Melvin Fidel, the Rat Queen of Quarteracre Ranch.
Melvin died today. I got home from work and she was on top of her box. Head hanging over the edge, looking feeble and drained. She hasn't been eating much if at all and her skin was hanging off her bones like all those descriptions of dieing people that I've read of but never really seen. Then she collapsed. I didn't see it, I just heard the thud as she hit the floor. She flopped a little but couldn't get up. I ran to her, picked her up gently and held her to my chest. She was so scared. Kate looked into her eyes and said that she was afraid to die alone. So I made her a nest, and we curled up in front of the wood stove for half an hour or so. I stroked her back. Kate looked things up on the computer, rat illness and whatnot. But we could tell it was just her time. I've ever seen a pet die before. I've seen dead pets, but that's just their bodies. When Melvin's soul left her it shook her whole little skeleton and she flopped a few times, right off the ground just like a fish when it's brought into the boat. I didn't think there was that sort of muscle strength in her. Before that moment she couldn't even lift her head. I wondered where it came from. She was still, coughed a few times. And then was gone.
I had just sent Carlie an email a few minutes before, asking how old Melvin was and if she had anything wrong before. I sent her another. it was short. "she's dead." I wish it had been something like, "come home carlie, I love you." but it wasn't.
My mom said she was sorry Melvin died. And addmitted that she had really loved having a rat roaming around our house. She was even telling Melvin stories at a meeting-party the other day. It's a special rat who can steal food from the dogs, fall asleep in your laundry, watch you from under the couch, and convince an entire farming family that rat's are the cutest, most lovable, smartest creatures there are.
I had just sent Carlie an email a few minutes before, asking how old Melvin was and if she had anything wrong before. I sent her another. it was short. "she's dead." I wish it had been something like, "come home carlie, I love you." but it wasn't.
My mom said she was sorry Melvin died. And addmitted that she had really loved having a rat roaming around our house. She was even telling Melvin stories at a meeting-party the other day. It's a special rat who can steal food from the dogs, fall asleep in your laundry, watch you from under the couch, and convince an entire farming family that rat's are the cutest, most lovable, smartest creatures there are.