The boy finally decided to speak. Riley only heard one word, but that was enough. He spoke with an exaggerated lilt. He sounded like a Canadian or an American. "Hello?" Riley called back, not yet daring to pass through the broken glass. 

The breadbox mouse skittered and tried to escape, screaming warnings and omens in a higher and higher voice. Nina stopped licking the icing on the cakes all splattered on the ground and jumped at him with a growl. She landed square on the mad mouse, pinning it in her paws. "You're coming with me," Riley said, picking the mouse up and holding it in her hands. He continued to squirm and curse. There was probably nothing more annoying in this entire world.

Slowly, Riley tread around the bits of broken glass, making her way to the window. With one hand, she pushed the curtain aside. Then, trembling, she put a foot through the hole. Nothing was scratched yet. When her foot touched ground, she brought the other over as well. Fortunately, she was untouched. Nina bounded through with a graceful leap, curling around her leg. She stood there, the seconds ticking away without a word. " . . . Hello," she said, breaking the silence between her, the fox, and the boy. "Who are you?"