Gillian the Tiny Field Mouse and Watchmouse

Gillian was born in the wildflower fields near Annabelle's gardens. He was the smallest mouse among his sisters and brothers. They pushed him out from his nest.

Although frightened and alone, he was also enticed by the fresh scents of the nearby vegetable garden. He crept slowly out from the grasses and into the garden patch. He jumped right into a basket with ripe strawberries. Gillian was so hungry he didn’t see that someone with a long snoot was looking down at him eating his first fruit. When that someone spoke in a young high voice, he jumped back out of the basket and hurried for cover. She called to him, coaxing him back by asking if he would like to taste her freshly baked strawberry pie. Timidly, he stuck out his pink nose, twitching his ears and whiskers. He was, after all, still very hungry.

At the end of the day, Gillian was in Annabelle’s kitchen, under a wee quilted blanket, sleeping soundly. He had eaten his fill. The Sweet Pea Whimble was in her bedroom upstairs, sleeping as soundly as her newfound friend. Within days, the two were inseparable. Gillian became Annabelle’s lifelong Companion.

The tiny field mouse is also known as the “Watchmouse. ” He is not only smart and quick but also intuitive and vigilant. He just “knows” when Annabelle will forget the shortbread baking in the oven. He keeps a close eye on the Whimble’s Thimballoon navigation and takes over the helm whenever trouble is brewing. He is always one step ahead of Annie B. It keeps disaster at bay but at a price. Gillian is often anxious.