Ratoncito Pérez - Spanish

You might not see me when you’re tucked in bed, but I see you. I am a very small mouse with a very big job, and my adventures begin when the moon hangs like a silver coin in the sky over Madrid. My name is Ratoncito Pérez, and from the cozy, sugary-scented safety of my home inside a cookie box, I travel through the sleeping city on secret paths only I know. I’m on the lookout for something special and precious: tiny, pearly-white baby teeth left under pillows by brave children. You might wonder how a little mouse like me got such an important role. Well, every great story has a beginning, and this is the story of how my important work began, the tale of Ratoncito Pérez.

My story truly began long ago, on a particular day in the year 1894, inside the grand and glittering Royal Palace of Madrid. A young boy, only eight years old, was about to face a big moment—he had just lost his very first baby tooth. This wasn't just any boy; he was Prince Alfonso, who everyone lovingly called 'Buby,' and he was destined to one day become King Alfonso XIII. Losing a tooth can feel a bit strange, can’t it? His mother, the Queen, noticed he was a little worried. So she had a wonderfully clever idea. “We must turn this moment into an adventure,” she probably thought. She sent for a kind and imaginative writer named Luis Coloma and asked him to create a special story just for her son. Mr. Coloma thought about what a little boy might find exciting. He imagined a brave, clever mouse who lived in a nearby pastry shop, surrounded by the smell of sweet cakes. This mouse wasn't ordinary; he had a noble mission to collect lost teeth from good children and leave a wonderful surprise in their place. And so, I was born from his imagination, created to turn a moment of worry into one of absolute wonder for a young prince.

That very night, my first mission began. I set out from my home, a sweet-smelling tin of cookies at the Prast confectionery shop, which was just a whisker away from the palace. The city was quiet, and the cobblestone streets gleamed under the moonlight. Reaching the enormous palace was my first big challenge, but I am nothing if not clever. Can you imagine how huge the palace doors must look to a tiny mouse? I found a small crack near the foundation and slipped through, my tiny heart thumping like a drum. I tiptoed past sleeping guards whose snores sounded like distant thunder and climbed up heavy velvet curtains that felt like climbing mountains. Finally, I found the prince's room. King Buby was fast asleep, and I could see the little tooth tucked safely under his big, fluffy pillow. With the greatest care, I wiggled under the pillow, my whiskers twitching. I gently retrieved the tiny tooth and, in its place, I left a shiny new coin that glimmered in the moonlight. As I held the tooth, I realized it was more than just a tooth; it was a memory of growing up. I knew then that my job was to protect these memories and leave a little bit of magic behind for every child.

The next morning, Prince Buby woke up and reached under his pillow. When his fingers found the cool, smooth coin, his face lit up with delight. The story his mother read to him was real! He ran to tell her all about my visit, and the tale of the little mouse spread like wildfire. It became so popular that it traveled from the palace walls to all the children of Spain, and then it scurried across the sea to many other countries, too. I, Ratoncito Pérez, became a hero to children everywhere, a secret friend who visited during an important time in their lives. Today, my tradition continues. Children still carefully place their teeth under their pillows, waiting with excitement for a visit from a brave little mouse. The story that started as a special gift for a king became a magical gift for everyone, reminding us all that even the smallest creature can bring the greatest joy, and that a simple story can connect us all through the magic of imagination.