I sat in class with him delicately perched on my desk. He was quiet and gentle and patient. He waited in the butter carton until class was over. The bell rang! I lifted the lid ever so slightly and peeked inside to feel a soft pink little nose tickle me. I lifted the lid more and was greeted by curious staring pink eyes. He was the best little thing I had ever seen. And he was mine. My little Oliver. The rat my mom never wanted and could never get rid of.
After 3 years I like to think she was glad her little 2nd grader ran home with a little rat in a butter carton just big enough for the poor thing to curl up into a ball. He was a smart little pet. He was friendly. He never ran away even though he was given many chances to. He was eventually buried in the backyard with a little rat ceremony that I'm grateful my parents took seriously for my little broken heart.
2 comments:
So... what made you think of cute little Oliver? Are you thinking of getting a pet for Ayden?? I must say those rats made great pets. LOVE YA MOM
No not entirely, I have this feeling a little rat might get pretty hurt with our little guys around. We'll have to wait until they're bigger and can understand what "don't squeeze them too tight" means. I was just remembering things from my childhood and thought it would make a cute short little story. :)We'll try again with a fishie pretty soon I think. That's much safer for our children-- ideally.
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