by Kim Conklin
She stood by the rescued greyhounds at the outdoor market, petting the dogs and talking to the lovely young woman with the beaming smile standing next to her.
“You have to meet someone.” The young woman reached into her jacket. A furry white head with two bright eyes and a pointed nose peeked out. The rat nuzzled against her owner's sweater and dove back into safety and warmth, leaving only hindquarters and a long tail on display.
“You have the most interesting pets!” she said with sincerity, even though rodents were usually one of her least favorite forms of wildlife.
“She's a domestic white rat.”
“Two words I've never used in a sentence.”
“Domestic and rat?” the young woman laughed.
She liked this young woman. They'd met two weeks earlier, when the young woman had been walking her pet chicken on a pink ribbon leash.
The rat peeked out again. She had to admit, it was cute. And clean. Not what you'd expect.
The young woman told her about the rat's affectionate nature and intelligence, and how easy it was to litter train. Her husband smiled and punctuated her story with supportive comments.
As she listened, she noticed the glow on the young woman's face, how happy she and her husband seemed to be. She thought of all the religions and texts and sermons and self-help books in the world, and she wondered if the real message in them might be just to love everything, even the rats.
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For the Least Favorite theme of the 52/250.
Featured in "twentysix": http://52250twentysix.wordpress.com/week-25-least-favorite/
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great improvisation on the theme "least favorite" (i was looking for the theme on the site first until i realised this was the theme...) and this particular piece must be applauded even if it didn't have great dialogue, timing and language, because of its life and love-affirming tone. excellent!
Yes. A great read, Kim. Good imagery.
I like the sense of sincerity and pondering at the end, the light comedic touch.
lovely tone and emotion in this! *
Kim, there's always a tenderness in your work. You just nailed this one, conveyed something huge in a very short space. *
Thanks very much, all! So glad you liked it, particularly the tone.
I can understand loving everything animal--except a fair number of humans. Good story.
Thanks, Jack!
Yes, good story, excellent thought ... love everything.
Thanks, JLD!
I love the optimism in this piece - and it's so beautifully told. *!
Thanks, Marcelle!
great treatment on the theme. This had a wonderful affect on me...reading it through. There's a sweetness to rats domesticated, the rhythm and details of the piece capture that and the feel of that contact, the smoothness of white fur which you offset so well with the one striking detail of the pet chicken which stays in the mind with its bright pink ribbon leash.
Thanks Doug!
*
Nice work, Kim!
Thanks Mata and Christian!
Moves gracefully to a wonderful end.
Here's a tenth star.
*
Thanks very much, Bill. I'm honored.
What a beautiful story of love in the most unexpected ways.
rescued greyhounds, domestic white rat, pet chicken walked on a pink ribbon leash... first, one must wonder where do these people live that walking a chicken on a leash occurs, which I loved. And the ending line, about loving everything, even the rats, for the theme of Least Favorite - a wonderful turnabout!*
Thanks Julie and Cherise!
ooh, i love this story and I love rats. I love this story not only because i love rats. I love it apart from that fact. But this is a great story. What an ending!
There is a simplistic sweetness to this little tale (tail) that really grabbed me. I like the way you ended it with her inner thoughts about life
*
Thanks, Meg and Susan!
this is a fun one, Kim. I like how you boil it all down to one memorable message.
Thanks Michelle!
Killer last line. Really good read, Kim.
Thanks, Jules!
Very sweet, and a nice lesson delivered without being preachy.
Thanks, Lou.
I seriously love it, Kim. It delivers something large and beautiful but in an understated way. So nice. * -- Q
Thanks, Quenby!
You hooked me with the fifth and sixth words on the opener, Kim: "rescued greyhounds". We have two little pals from Animal Rescue who were mistreated. Your real message in the closer sums it up; we love them and it's returned, tenfold. Why not submit RATS to an Animal Rescue magazine? *
Thanks, Ramon! Great idea!
all animals, no matter the breed, are here for a good reason. I loved this story.
Thanks, Estelle! So glad you liked it!
Wonderfully tender tone in this.
Thanks, Beate!
Rats are really intelligent and can be great pets, so said my mom in her various stories growing up. This piece is wonderfully effusive in its embrace of life.
Thanks, Jon!
A wonderful woman I knew also had a pet rat as a child (I just learned this recently). It's a re- think! :)
I think I've met this glowy young woman. Thanks for reminding me about her. : )
You're most welcome!
Your story took me to an unexpected conclusion that I enjoyed very much. We tried to love hamsters, but that is another story.
Thanks Grey!
Loved it at 52/250, now can drape it with jewelry! Peace *
Thanks Linda!