mice are nice. They have great Place in this life. A mouse or two, now and then, are well, ok. Back in the day, Tazmeena took care of this part of our shared life. But since she has retired from the work, i need to pick up the slack. I don't know what's happened recently. In the past i would put the peanut butter cheese snack cracker in the Tin Cat and over the course of a week or so, there would be a few mice to drive up the road, around the corner and to the shady place on the irrigation ditch where i would set them free and everything would feel just ok. Recently, Not. Every night, and sometimes during the day too, there is a mouse in the no kill trap. so far i would guess for sure over a dozen. Sometimes there have been 2 at a time. This isn't ok. i don't know why, either. They do limit themselves to that second shelf of the pantry. Aren't running around elsewhere, but still, it's not ok.
also, some seem to know how to escape from the trap. I hear them in there during the night but by morning, they and the cracker are gone. So the routine has become: hear the comotion in the trap, get out of bed and cut two pieces of mailing tape, cover the open place where mice go IN, but also the place where some mice go OUT. For whatever reason, they don't fool with the tape. So they are stuck till i get around to giving them a ride in the morning. It's annoying. Not needing to go anywhere and needing to get presentable, comb hair etc. and get in the car or truck and drive a mouse. I have become resentful.
last night for whatever reason i put the trap with the mailing tape on the shelf next to the Morning Chair. Easy in view. and as morning went on, i saw a pink nose, an eye. I have all along imagined them to be thirsty after consuming a whole peanutbuttercheese cracker…empathy. But seeing the nose and the eye…
i filled the eye dropper with water and put it there and the mouse immediately came and drank, like a hampster or guinnea pig might, drinking. I watched. Compassion. The mouse is just being its best self. Who am i to judge that?

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