The "man" opened the lid of the tank and there was a verbal exchange
between the "man" and the "girl". The "girl" pointed to the empty
encrusted water bottle hanging limply on the side of the tank. The little rat
did not understand. The voices sounded angry.
The "girl" carefully put her hand inside the tank stopping to speak to each
of the inhabitants. She held several, gently placing them back in the
confines of the tank. The little rat saw something that looked like drops of
water running from the "girl's" eyes, falling onto the urine soaked bedding.
The little rat wondered what it could be.
The "girl's" hand then came toward her. She wished for her sibbling to hide
behind. Reaching into the corner the "girl" stroked her head. The little rat
let out a fearful squeak afraid that this might be the "stunning" she had
heard about.
But...the "girl's" hand smelled faintly like her mother and her strokes were
gentle...almost like when her brothers and sisters had groomed her.
The little rat felt herself lifted from the tank and placed into the crook of the
"girl's" arm. She snuggled there feeling safe.
Movement.
The "girl" was walking with her. Carrying her. Past the creeking door into a
large room.
She saw the cages of the reptiles and heard the door shut behind them.
The reptile cages were passed and they walked toward a great
light..."sunshine?"...
the "man" directly ahead of them.
More sounds. Voices were heard. The "girl" fished in a bag (purse) at her
side never letting the little rat go.
A box, smaller than the one she had arived in, was placed on a shelf
(counter) in front of them. Gently the "girl" lowered the little rat into the
box and then semi-darkness as the lid was closed.
She heard more sounds as the "girl" rustled through her bag and the little
rat heard a tinkling noise as something was placed on the shelf. (Money).
Movement again. A fresh scent. Air!! Fresh air came through the holes in
the box and the little rat breathed deeply.
More movement and voices and she was aware of being held again
closely...even through the small cardboard box able to distinct a scent like
that of her mother. The "girl" did smell faintly like her mother. A rat scent
on her hands but not the fearful scent of a rat that surrounded her
mother..but the scent of a rat just the same.
There was more movement felt but a different kind. Almost like something
was moving them. It faintly reminded the little rat of her trip to this place
toppling the whole time into her frightened brothers and sisters. But this
time WAS different. She felt safe.
(Car ride).
Suddenly the movement stopped, then the sound of a door opening...then
more walking and another door passed through and then the lid of the box
that held her was opened.
Once again she was lifted out by the sweet smelling hand and then placed on
the "girl's" shoulder. Her hair smelled good too and the little rat nestled
into the warmth and safety.
Walking and a room was reached. Carefully the "girl" picked the little rat
from her shoulder and placed her into a tank with bars you could see out of!
Why, they weren't even bars! Just some kind of a soft material that allowed
air and light to enter. (Wire mesh).
And the bedding was DRY and there was food placed in a clean bowl! Food!
Clean food!
The little rat couldn't believe her eyes. In a corner of a cage was the most
wonderful thing to hide in!
And the water bottle! Accurately hung from the see-through bars it was
filled to the brim with clear water.
Exhausted, the little rat ate some of the delectable food, drank her fill of
clean sweet smelling water and crept into the house to rest.
She wondered if there were other rats here and if she would share this place
with them. She wondered how many and if some were strong and afraid and
therefore to be feared.
But she let these thoughts drift from her mind as she fell into a dream filled
sleep.
Cages...one stacked upon the other.
The injured and dying falling beside her.
Hiding behind her dead sibbling.
The "man".
The scream of the rabbits.
But then...the wonderful scent of the "girl" and the drops of water that had
fallen from her eyes as she reached into the tank.
The little rat slept.
Then came the day! Another rat, slightly smaller than herself, was put into
the cage with her. A companion! And this rat had none of the fear or
sickness smell of the tank! This rat smelled good! Strangely...the rat
smelled similar to the "girl".
The other rat greeted her and wanted to play. The little rat had never really
played but quickly learned and soon the two were chasing each other,
playing hide and seek and inventing rat games of their own. How she loved
her new companion yet her mind and heart could not quite leave the terrified
and dying rats in the tank, the opening creek of the door and the scream of
the rabbits.
Yet her transition was not quite over. One day as she and her companion lay
sleeping the door to the cage was opened and she and her new friend
peeked out the door of their house to see who had come to visit.
The little rat had learned to like visitors. In the tank, where she had
previously somehow survived, fear was felt throughout whenever the lid was
removed. The larger rats had scurried and tried to hide. The sick and dying
often trampled in their wake.
But now she loved visitors. Now...it usually meant a treat from the nice
smelling hand of the "girl", or, better yet, time to come out to play.
The "girl's" hand removed the house. This time the "girl" had someone
with her. Someone bigger. A..."lady".
The "lady" picked her cage companion up and held her close, petting her
head. The little rat wondered if she would be picked up and loved as well.
