Rats

Recently, I was telling the teacher that I work with, as we were contemplating a class pet, that I couldn't stand anything that could jump on me.....like the lizard she took a picture of at Petco and sent me. It would have to live in a pretty dirty cage because I wouldn't put my hand in there. A snake I can handle. There is no jumping involved with them. The fear of something springing up when I don't expect it explains my fear of monkeys.

Little did I know I had jinxed myself.

On Saturday, I had just finished up cleaning the feed shed when I decided that I would clean out the drawers in the workbench. I reach down and gave the drawer a quick pull. Out of the drawer flew a big black rat.

And landed on my chest.

I screamed and thrashed while the terrified rat streaked around the tiny shed. Both trapped by the door, I screamed and flailed while he ran up every wall looking for escape.
When I say I screamed I mean I screamed like a little girl. After finally getting myself out of the shed and away from the rat, I sheepishly looked around at my neighbor's yards ready to let them know I wasn't being murdered.

But no one came so I went home and took a bath.

update: Rat has been popping out at me regularly now. He has made his nest on top of a box of Decon. There has been much screaming....and still no neighbors.