Encantober Day 10 - Animals
As it turns out, Bruno’s rats cannot keep a secret.
~~~~~
“Don’t say anything.”
“What if the boy asks?”
“Then we’ll just talk about the one with the red bow!”
“That seems a bit mean, don’t you think?”
“It’s better than blowing Mamá’s cover!”
Parce clenches his fists as the small rats scurry across the cupboards and shelves, slowly making their way to Antonio. They look so delicious, yet he knows not to eat any meat in front of Antonio, his new friend. At least, any moving meat.
“What’s got you freaking out?” Chispi asks as she rounds the corner. “You’re acting like the rest of Antonio’s family.”
“Rats would make a great quick snack but I have a feeling I shouldn’t be eating these,” Parce responds.
“Why not? They’re just rats, it’s not like anyone will miss them,” Chispi says.
“Their mamá might,” Parce says. “They keep saying ‘don’t blow Mamá’s cover’.”
“Mamá?” Chispi cocks her head. “Why would they be hiding their own mother?”
“Let’s ask them,” Parce says. The two animals trot over to where the rats are hiding. Chispi clears her throat.
The rats jump out of their hiding spot, leaping from the top part of the shelf and landing on the ground. They groan as they roll to their feet.
“Hello,” Chispi says. The rats turn and gasp when they see the bigger animals. The smaller ones immediately dart behind the tallest.
“I assume you’re here to talk to Antonio, right?” Chispi asks.
The tallest rat cautiously walks closer to Chispi, mindful of the jaguar behind her. “Antonio? Is that the smallest human’s name?”
Chispi nods. “He’s one of the magical humans. He can talk to animals. Do you have something to say to him?”
“Uhhh…” the tallest rat falters as the other two shake their heads. He quickly turns around to chat to the other two. The trio exchange angry whispers before the middle one, with flecks of white on her back, speaks up.
“We just, uh, were grabbing some food for our mamá,” she stammers, wringing her tail. “He hasn’t had warm food for a while and it’s not like the family is eating the rest of that delicious meal, right?”
“He? I thought all mamás were female,” Parce remarks. The other rats glare at the spotted rat.
“It’s just a term we use for him!” the spotted rat hastily exclaims. “He looks after our whole colony, and in return, we bring him something to eat!”
“Why would a rat need human food?” Chispi interrogates, squinting.
The rats tremble under her fearful gaze. Parce can’t blame them. In the 24 hours he’s known her, Chispi has already become the mother friend of the group, and can weed out a lie with her gaze in mere seconds.
“Chispi, what are you doing to those poor rats?” a small voice asks. The animals look up to see Antonio running back into the dining room, Pico the toucan perched on his shoulder. The young boy suddenly spots the rats and bends down, holding his hands out.
“Hello! You must be the rats I hear in the walls!” Antonio says. “You guys sure mumble a lot. Well, one of you does. He’s always near the dining room.”
The smallest rat suddenly screams, startling all parties. Chispi and Parce quickly rush to Antonio’s side while Pico flies into the air.
“ALRIGHT I ADMIT IT THERE’S A HUMAN LIVING IN YOUR WALLS, HE’S HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS AND HE PATCHES THE CRACKS THAT YOUR PRIMA SAW ON YOUR BIRTHDAY HE’S THE ONE WHO MADE THE GREEN TABLET YOU SAW TONIGHT!”
Antonio’s jaw drops and he turns to the family mural behind Abuela’s chair. Lightning flashes over the missing man’s portrait. “Tío Bruno is living where?!”