Hi and welcome back to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien.
Illustrations by Justin Todd. Read by me, Teacher Alyse.
📖 Chapter 14: The Marketplace
Before I begin reading, here’s a quick summary of the chapter:
Mrs. Frisby is shocked to learn that her late husband, Jonathan, was part of the rats’ secret past. Nicodemus explains that Jonathan had a good reason for keeping the truth from her, but he never had the chance to share it before he passed. As they talk, Nicodemus suggests moving to a quieter location so he can tell her the full story of the rats’ origins.
He leads Mrs. Frisby to his office, a comfortable and well-furnished space, where she notices a radio playing music. This sparks a memory of something Jonathan once mentioned, and she is fascinated by the sound. Nicodemus then begins to recount the history of the rats, starting at a marketplace near a big city where he and many other rats once lived.
The marketplace provided plenty of food, making life easy for the rats. Nicodemus and his friends, including his intelligent companion Jenner, often explored the area, gathering food and playing. One evening, while searching for food, Nicodemus and the other rats were suddenly caught in a trap. Bright lights flashed, and men in white uniforms appeared, capturing many of them with nets. Nicodemus himself was ensnared, signaling the beginning of a life-changing event for the captured rats.
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