A mouse in my house

We have a mouse in the garage and we might have to learn to live with it.

On Wednesday, I was loading the clothes washer when the little creature scampered across the floor. To be honest, yes, it scared me half-silly.

The rodent couldn’t have been two inches long and more than likely weighed under 29 grams, yet I still jumped. There was something about the way it scampered across the floor...

I went that day to Walmart to get mouse traps. They come in a package of four. Painstakingly, I set my four traps with Velveeta cheese. It was the only cheese I had in the house.

I have nothing against animals. I feed the chipmunks that come to the backyard. During the bitter winter I make sure our bird feeder friends have plenty to eat. When it comes to a mouse in the garage – that is a different story.

The next afternoon I was getting into the car when the tiny animal ran from behind the back wheel. I made a stop by the store for more traps. This time I carefully put peanut butter on the clip. My neighbor said mice love peanut butter.

Without fail, the next day when I as taking clothes from the dryer, the little varmint ran along the baseboard. I think I saw a smile on his face, which prompted another trip for traps. This time I was ready. I had Colby cheese.

Cautiously, I was placing a mousetrap between the two front wheels of the car when my husband spoke up “You know, I think I just heard a mouse laugh.”

My nephew thinks it is cruel for me to set the traps. He wants me to actually trap the poor little thing. I don’t think so. No, I am not concerned that this mouse might have a wife and a family. A mouse can carry disease, plus this thing doesn’t resemble Mickey or even Minnie Mouse. It scoots across the floor and sends shivers down my spine.

I might go back for more traps. Somehow the way it scurried across the floor this morning really ticked me off. Maybe I’ll use farmer’s cheese. He’s such a finicky eater.

Nancee Harrison is a past columnist for the Greene County Daily World. Visit www.blondeladywithdarkroots.com or email her at blondeladywithdarkroots@gmail.com.