Ratoncito Pérez - Spanish

Squeak! Hello there. My name is Pérez, and I am a very small mouse with a very big job. I live in a cozy biscuit box inside a big bakery in the city of Madrid, where the air always smells of sugar and warm bread. When the moon is high and the whole city is asleep, my work begins, for I am the keeper of a special secret, the story of Ratoncito Pérez. It’s my job to scurry through the quiet streets, climb up walls, and slip under doors, all for a very important reason: to visit children who have lost a tooth. I race like a whisper through the shadows, my tiny straw hat perched on my head. My heart beats like a little drum with excitement every time I see a little tooth placed carefully under a pillow. That's the sign that my magical adventure is about to start.

My story began a long, long time ago, inside a grand palace in Spain. A young boy, who was a prince named Alfonso, lost his very first tooth on May 15th, 1894. He was a bit worried, but his mother, the Queen, wanted to make it a special and happy moment. She asked a kind writer named Luis Coloma to create a magical story just for her son. And that's how I, Ratoncito Pérez, was born. In the story, the little prince, whose nickname was Buby, put his tooth under his big, fluffy pillow. He tried his best to stay awake to see me, but soon his eyes grew heavy, and he fell fast asleep. From my home in the bakery, I put on my little hat, grabbed my tiny red bag, and set off for the Royal Palace. I was a very brave mouse. I scampered past sleeping guards whose snores sounded like rumbling giants. I tiptoed by giant suits of armor that looked like metal ghosts in the moonlight. When I found the prince’s room, I slipped under the magnificent door and quietly climbed up the tall bedpost. I saw the tiny white tooth, and with a flick of my tail, I swapped it for a shiny gold coin. The next morning, Prince Buby woke up to find the coin and was filled with joy. He was the very first child I ever visited.

Now, the story that was made for a prince soon became a wonderful secret for all children. After that first visit to the palace, I knew I had a new and very important mission. From that day on, whenever a child in Spain lost a tooth, they would place it under their pillow, just like Prince Buby did. And every single time, I would sneak in to collect the tooth and leave a small gift or a shiny coin in its place. This wonderful tradition spread like sunshine to many other countries where people speak Spanish, from Mexico to Argentina. The story of a tiny, brave mouse turned something a little scary, like losing a tooth, into an exciting and magical adventure. Today, if you visit Madrid, you can even find a statue of me. My story is still told in books and movies, reminding everyone that even the smallest creature can bring great joy. And it shows how a little bit of imagination can create a special tradition that connects families for many, many years.