by Laurie
It was in my crazier days when Narc and I met. I walked into a pet store. I wanted a pet rat, something small and easy to take care of. There were no rats on display next to the hamsters and rabbits, and then I noticed a room in the back. In a small, 10-gallon tank were about 30 tiny, baby rats. There was a sign above the tank which read in bold letters "FEEDERS." No one was looking, so I slipped my hand into the tank and pulled out a tiny, white rat who had a cute little gray patch over her eye. I slipped her in my coat pocket and walked quickly out of the store.
She was darling. She was a curious and friendly little creature. She wasn't afraid to be held, she liked to nestle in my warm hands, she liked to lick my cheek and I'd often just lay on the floor and let her loose and play with her. She'd crawl all over me, on my back, in my hair, but she always wanted to get near my face to lick my chin and see what I had for dinner or cuddle in the warmth at the crook of my neck. I had a tiny stuffed bear that had been attached to a key chain. I'd hold the bear and have it chase her, and then she'd chase the bear, and then they'd wrestle. It was very cute. She sure was a happy rat.
I gave up my wild days of partying and staying out all night because I wanted to be a veterinarian and I knew I couldn't get there on the road I was on. I'd often let Narc run loose in my room because she was so well behaved, but if I laid on the floor trying to study, she'd crawl all over my papers and climb up on my hand so I couldn't write. Narc always wanted to be held, she always wanted my attention.
Saddly, Narc had always been a little sickly, the conditions the pet store had kept her in were far from good, with crowded cages and improper bedding. Narc had lung infections that would never quite go away fully. I tried treating her with antibiotics and they would work for a little while, but the infection would always come back. When she developed a growth on the face at age 1-year, I feared the worst. My mother told me "Take her to the vet tomorrow while I'm at work, I'll give you money for the visit, but she doesn't look so great. Maybe they could give her a shot or something."
The next day, Narc and I ventured out alone to the vet's office. I felt optimistic - Despite the growth, Narc didn't seem too sick; she was still eating and drinking...
The vet said he couldn't determine if the growth was a tumor or not without examining her. Afraid, she wiggled too much and the vet couldn't get a good look at her mouth, where the growth was. We decided it would be best to give her a little gas so he could have a better look. I waited patiently in the next room for the doctor to come out and give me the results. Came in with a grim look on his face.
"It's a tumor, Miss Laurie. I'm sorry." A tear trickled down my eye. "Is she suffering?" I asked in a small, fearful, childlike voice. "She's certainly uncomfortable." He said "And if we let this go too much longer, she's going to be very sick. And her lungs... It looks like she's had a respiratory infection for quite awhile. She's having trouble breathing right now..." I choked back sobs. "When..." I paused. "When do you think it would be time to euthanize her? I don't want her to suffer." Now sounding more grown up, trying to face a stark reality. "In my opinion, well, we could do it now. She's already under right now, a little more gas and she just won't wake-up from her peaceful sleep. It's up to you, I'd need you to sign a paper." I bit my lip. "She can't breathe, miss Hale...There's so much fluid in her lungs..." He had a very sad look on his face. He knew what was best for her, and so did I. She had had a weeze for a very long time, it had gotten worse, and now the tumor. Now I just needed to let her go.
I could hardly sign the paper as I choked back tears. I could tell the poor secretary was shook up, seeing me that way. It seems not too many people are so passionate about a little ol' rat. To a lot of people, they are just snake food. Not Narc, though. Not Narc. She was a special rat. I've owned about 5 rats in my life time, but none as friendly and intelligent as Narc. She was truly my friend. She'd always jump up in her cage when she saw me coming and crawl right up my sleeve when I stuck my arm into her cage to pick her up. She just wanted to be with me. She'd come to the call of her name and when I let her loose in my room, she'd always follow me as I walked around and sit on my feet when I stopped. If ever a girl loved a rat, and if ever a rat loved a girl, we loved each other. I rescued her from being a snake's dinner and gave her the best home and as much love as I could. I know the nicest thing I could have ever done for her was to let her go, so she would never know what it was like to suffer. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I bet she's in heaven now making someone else smile.