cared about what the town mice really wanted. He was looking forward to a new successful life when he was no longer the Mayor of Mouse Town.
What’s the moral of this story? Sometimes a raton can become a rat.
Next fable: The mythical unicorn and Aletto Square.
