I’m at war with a wretched rodent

A glimpse was all I saw at first. A fleeting one at that. It took a while to register That I had seen a rat. I peeped into the hole to see If it was still about. Imagine my surprise to find That it was peeping out. We sized up one another then, The atmosphere intense. We both squared up our shoulders. Time for combat to commence. Now to the local hardware store. My weapons must be bought. No room for sentiment in this. Our battle must be fought. Armed to the teeth, I headed home. That rat was going down. But as I headed to my door My smile changed to a frown. The rat was sitting, bold as brass, Beside the garden fence. As I approached he didn’t run. He didn’t even tense! I dropped my bags and yelled at him And gave my hands a clap. ‘I’m ready now! You won’t last long ‘Cos I have bought a trap!’ Trap duly primed and loaded up With rat-attracting food, I felt I had already won And this improved my mood. Next morning I rushed out to see If my great plan had worked. The food was gone, the trap was sprung. The rat sat near. It smirked. ‘Beginner’s luck,’ I shouted out, Convinced it couldn’t last. I threw a stone, but missed of course. The rat was far too fast. Each night I had another try, It always was the same. The rat, he wasn’t giving in. He seemed to love this game. Battle fatigue was setting in. I couldn’t beat that rat. He wasn’t dead.In fact, it seemed That rat was getting fat. I watched the rat. The rat watched me. I tried to read his mind. A strange thought formed inside my head: ‘He thinks I’m being kind.’ Amazed was I when he reached out And beckoned me outside. This gesture, although very strange, Could not have been denied. So there we stood, me

facing him. His whiskers twitched. He spoke. My jaw dropped and my eyes popped out, Sure this was one big joke. ‘I’d like to thank you for the food ‘You leave for me each night, ‘Although that dish is dangerous. ‘It gives me such a fright. ‘Can I do something nice for you, ‘To show you how I feel? ‘You’re good to me and I’m nice back. ‘That is a friendly deal.’ One thought popped straight into my mind. No need to search for more. ‘I’d take it as a friendly sign If you could move next door.’

Judith Blatherwick, Garvald, East Lothian.