The Rats

Have you ever purchased an item and then immediately had buyer's regret? How about if that purchase was a warm-blooded pet for your child? How about if it was a rodent that seemed sweet, never bit, came when he was called, helped out with eating your compost refuse? How about the fact that you purchased another one to keep the first one company so you wouldn't have to feel sad because your daughter was not keeping it enough company?
This is my guilt.
Now, how about if you had to clean the cage every 3 days just to keep the smell from making you want to vomit? How about if at the bottom of the cage was always wet stinky soggy sawdust that required using a scraper to get off of the bottom? And no one else in the house was willing to do this chore, even after they promised they would? Oh, and how about the fact that the two rodents were not tidy, always kicking up the sawdust and creating a zone of litter around their cages? And, that once you took the plunge, and got rid of the little chore creators no one else in the house noticed that they were missing until after 4 days you prompt them with, "what is missing around here?" and then fill in the 20 questions without actually saying "I got rid of the rats" only to finally ask, "hmmm, I haven't seen the rats in a while"? To which you hear, and I kid you not. "My rats! How could you? I loved them! I know I said I didn't care if you got rid of them, but I was only kidding, I never actually believed you would? stomp, stomp slam!
So you ask, what did you do?
Well, I suppose I could have just opened the back door, put the cage out there, and left their door open. But that is cruel, I mean how long would they actually last in the real world? So, I cleaned them for the last time, made them a lovely fruit salad, and poisoned it! no, i am kidding. I bundled the little guys up after cleaning them and feeding them their favourites, then I put them in the car, drove to where we bought them and placed a note on the cage leaving them just outside the main doors. I know, I am a coward. I could have taken them in and gave a lengthy explanation, however, I was ashamed to be giving them up. They were cute, and sweet after all. I had spent the last 3 months asking everyone I know if they were interested in taking them, I had even put up an ad on Craig's List, however, no one was interested. So I took them to Pet Smart and left them with this letter:
Hi, we are two male rats, Raticus and Templeton. Our mom can't look after us anymore and we are looking for a new home. We don't bite, we are clean and healthy, and we love to eat all of your vegetable refuse. We are looking for a good home with kids to play with. We don't mind dogs, however, we would prefer a home with no snakes!
I dropped them off, left to shop for 30 minutes, then came back and they were gone. I hope they find a good home for them. Oh dear, I do feel guilty!