Well, we bit the rodent bullet today and bought a hamster. Met Sonny and the kids at Petco after work, yessiree, a whole family outing since I thought it would be a major bonding experience for us...Bought the first one the sales person showed us. Decision wasn't tough at all. As he held up the hamster he said, " usually when you hold them like this, they bite you...and this one doesn't". We all looked at each other, yep, that's definitely the one we want.
No sooner did he put "our hamster" in a cardboard box then "our hamster's" little rodent teeth and two hands appeared in the breathing holes on the sides and proceeded to make itself a fresh opening, with a vengeance. I mentioned that maybe we wanted a younger, smaller, less active hamster than Hamzilla who we were beginning to see more and more of as he plotted his escape but Salesman assured us this was "the one " for us.
Then began a frantic re-boxing and a purchase of a hamster "bus" just in case he went through. As I asked him for the best food for a hamster he came back with a bag he assured us was " the best food available for a hamster----peanut-butter-coated- whatevertheheckitwas".
I informed him that I couldn't buy that kind because of Gavin's serious peanut allergy , so then I re-posed the question, "So, forget about the hamster for a minute, what is the best hamster food for my son?"
While I was buying the food, Kyle noticed that "our hamster" smelled. Salesman casually said, " probably needs a bath." Of course this is officially "our hamster" now so there's no turning back but in my mind I'm thinking--- are you flipping serious? these things don't wash themselves? I didn't have to wash the last pet (a fish, but still...)
As "our hamster" goes to work on the second box, I request that we utilize the escape-proof bus immediately but Salesman informs us that store policy requires us to take "our hamster" out of the store in the cardboard box, (or whatever is left of it after we go through checkout.)
Luckily, Salesgirl sees it our way and even puts the animal in it for us, (and then puts the bus in the cardboard box so Salesman is none the wiser). So, here we all are, safely at home, starting Day #1 with Jub-Jub our hamster .
Have a great week, Carol Strickland
