Ah, Rats
Short Story
By Vance Bell
Copyright © 2009 by Vance Bell
Strangely enough, the earth still rotated, the moon still pulled the tides, and in the morning, the sun would crest the horizon and spread its light. Nevertheless, at this moment it did not really matter. Nothing mattered now except my ear… and what could I do about it now.
Three hours ago, everything was right in the world or it was as far as I was concerned. Run, jump, play, and eat were the only things on my mind. And of course, my girl, but now, my ear… And what can I do about it, nothing else matters.
We, that girl of mine and I, had a great time earlier. We watched TV, ate popcorn, and cuddled close. We had even rubbed noses a couple of times and made big plans for tomorrow night, but now, my ear… and what could I do about it. That is the only thing that really matters now. My ear… oh, my ear, I really need to do something about it.
Let me try to take my mind off it, my ear that is. Let’s see, let me think. Ok, the plans we made. Build a home, I know a good place for that, a nice place, a place that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer, large enough to raise our kids, we both agreed we want a bunch of kids, with plenty of room for them to play. Heck, that doesn't help. Right now, the only thing that really matters is my ear… I have to do something about it.
When I was younger, this would never have happened. I was stronger, faster, and apparently even smarter. Well, I could have just been more cautious, unsure of myself and always played it safe when I was younger, but thinking about it doesn’t help me now either or my ear... Perhaps if I pull very hard on it… my ear, get your mind out of the gutter. Maybe, just maybe that would help. Ouch… my ear. The gutter, yes the gutter would be a better place for a home. Now really pull.
“Bill, Bill…Come here.” The shrill voice of a woman called from the pantry.
“What?” Bill answered.
“Look at that.”
“What?”
“The trap, its sprung, but the cheese it still there.”
“Let’s see. You’re right. I wonder what this could be.” Bill said as he opened the trap to reset it and something fell to the floor.
Strangely enough, the earth still rotated, the moon still pulled the tides, and in the morning, the sun would crest the horizon and spread its light. Nevertheless, at this moment it did not really matter. Nothing mattered now except my ear… and what would my girlfriend think about me only having one ear…what would she think about me now.
“Your ear…your ear, I still love you my dear.”
“Dad, tell the story about your ear…” the children said as they scampered through the gutter.
“My ear… oh, my ear, I don’t think you really want to hear.”
“We do, we do. Tell the story again.”
“OK, ok, let’s see. The big tabby cat named Bill…”
I absolutly LOVE this story. The thought behind it, the emotion and intensity, really shine through. It is really a story that makes you think and feel and fall into the moment that the author puts you in.
