My
husband and I have recently attempted to lose weight, diet so-to-speak. Well,
he has been sneaking extra chips and MY cereal into his man cave for snacking. The whole reward for losing weight was to be a
new kitchen. You see the current kitchen is awkward, small, and offers very
little counter space. It’s vital to have adequate counter space when the lady
of the house likes, needs, and always seems to ‘stack’ important papers and
catalogues in the kitchen. Of course, I informed him that since he is cheating
and eating more than the allowable amount, I alone would have to lose weight to
win the kitchen!
I
needed something out of the basement freezer, so I went down stairs. Hold on
reader, this is related I promise! A sound caught my attention. That creepy
scratching and digging that you instinctively know is food being pushed around inside
a box. It must be my cereal that was being invaded. (By the husband the
previous night and something else this morning. Sometimes it’s awful to be
right. There in the bottom of my fiber cereal is the cutest mouse. Well, to my
surprise the mouse had never knocked over the box. It had merely climbed up,
crowned the top of the lid, and fell straight in.
I
pinched the box shut, forgetting the freezer, and made my way upstairs. Truly
my husband would know what to do. I should give ‘it’ a name. I don’t care to
call it– ‘it’ throughout this entire true story. Theodore, how is that for a name
of a smart mouse? Dear reader, please forget any chipmunks you know by that
name. Focus on this story.
I
told my husband he had to kill the mouse. He of course refused and told me that
was my job. We finally decided to flush the mouse. It seemed the quickest, most
humane way to kill a rodent. (Previously I set traps that only provided a feast
for Theodore and his friends. They were so talented and skilled at robbing a mousetrap
that, well, they have never sprung one of my traps.)
My
flushing attempt not only cost me a lot of stress and anxiety, it also didn’t
work. Theodore held on to the bottom of the bowl as the water swirled down the
hole. My husband had mercy and took over. Flushing finally worked for him--how—I
don’t know and don’t care. I was almost hyperventilating by this time and had
to leave the room. My husband teased me and asked if I would be afraid that the
mouse would climb out of the toilet. What a ridiculous thought of course.
A
week after this event the cat still seemed too
interested in the small space behind the wood cabinet in the bathroom. She
would sit and wait and watch the unseen hidden area. I couldn’t stand it
anymore and moved the small cabinet and found…Theodore euwwwww!! Zoey chased the him. This looked disgusting
but promising. I shut the bathroom door while my hubby slept away unaware.
Theodore ran back and forth. I jumped up and down and yelled softly making myself cheer Zoey on. Maybe
with a little encouragement… Unfortunately, our cat is useless in the art and
capture of mice. First hand I witnesses boredom settle into Zoey’s expression
then she turned her head to find something more interesting. She ignored a
perfectly terrified mouse and allowed Theodore to get away. Theodore climbed up
the shower curtain and perched on top of the rod. This capture depended totally
on me now. How terribly disappointing. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed an old container.
Eventually this very fast, energetic mouse found itself trapped inside walls of
plastic.
When
I placed the clear container on the bathroom counter the cat walked right past,
never realizing the furry invaders presence. I escorted our unwelcome intruder to
the kitchen and our perfect puppy, Porschea, knew we had company. This leaping
Leo has one talented nose. She sniffed all around not suspecting the presence
inside the container. Later on my way to work, I asked for assistance from a
young lady I give a ride to in the morning. She bravely held Theodore’s container. We drove to Lake Michigan’s
shoreline and dropped Theodore off to his new forever home. This time he ran in
circles of joy, even running back to me before he turned and ran in the
opposite direction. I only knew Theodore for a few minutes, stressful ones for
both of us for sure, but when I visit this spot on the lakeshore in the future,
I will always watch my step. He could be running around carefree and I wouldn’t
want to give him a scare. His zest for life and fullness of joy at this fresh
opportunity for a new start was rather inspiring.
Thank
you Theodore, wherever you are. You’ve made a new home; hopefully, not among any
of the houses which line the other side of the highway. Reader imagine Theodore’s view of the lake,
stunning skies, and beautiful flowers when springtime arrives. Oh that we would
open our eyes with his joy and expectation. We have so much to look forward to!
Okay everyone, get ready and run….
