Rex the pet mouse

We went on a pet hunt. At the pet store we looked at fish of various sizes, shapes and colors. They darted back and forth, swimming up to the glass and making fish faces :-). They looked beautiful.

• Buy a fish tank
• Buy fish food
• Buy water filter
• Clean the tank every so often
• Total expense - $50
• Chances that Amani would yank out the little creatures were extremely high.

So fish it was ... NOT!!

We saw some pretty birds. I loved them!! Beautiful colors, cute beaks - perfect pets.

• Buy a cage
• Buy branches
• Watering can
• Bird food
• On the whole more expensive than fish - $70
• Chances that Amani would open the cage and let the bird fly - very high.

Cats and dogs were out of the question. To think of potty training,  finding a home for them when we are away... too much work. I already have 2 little people to deal with, not about to add to an already complex equation.

Hamsters? too big and expensive
Snakes, Chameleons, out of the question.

Mouse

• Buy mouse cage
• Buy mouse food
• Water bottle
• Floor covering 
• Amani will keep her distance.

Feed as often as food gets finished, change the floor bed every two weeks - not too bad. No "baby sitting" necessary. A mouse is $5, total expense - $30

So we got a mouse. Never in my wildest dreams did I picture a day that I would purchase a mouse, but you know what they say "never say never" and with kids, there is just no telling. Lots of surprises on the parenting journey. I would like to think of Rex as a little Jerry (Tom's buddy) but the image and reality doesn't fit just yet.

I was nervous, I thought I was making the biggest mistake but Mich was certain about his decision.
He was asked to keep the mouse in his room, that way he knows it's his responsibility. He was excited. The floor bed (wood chips and stuff) has an awful smell. His room smells like a sty but he seems to handle it quite well.

Rex curious about his cage

Rex nibbling at his food

One night last week, I was stretching at the end of a long day when a mouse came through my bedroom door. I screamed so loud the house nearly shook.
"We've got rats in the house!" I thought.
My heart was racing, trying to calculate my moves to the nearest broom.
But in a split second I remembered, "Of course! we have a mouse in the house" duh
It was Rex.
He moved curiously, clearly not afraid, just checking out his surroundings. He must be a town mouse. A country mouse or a "muyaaye" darts super fast, always running to stay alive.
Still, I didn't have a heart to pick him up and return him to his cage. Mich was in deep sleep. Sam had to come to my rescue.
It turns out Rex's cage door was loose so when he leaned on it, it opened the door to freedom - temporarily.

After a bit of sweat trying to get a hold of the fellow (he had begun to sense some danger), we managed to get him back into his cage and reinforced the lock. Phew!

Wow! Rex would have been history just like that.