Read Animals and the Afterlife for Free Online

clearly enjoyed the attention, acting as a little ambassador for ratkind.
    Michelle had previously applied for a job she really wanted and had been anxiously awaiting news about her prospective new career, which would take her on the road leading bus tours for international travelers. She’d had high hopes of landing this position, but when she then received the news that she indeed had the job, she was both excited and heartbroken. She was filled with regret and sadness, as she wouldn’t be able to take June with her.
    She realized that, although her neighbors loved June’s visits, none of them was able to provide a permanent home for her, so Michelle began desperately looking for a new home for her little companion. She dreaded the forthcoming separation and was willing to settle for nothing less than an ideal home for June. Michelle posted flyers all around town in hopes of finding such a home, but she worried that she’d never be able to find a home good enough for June.
    “Don’t worry,” a friend reassured her. “I just know that the perfect home is out there somewhere, and we’ll find it.”
    M EANWHILE , J AMETH AND I found ourselves working all the time, never taking weekends or holidays off, wondering where we had gone wrong. There was no time for “down time,” and most of our friends had stopped even inviting us anywhere because we never had the time to go anyway. After many years of this, we were experiencing burnout and wondering when we’d be able to start really living; but we had a growing company that needed us, and customers that counted on us, so we didn’t know what else to do. We almost felt as if we were waiting for something to rescue us, but we weren’t quite sure what.
    We were caught quite by surprise upon hearing a message on our overloaded answering machine. Our good friend Coral shared the news that she had just met a young woman named Michelle who was looking for a good home for a rat, and we were the first ones that came to mind. She left Michelle’s number.
    I felt an excitement I hadn’t felt since childhood as I called Michelle and we arranged to meet in person. Jameth joined me on that first trip to meet Michelle and June.
    For me, the first encounter with June was very exciting and significant; it felt like she was opening up a part of my life that had been closed for too long. It was almost as if I were a mere child meeting an elder, not quite sure what to say or do, and feeling a bit inadequate. Jameth had never met a rat before and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it all. While Michelle and I were busily discussing all things rat-related, June climbed right up to Jameth and began grooming his fingernails, as rats often do.
    “I need some attention here,” Jameth said nervously. “I think she’s trying to eat my fingers.” Michelle and I laughed and assured him that June was doing no such thing; rather, she was mothering him and showering him with affection. June rapidly stole Jameth’s heart, and we all had a great time.
    By the end of our visit, Michelle felt confident that we were just the people she’d been looking for, and although she’d miss June tremendously, she knew we’d take good care of her. So, arrangements were made for June to move in with us shortly thereafter. As we were leaving, Jameth turned to Michelle.
    “June will be my first rat!” he exclaimed, sounding excited at the idea.
    “Yes,” Michelle replied with a smile, “but I guarantee, she won’t be your last.” How true those words would turn out to be.
    As I prepared for June’s arrival, I felt like the child I had been so long ago. I was truly excited for the first time in ages as I cleared a spot for June’s cage and “rat-proofed” our home, covering electrical cords and eliminating any other potential safety hazards for a rat. Rats like to explore and they like to chew, which can be dangerous if provisions aren’t made. We had no intention of leaving June in her cage all