Friday, March 26, 2010

A Time for War

WARNING: PLEASE DON'T READ THIS POST RIGHT BEFORE YOUR MEALTIMES. COME BACK AGAIN AFTER YOU'RE FULL. BUT NOT TOO FULL - YOU MAY HAVE TO CLEAN UP YOUR KEYBOARD...

Almost 2 years have gone by since we've caught any rats. Though we hardly see the nocturnal pests, they leave behind their wastes to remind us that they had a blast while we were away. Rat glues were set but they did not fall for it this time. The steel cage fared no better.

We were told to adhere to strict rules while preparing the traps - that is you must never ever under any circumstances make any obvious reference to it. Words like 'rats', 'mouse', 'tikus' are forbidden. So we called it 'our friend'. Somehow I think it figured this out too and they didn't bite.

So we gave up. Since they were able to hear us, we verbally told the rats not to disturb our stocks and we won't disturb them. Miraculously for over a year, our stocks went unharmed. Sure, we had to clean up their feces and urine but occasionally they showed some affection and brought over Kit-Kats and Smarties (which we don't sell). Paying their rent maybe... how cute.

Our contract grew sour when they began to make more of a presence. Our stocks were still unharmed, but their colony grew to a stage that our shop reeked of their smell and I truly understood what the phrase 'I smell a rat' meant. So we were forced to act.

Kit-Kats and chicken wings

The hungry fella

Almost immediately, they retaliated.


So we retaliated too...

Seems they've bitten more of my stocks this morning. My staff summed up my thoughts by saying 'Maybe we should let them be and don't kacau them again?' Hmm... maybe, but not without a fight this time. These rodents should be put in their proper place and know who's the boss here. Then after that we can negotiate a re-settlement project or something. Go bother the bakery next door or something!