R.O.U.S. (rodent of unusual size)

The move could not have gone smoother. Many thanks to all who helped. The weather was perfect, everything was packed. People showed up and we loaded the truck, drove to Louisville, and there were five intrepid folks here to meet and help us from our new parish, plus a couple of old friends who followed us down.

So that first day started at 5 am and ended late in the evening, with unpacking the kitchen and every muscle and joint in my body hurting, but we got an incredible amount of work done. I think I was running on caffeine, adrenaline and God's grace.

The next morning, we woke up after sleeping like logs in our new place, only to find a RODENT in our kitchen. Wes' first thought was "Eeeeep, a mouse!" But then we noticed that it was not running as fast as a mouse. At first I was worried that there had been a stowaway in one of our boxes.

But we tracked the critter as it ran into the girls' bedroom and behind one of the beds. We shifted it, and caught the wee beastie in a shoe box when it ran back into the hallway. By now I was suspicious that it wasn't a mouse. So we got onto the internet and figured out it was a Siberian Dwarf Hamster. Clearly someone's pet. I'd always thought hamsters would be more easily distinguishable from mice by their size, but note the "Dwarf" in the title. This little fellow was rounder and cuter and had no tail, along with a distinctive T shaped stripe on his back.

It was early in the morning and we weren't able to roust our neighbors, so we gave the R.O.U.S. a temporary name, and a temporary home in a plastic container with sides high enough to keep him in. He kept trying to hop out, so we called him Hopko. Hopko got some water and a couple of triscuits to munch on while we went off to Church.

When we got home I knocked on the neighbor's door and a twelve year old girl answered. "Are you missing a hamster?" "Yes!" Big smile.

So our kids had fun petting "Hopko" for a while, and then we had fun returning him to his owner. And the R.O.U.S.'s name is Berry (or Barry...but I sincerely hope it's Berry, because who would name a cute furry rodent Barry?)

Comments

Michelle M. said…
What a story! Glad that things went smoothly.
I so enjoy reading your posts. :)
maria said…
"Rodents of unusual size? I don't think they exist."

Famous last words!!

Seriously, so glad you're in the new place. And seriously sad that it's so far away.
Athanasia said…
How nice! You're own personal welcoming committee.

LOL!