“An Awkward Meeting”

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A white mouse with a dirty short pink tail was given to me by my Mom one Spring day for Easter. I was told to give him a name, feed him, make sure he had plenty of water and most importantly – clean his cage.

I loved “Mousey.” That’s what I called him – “Mousey.” At six years old I couldn’t think of a better name to call him. So he was just plain old Mousey.

Mousey sat in my jumper pocket when I watched Popeye cartoons on TV. Mousey was with me twenty-four seven – except at the dinner table. My Old Man had a thing about “rodents.”

“Charlie, put that “RAT” back in his cage when we’re eating supper!”   

“Awww…but, Dad…?!

” NOW!”

“Ok.Ok….Gee whiz!”

Now, the Family had only one other pet in the house and it was a bad-tempered dachshund named “Phoebe.” 

My parents doted on “Feebs” despite her crotchety behavior. Often you would see her dark brown arthritic body curled up on a blanket. She slept a lot cause she was old and like I said – “grouchy.”

One early morning while my parents were sleeping I had a brilliant idea. Why not introduce Mousey to Feebs – then they could become Pals!

Assuming the meeting might be “awkward” and based on Feebs’ temperament – I gently put a large rubber band around Feebs’ muzzle. Just in case she got any wrong ideas.

I then introduced Mousey to Feebs. 

“Feebs this is Mousey. Mousey this is Feebs. Now I want you both to say “Hello” and become friends.”

Mousey enthusiastically sniffed Feebs’ muzzle. Feebs just glared and squinted at her newfound friend.

All well and good until – without warning Feebs snatched Mousey out of my hand and proceeded to eat him. 

My howls of anguished horror filled the house bringing my parents running. But, there was nothing they could do. Mousey was gone and I was inconsolable.

A few weeks later, in an effort to console me, Mom gave me a Guinea Pig – who I promptly named “Pig.”

Pig and Feebs never met.