Who’s the Pest?

The Rat

My little feet scamper through the carpet. I stick my tiny pink nose up into the air just to

make sure the apes are gone. I don’t smell them, and my vast ears heard their mechanical thing

take them away. I look around. Good! No sign of that blasted cat. It’s always trying to eat me.

All I want is food for me and my family. Why does it pursue me so?

Even if it is around I must risk it. I gave birth to five sons: Marco, Rattigan, Ludwig,

Bernardo, Vlad, Cupid, and two daughters: Olivia and Alexandria. How I love them dearly. My

first litter as well. I want to do anything to protect them and keep them well fed.

Wait! What was that? I pause and look around. Nothing. I speed up, wanting to get to the

kitchen as soon as possible. I sniff at the air again. Is that a nice ripe banana on the floor? A big

chunk too. My mouth waters. All I’ve been able to eat are scraps. I lick my lips in anticipation.

I eat in blissful silence for a minute. Once filled, I put the rest in my mouth to carry to my

babies. That’s when I hear a faint purring. The cat must have just woken up! I run quietly

towards my family hole in the wall. My scampering is made even quieter by the carpet

underneath my feet.

That’s when I see the green eyes staring at me hungrily from the couch. I’m so close to

the hole. The cat looks monstrous. It looks me in the eye with a death stare, crouching, waiting

for my next move.

I dash towards the hole, and the cat jumps at me. For some weird reason, it slips on the

wooden floor, giving me just enough time to reach my home.

The cat hisses in frustration at its failure. On the other hand, I sigh in relief at my narrow

escape. I’m so happy to be back home. I reach my children and they call for me, “Mommy!
Mommy! Did you bring food?” They are glad to see me! I laugh at the joy of finally being back

with my family.

I put the rest of the banana on the floor and watch my children eat their fill.

The Cat

I yawn as I wake up from a fantastic dream. I get up and stretch with my butt and tail

going all the way up into the air. Ahhhh, that feels good. I shake my head, trying to chase away

the sleep from my eyes. Wait! Is that a rat I hear? It seems to be scurrying around the kitchen,

trying to find a meal. Gosh, that rat gets on my nerves. I’ve been trying to catch it for months—

anything to keep my owners safe from the disgusting waste of space. And based on the excessive

scurrying I hear in the walls, I suppose it gave birth. Ugh, we do not need a rat epidemic right

now unless I use them for hunting practice.

That’s when I notice it enter the living room with a piece of banana in its mouth. I laugh

at it; what a big mistake to come out here and get food. I think I’ll try to catch it anyway.

My breathing slows, and I crouch, ready for a pounce. Wait! Is it going to try and reach

its hiddy hole? Impressive! This rat’s got more guts than I thought. It darts toward its home

situated in between us. I pounce! I realize my mistake in balance before I hit the floor. The tiniest

slip of my back legs gives that damn rat enough time to reach safety. I hiss in frustration. At least

I know I don’t have to disappoint my owners. That poisoned banana will kill that entire rat

family anyway. My body rumbles with my purr as I lie down again to sleep.