A Contagion...

After 7+ years of marriage, I continue to find my wife full of surprises. The most recent came when she was baking cookies at her mother's house last Saturday. One minute we are baking cookies, the next she is up on a chair screaming hysterically. Why hysterical...that information didn't come until later.

Backing up the story a bit, I came in the kitchen when beckoned to check out scratching sounds under one of the cupboards and, I think, light the pilot on the oven. The scratching stopped immediately when I opened a drawer near it...I thought to myself, this is not a good sign, but didn't say anything other than a laughing yes when my wife asked me if it was a mouse. The cookie baking continued leading up to our little furry friend entering the kitchen and seeking some warmth under the oven. Both Laura and I witnessed his scampering. This occurred just prior to the hysterical screaming on the chair. I wonder...is that the natural reaction or learned behavior from cartoons and movies when you see a mouse. Regardless, I've never seen Laura this scared when it didn't involve heights...closed/tight spaces...caves...well, that's enough.

Shortly after, Jerry (my name for the mouse) ran back across the kitchen floor, undoubtedly returning to his previous location, scratching under the cabinets. He wasn't seen again, but every time Laura's pants swished against each other or anything touched her, she got all creepy. Well, actually it didn't take anything at all to make her jump. I told her that mice were generally more afraid of people, than people were of mice, although there may be an exception in her case. At the same time, fear is a contagion and it made me keep looking around and put me on edge too.

The resulting stomping around the kitchen to "scare" the mouse was quite hilarious from the living room. Thank goodness Kacy was taking a nap and didn't have to witness this chain of events it may have scarred her for life. (of course Hayley would've helped Uncle Darren catch the mouse). Speaking of, I did get a bowl and broom out to "catch" the mouse, or at least make my wife think that I was going to. I believe it was more of a physocologial exercise than a real threat to Jerry. However, Jerry's days may be numbered as I think General Affairs from the school is going to put Jerry to rest...very soon.