She now knew about being loved. She had learned this from the "girl". But
would the "lady" love her as she seemed to love her companion...or was she
to be left in the cage? The litle rat had learned in the tank that when
another was picked up and removed she most often never saw them again.
Would the "lady" take her companion somewhere but not her?
Gently the "lady" placed the other rat back into the cage. The "lady" and
the "girl" exchanged words but did not sound angry as the words exchanged
in the place with the rabbits. The words between the "girl" and the "man".
Something was said that sounded like "Holly". Her companion? Had her
companion been given a name?
She had heard about being given a name. If you were given a name you
were safe.
But her turn to be held soon came. She felt gentle hands lift her from the
cage. The "lady" who also smelled like the girl...and her mother...now held
her.
The "lady" spoke to the "girl" and smiled and then looked at her.
"Cinnamon", the "lady" said. Had she been given a name as well??
Cinnamon?
The "lady" brought her to the crook of her arm and held her. Walking to
something soft in the middle of the room (couch) she sat down and placed
the little rat in the palm of her hand. "Hi Cinn," the "lady" said quietly. Her
companion had been picked up by the "girl" and now the "lady" held her as
well. "Hi Holly."
Holly and Cinnamon! She HAD been given a name like her companion!
The "girl" and the "lady" began to talk and the little rat stretched in her
hand. She felt warm. And safe.
The "lady" brought her to her face and kissed her.
The little rat fell asleep in the palm of her hand.
Movement. She awoke to being placed into a different cage along with her
companion. This cage was also filled with wonderful food and treats, fresh
water and smells. The "lady" hugged the "girl" and out the door they went.
The little rat wondered where they were going.
"I am taking you home," the "lady" said as they moved once again without
really moving. (Car ride).
Home! The word had a wonderful sound! Home!!
She and Holly groomed each other and played in their new cage. This one
had bars you could see out of too!
The movement without moving stopped and the "lady" lifted the cage,
carrying it into a wonderful smelling place! The little rat distinctly caught the
scent of a rabbit..(Daisy)...but not a scent of fear. She knew she would never
hear this rabbit scream. Never.
The "lady" placed the cage on a table and took each of them out, holding
them close.
"My Holly!" the "lady" happily said. "And my sweet, sweet Cinn!"
Cinnamon had found a home!
Through the hands of the sweet smelling "girl", Cinnamon had found a
home!
between the "man" and the "girl". The "girl" pointed to the empty
encrusted water bottle hanging limply on the side of the tank. The little rat
did not understand. The voices sounded angry.
The "girl" carefully put her hand inside the tank stopping to speak to each
of the inhabitants. She held several, gently placing them back in the
confines of the tank. The little rat saw something that looked like drops of
water running from the "girl's" eyes, falling onto the urine soaked bedding.
The little rat wondered what it could be.
The "girl's" hand then came toward her. She wished for her sibbling to hide
behind. Reaching into the corner the "girl" stroked her head. The little rat
let out a fearful squeak afraid that this might be the "stunning" she had
heard about.
But...the "girl's" hand smelled faintly like her mother and her strokes were
gentle...almost like when her brothers and sisters had groomed her.
The little rat felt herself lifted from the tank and placed into the crook of the
"girl's" arm. She snuggled there feeling safe.
Movement.
The "girl" was walking with her. Carrying her. Past the creeking door into a
large room.
She saw the cages of the reptiles and heard the door shut behind them.
The reptile cages were passed and they walked toward a great
light..."sunshine?"...
the "man" directly ahead of them.
More sounds. Voices were heard. The "girl" fished in a bag (purse) at her
side never letting the little rat go.
A box, smaller than the one she had arived in, was placed on a shelf
(counter) in front of them. Gently the "girl" lowered the little rat into the
box and then semi-darkness as the lid was closed.
She heard more sounds as the "girl" rustled through her bag and the little
rat heard a tinkling noise as something was placed on the shelf. (Money).
Movement again. A fresh scent. Air!! Fresh air came through the holes in
the box and the little rat breathed deeply.
More movement and voices and she was aware of being held again
closely...even through the small cardboard box able to distinct a scent like
that of her mother. The "girl" did smell faintly like her mother. A rat scent
on her hands but not the fearful scent of a rat that surrounded her
mother..but the scent of a rat just the same.
There was more movement felt but a different kind. Almost like something
was moving them. It faintly reminded the little rat of her trip to this place
toppling the whole time into her frightened brothers and sisters. But this
time WAS different. She felt safe.
(Car ride).
Suddenly the movement stopped, then the sound of a door opening...then
more walking and another door passed through and then the lid of the box
that held her was opened.
Once again she was lifted out by the sweet smelling hand and then placed on
the "girl's" shoulder. Her hair smelled good too and the little rat nestled
into the warmth and safety.
