By Anirhutha Senthil Kumar
If you’ve spent time in East’s library, you may have noticed a mouse sitting in his own rocking chair. With his name painted across the top and a giant piece of squishy cheese in his lap, he seems pretty comfortable. His name is Chester, and there’s a story behind how he got there.
Chester is Mrs. Weber’s mouse puppet, and before coming to East, he spent about 20 years in the Maple East library. His actual beginning is a little less clear. Mrs. Weber doesn’t remember buying him, though she thinks he may have come with a book. She needed a silly character to teach students about taking care of books and Chester surprisingly got the job.
At Maple East, Chester had plenty to keep him busy. He stole cheese and chocolate milk from the cafeteria, sometimes ran away from school, and wrote books about his adventures. Science experiments occasionally left him dirty, which meant going in the washing machine even though he was not a fan. Students played with him, made him presents, and wrote their own books about him. What started out as a character for a lesson became something students could create various stories around.
During the pandemic, Chester went home with Mrs. Weber, but he still found ways to stay connected with students. He started a daily journal about his experiences and sent students emails wishing them a happy birthday. When teachers held a parade through students’ neighborhoods, Chester came along with Mrs. Weber. Students were excited to see him, even away from his usual spot in the library.
When Mrs. Weber was preparing to leave Maple East, there was a question about Chester’s next move. Two East juniors who had attended Maple East came to visit and were excited to hear that she was coming to the high school. Mrs. Weber asked whether Chester should come, too. Their answer was simple: “Yes! If you know, you know.” And with that, Chester was coming to East.
Those connections aren’t just with students. Mrs. Santa Maria’s daughter, Seraphina, made Chester a Minnie Mouse shirt when she was in second grade. When Mrs. Santa Maria came to work at East, she asked Mrs. Weber whether he still had it. He does. For a mouse who gets his outfits changed by students, he’s managed to hold on to something special.
Today, Chester hangs out in a rocking chair painted in East’s colors, complete with a picture of flaming cheese. Students still visit him, change his outfits, and bring him presents. Some freshmen even brought him the giant piece of squishy cheese. Different school, same love of cheese.
Chester will probably go with Mrs. Weber when she retires, but for now, he’s still part of the library.
For some students, he’s a familiar face from elementary school. For others, this might be their first introduction. Either way, the next time you’re in the library, take a second to say hello. He’ll be right by the cheese.