The other day I was watering my flowers with the garden hose. It's a pretty normal event. Suddenly two large fat mice ran in opposite directions away from the falling water. The mice were so large. It was shocking. It seemed like they could scarcely waddle due to their fat bodies. But, run they did! One came very near to me. So close that I am unsure if I was bit by his sharp teeth. So I asked everyone around me if they thought I had been bit. I wondered if I had rabies. I continued to question those with me at the scene of the mouse attack. Of course my questions were incredulous. I had not been bit by any mouse. The only thing that happened was I screamed really loud, in terror. But the question still remains. Why on earth were two fat mice in my flower bed, in the middle of a field, in NE South Dakota? Mind boggling.
After the event had calmed down. I naturally told anyone who would listen to me about my encounter with the mice. Who wouldn't? My story went like this: "Oh so, and so... guess what? I was in my yard watering my flowers and two mice came at me! I hardly had time to move as they trampled me down. Just in time I thought to squirt one of them with the garden hose that I was holding. I knocked the one mouse down with the sudden burst of water. Then, I quickly stamped on the other with my boot. I was lucky to get away. What? Oh, yes, thank you. I am okay, just shook up. The entire episode was so quick its almost unreal."
A few other people asked me what had happened. Then a few more... So, I too told them all about the mice. Just as it happened: "I was in my yard watering my flowers. What looked like two gigantic rats came at me. They had their teeth bared. Holy cow! I ran so incredibly fast. Sadly the bigger rat got the best of me and gave me a bite. The other rat did not fare as well. I was able to stab that one with the garden hoe which I was holding in my other hand. While the fatter, bigger rat was pinned to the ground. The other rat was grabbing at my boot buckles. I quickly used the hose and drowned him in the water. He ferociously bit away at my shoes. What? Am I okay? Of course I am okay. Two stupid rats coming at me! Why on earth would I care? I totally took care of them both and that was that. It's not like I am scared of a few rodents in my flower bed. It is South Dakota and I do live in the middle of a giant field. Stop acting like I have rabies. It comes with the territory of watering my flowers! I expect trouble when I go outside!"
And so it went. The story was totally blown out of proportion. Total drama had ensued. Not because of me, no doubt. Only because some over zealous friends to which I had originally shared the story with, did not repeat the truth! Unfortunately, I have not been able to correct their misrepresentation of the story and the real details of what actually happened. Now there are a few different versions of the story floating around. It seems silly, I agree. A little story about two long-tailed weasels that I shot with my shotgun, was so overblown! I don't get what happened. People are so imaginative. All I can surmise is this must be South Dakota.
Third comment
I think this post is my favorite.