RATS!!!!! I hate rats.

I Hate Rats!!!!! My erstwhile nemesis.

Smart little devils.

My little bugger moved in when the movers brought out stuff.

At first, came the rustling in the dead of night.

What is making that sound, I mumbled...falling right back to sleep.

The following night, lo and behold - two tiny, very intelligent looking eyes, peeked out from behind the packing box.

Omigosh....Rats...I Hate Rats!!!!!

Quick as a flash, the little critter darted under the door and away it fled...

I searched all over, not a mouse could I find...very smart it surely be

Between my shoes on the closet floor was a half of my bag of peanuts in the shell...all cracked and scattered - taunting me, was he or she.

Beneath my little light-up table was the remnant of an apple

In my suitcase, the little devil bit through my natural tea-sticks and started building a nest between my bottles of pills

But, obviously it also needed a second home...it also built one...In my handbag.

In which I also found said sticks...now why on earth would it need a nest in my handbag...the one I sling across my back and go walking with my water bottle and a snack

Perhaps it was for the snack...or maybe it wanted a day out in the sun

That was the last straw...I ain't walking out with no mouse

Did I say it before. I Hate Rats!!!!!

Military exterminators were summoned...those guys are relentless

I've seen them down a poor bird in the library rafters...it was flying all over the place -being stubborn and difficult

Dead bird...no mercy...military efficiency

Traps were set for the mouse.......Needless to say, I was now sleeping with one eye open

Day one after night trap set....no mouse.

Day two...day three...not a mouse to be seen anywhere.

Hmmmm! Exterminator baffled. Flashlight out....searching - no mouse was going to best this rat expert.

But....The rat had drowned. Makes me shudder. I am so sorry that I looked into the hole.

It floated there like a ghostly reminder of dead mice past...eerie and terrifying...even though it is very dead!!!!

Now...I Hate Rats!!!!! even more.

I think that I will take the bear over the mouse any day

I NOW GET MOUSE-RAT NIGHTMARES.

In the basement is a sump-pump or something. I imagine the poor mouse jumped in...just so it wouldn't have to face the military precision of the experts.

Now...I cannot get the vision of it out of my head, little rat feet splayed in the hole...mouse dead - drowned.

Ugh. I still believe the ghost of the mouse is haunting me.

FOR NOW...I SEE DEAD MICE.

Did I say it before. I...Hate...Rats!!!!!