Rat

As an undergrad in psychology I wanted to choose training a rat to run a maze as my research project. I knew I would have to deprive the rat of something-- food, water. I was prepared.

The student group was led into the rat room to meet our rats. We each wrote our name on a card and put this in a slot on a cage to claim our rat. We were told all we had to do was put a sign on the cage and water would be withheld.

As I took my rat out to get acquainted, I wondered how I'd sleep at night knowing he would be back in the rat room--thirsty. I knew from the moment I looked into his little, beady rat eyes, I'd never hang the sign. But I claimed him anyway.

I slept really well that semester. And I imagine my rat must have too.

--smushiness inspired by Dan(Miller)