Basil

I presently can't find my camera. So, I can't take a picture of Basil. Instead, here is a picture that is similar to what he looks like.

Basil is the newest addition to our family, as of yesterday. He's a "cinnamon/champagne" 4-month-old ferret.

Basil is a bribe.

Remember the momma rat who had all the babies around Christmas time? I was able to get rid of most of the babies, but kept momma rat and 4 girls. The problem is that they grew up into ornery, unsociable rats and none of us had time to play with them. The only one we liked was momma. *I* got the privilege of cleaning the cage, feeding and watering the rats, who glared at me balefully whenever I approached them and tried to dart out of the cage and to freedom.

My house is currently in the midst of chaos. Michelle's hubby, "The Handyman", has been over here for three days in a row, trying to finish projects which never had been followed through on. SaurKid is cleaning his room because we're hoping to have it painted and decorated within the next week or so. There are unfinished construction projects, I work full-time from home, there has been a recent domestic upheaval, and I own another business that is out of control. So, I don't have time for malicious ratties any more.

When I told SaurKid we were going to the SPCA to dump the 5 rats, he grew terribly upset. "Honey, you don't even play with them!" I said, exasperated. But there has been too much change too soon, I guess, and he started crying. (I should add that my son is very stoical most of the time but his dad has given away a couple of his pets in the last 6 months, too). The crying turned to hysterics and we ended up compromising: I would get rid of three, we'd downsize the cage, and he would play with them regularly and change their cage weekly.

Off we went to the pet store. We bought everything we needed to downsize, I paid for it, and we turned to go when we spotted the ferrets.

They were positively charming.

Remembering my pet ferret that I had as a child, I couldn't resist cuddling them and letting them wriggle all over us. Now they're descented and neutered, and bred for a docile temperment, so many of the problems that existed once are a thing of the past. SaurKid was immediately enchanted and that's when I realized that I was in the driver's seat.

"Tell you what," I said conspiratorially. "Your birthday's coming up. How about we get the ferret and clean up the large cage, get rid of the ratties, and we'll each benefit. I lose 5 rats, you do the maintenance and cleaning, and you have a cool new pet."

Starry-eyed, SaurKid nodded excitedly and left happily with his bribe.

Because this little guy likes to "ferret things out", SaurKid thought that he needed a good detective name. We tossed about Sherlock, Holmes, Poirot, and nothing seemed to work. Then I metioned Basil Rathbone (who played Holmes) and "Basil" stuck.

Basil is a sweet-natured, loving little guy who adores SaurKid and cuddled up with him all evening while SaurKid watched TV.

Basil. My little bribe.