A few weeks before Christmas, I headed to town to run errands. Just as I was about to park, I realized I had neglected to check the mousetraps in the car before leaving our rural home. Knowing that, would you want to see what’s in my trunk?

Yes, I had two mousetraps accompanying me. When the weather changes from warmish fall into the season that conjures images of shivering and loathing in my mind, mice head into our garage. That creates even worse images that plague me.

In our twenty-seven years at this house, this is the only vehicle we have ever owned that has either enticed mice in or allowed them entry. Although there was no food in the car, I had forgotten the tightly sealed bag of ketchup and vinegar packets in the glove box left over from a summer road trip. Empty, chewed wrappers and the aroma of vinegar were the tip-off that I now had at least one uninvited and unwanted travelling companion.

As I leaned over to check the front passenger footwell, a mouse stared at me from the trap. It was not a delightful discovery. The upside was that at least it meant one less mouse was loose in my car. After parking, I gingerly picked up the trap, unlucky rodent and all, and carried it to the trunk. At least it wouldn’t be staring at me until I dealt with it at home! That’s when I discovered what was in my trunk. A fellow furry traveller who had met with the same fate was contained in the trap there. Two expired creatures were pushing me dangerously close to the freak-out zone.

Calmly (ha!), I finished my shopping and, upon returning to my car, noticed a man about my age loading his purchases into the vehicle parked next to mine. I opened my trunk, deposited my bags, and then backed away and said to him, “Want to see what’s in my trunk?”.

In relating this story to a friend later, she said the answer to that question is always an unqualified “No!”. In retrospect, had someone asked me that, the first thing crossing my mind would have been body parts, and I would have run away screaming!

Not that brave soul. With a puzzled look on his face, he carefully approached and peered into my trunk. Upon seeing two mice in traps, he looked at me in astonishment. I then explained that mice moved into our garage at that time of year and somehow found their way into the car. Of all the questions he might have asked, his response was, “WHERE DO YOU LIVE?”. Laughing, I explained that we lived in the country and field mice sought shelter for the winter during that season.

The amazed man returned to his car, and I chuckled about his reaction. After he left, the awful realization hit me. I had not explained that I had neglected to check the traps before leaving home and had just found them! No doubt, he went home and shared the story of the crazy lady he met who had a travelling rodent show in her car!

In the ages and ages hence, should you hear a version of this story repeated, inform the bearer that there was more to the story and that you know the truth. Please. There is no need to reveal my identity.

However, “Want to see what’s in my trunk?” can lead to an interesting conversation!

*I did not share the photo of the actual mice in my trunk, although I have one. You’re welcome.

If you missed my New Year’s post, click this link:

https://brendaerbroberts.com/the-unfamiliar-paths-of-2023/