Walking and a room was reached. Carefully the "girl" picked the little rat
from her shoulder and placed her into a tank with bars you could see out of!
Why, they weren't even bars! Just some kind of a soft material that allowed
air and light to enter. (Wire mesh).
And the bedding was DRY and there was food placed in a clean bowl! Food!
Clean food!
The little rat couldn't believe her eyes. In a corner of a cage was the most
wonderful thing to hide in!
And the water bottle! Accurately hung from the see-through bars it was
filled to the brim with clear water.
Exhausted, the little rat ate some of the delectable food, drank her fill of
clean sweet smelling water and crept into the house to rest.
She wondered if there were other rats here and if she would share this place
with them. She wondered how many and if some were strong and afraid and
therefore to be feared.
But she let these thoughts drift from her mind as she fell into a dream filled
sleep.
Cages...one stacked upon the other.
The injured and dying falling beside her.
Hiding behind her dead sibbling.
The "man".
The scream of the rabbits.
But then...the wonderful scent of the "girl" and the drops of water that had
fallen from her eyes as she reached into the tank.
The little rat slept.
Then came the day! Another rat, slightly smaller than herself, was put into
the cage with her. A companion! And this rat had none of the fear or
sickness smell of the tank! This rat smelled good! Strangely...the rat
smelled similar to the "girl".
The other rat greeted her and wanted to play. The little rat had never really
played but quickly learned and soon the two were chasing each other,
playing hide and seek and inventing rat games of their own. How she loved
her new companion yet her mind and heart could not quite leave the terrified
and dying rats in the tank, the opening creek of the door and the scream of
the rabbits.
Yet her transition was not quite over. One day as she and her companion lay
sleeping the door to the cage was opened and she and her new friend
peeked out the door of their house to see who had come to visit.
The little rat had learned to like visitors. In the tank, where she had
previously somehow survived, fear was felt throughout whenever the lid was
removed. The larger rats had scurried and tried to hide. The sick and dying
often trampled in their wake.
But now she loved visitors. Now...it usually meant a treat from the nice
smelling hand of the "girl", or, better yet, time to come out to play.
The "girl's" hand removed the house. This time the "girl" had someone
with her. Someone bigger. A..."lady".
The "lady" picked her cage companion up and held her close, petting her
head. The little rat wondered if she would be picked up and loved as well.
She now knew about being loved. She had learned this from the "girl". But
would the "lady" love her as she seemed to love her companion...or was she
to be left in the cage? The litle rat had learned in the tank that when
another was picked up and removed she most often never saw them again.
Would the "lady" take her companion somewhere but not her?
Gently the "lady" placed the other rat back into the cage. The "lady" and
the "girl" exchanged words but did not sound angry as the words exchanged
in the place with the rabbits. The words between the "girl" and the "man".
Something was said that sounded like "Holly". Her companion? Had her
companion been given a name?
She had heard about being given a name. If you were given a name you
were safe.
But her turn to be held soon came. She felt gentle hands lift her from the
cage. The "lady" who also smelled like the girl...and her mother...now held
her.
The "lady" spoke to the "girl" and smiled and then looked at her.
"Cinnamon", the "lady" said. Had she been given a name as well??
Cinnamon?
The "lady" brought her to the crook of her arm and held her. Walking to
something soft in the middle of the room (couch) she sat down and placed
the little rat in the palm of her hand. "Hi Cinn," the "lady" said quietly. Her
companion had been picked up by the "girl" and now the "lady" held her as
well. "Hi Holly."
Holly and Cinnamon! She HAD been given a name like her companion!
The "girl" and the "lady" began to talk and the little rat stretched in her
hand. She felt warm. And safe.
The "lady" brought her to her face and kissed her.
The little rat fell asleep in the palm of her hand.
Movement. She awoke to being placed into a different cage along with her
companion. This cage was also filled with wonderful food and treats, fresh
water and smells. The "lady" hugged the "girl" and out the door they went.
The little rat wondered where they were going.
"I am taking you home," the "lady" said as they moved once again without
really moving. (Car ride).
Home! The word had a wonderful sound! Home!!
She and Holly groomed each other and played in their new cage. This one
had bars you could see out of too!
The movement without moving stopped and the "lady" lifted the cage,
carrying it into a wonderful smelling place! The little rat distinctly caught the
scent of a rabbit..(Daisy)...but not a scent of fear. She knew she would never
hear this rabbit scream. Never.
The "lady" placed the cage on a table and took each of them out, holding
them close.
"My Holly!" the "lady" happily said. "And my sweet, sweet Cinn!"
Cinnamon had found a home!
Through the hands of the sweet smelling "girl", Cinnamon had found a
home!
Ratty
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