
On my hem there lives a rat. It’s a reclusive rat, not spotted often, but it is the reason all garbage bags are hung from hooks on the wall. I’ve seen it, but only at night as it sneaks along the alley in search of food. It must be skilled at this as it’s quite chubby. It waddles, twitching its nose and peering short-sightedly through its beady red eyes. Despite this comic-book description, there is something about him that fills me with dread.