Rat-Catching

If you’re friends with me on Facebook, you’ve already heard about my struggles to coexist peacefully with my rodent neighbors. The photographer who visited last week made an astute observation that has dramatically changed my position in this ongoing war. He said, “Why are you suffering from rodent invasions when you are living in a school surrounded by 250 boys who are Rat Catchers by caste?” Excellent question, sir. So, this week I issued a challenge to the boys in the dormitory right outside my room. They were ecstatic for three reasons, I think: 1) to be able to help me out, 2) to be able to see inside my room, and 3) for the sheer joy of catching something. They got a trap, baited it with white bread, and set it up on the floor in my kitchen. Not five minutes later I could hear the metallic snap indicating their success. They all came running, and demanded a picture with their prisoner. That first rat turned out to be the smallest one caught out of the three trapped over the next hour. I don’t know exactly how they dispose of the villains, but “Good Riddance” is all I have to say to them.