Playing Possum

I got up about 3 AM Friday because I really, really, really had to go. It wasn't one of those, 'well I will try to go back to sleep' things... I would have exploded.

So I grabbed my flashlight from beside the bed. I don't always do that, but I was really groggy and thought maybe I'd be able to navigate a little better if I did. It's so damn bright that I have to put my hand over most of it, but it certainly lights the way.

I got into the bathroom, laid the light on its side still on, facing the wall by the sink and sat.

Now one of the things that has happened in our marriage is that when one of us gets up, the other one does, too. Same reason. Tinkle tinkle.

So when I heard a little brushing/rustling sound at the door, I thought it was Eric. I started to say, "Hang on a second." when I saw... something walking on the floor by the door.

I was not alone.

I attempted to focus. 'Oh holy shit it's a rat. Shit shit shit.'

I yelled. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Then I focused a little better. It was not a rat, it was a small possum. In my bathroom. I am really glad I took my flashlight with me, because I really don't take it quite often.

I finished peeing. Tore off some tp, watching the little guy pace back and forth in front of the door, ready to raise my feet up if I had to.

Yelled, "ERIC!!!"

No answer. I climbed into the tub, figuring that at least the little guy wouldn't climb up my leg in fear, and bellowed for my husband again.
I heard his feet going through the house, but not in my direction.

Yelled again. "ERIC!!!"
Heard his faint, "What?!??"

"IN THE BATHROOM!!!"


He came to the door. I said, "Open the door a TINY crack!! There's a possum in here."

Silence.
"A what?!"

"A possum. It's a little guy."

"A possum?"

"Yeah, you know, possum?"

"Well what do you want me to do?"

"Get a laundry basket, we can trap him under it."

He was back in a moment, and he opened the door just a crack again. The possum, seeing the motion, ran behind the toilet.

Eric came in, shut the door and turned on the overhead light. Poor little possum was scared and quivering, trying to climb up the little silver hose that connects the toilet to the water supply. Feeling trapped.

I understood and sympathized, since I was still trapped in the bathtub. :)

Lyssa was standing outside the bathroom saying loudly, "What's going on???" and I was trying to tell her we had a 'possum in the house, no I did not know how it got in and Dad was catching it, hang on.'

He got the little guy into the basket on the 2nd try and headed for the back door of the house. Lyssa (who I learned later woke up at my first 'Aaaaaaaaaaa!') opened it up for him and he took the little critter outside and tipped the basket into the shrubbery along the fence. Mission accomplished.

So Eric used the facilities while Lyssa and I had a conversation about the events.

She said, "I heard you yell at first. But I thought maybe I was dreaming. Then, I heard you yell 'Eric!'." And in the classic hands up, pushing away gesture, she said, "I figured if you were yelling Dad's name it was not my business." Which of course, totally cracked me up.

After I yelled for him again, she decided it was okay to get up and see what was going on.

Is it nutty that while I was standing in the bathtub, I thought about my camera? Thought, wow, this would be great for my blog if I had a photo....

::Snicker::

So I consulted teh Google. This is pretty much what the little guy looked like, except mine looked more... nervous.