The Mouse in the House Tail er Tale

 

We had a mouse in the house! Not one of multitude of toys... And not just any mouse — a bold, oat‑flour‑loving, kitchen‑parkouring, peanut‑butter‑licking mastermind.

It all started on a deceptively lovely warm day when Mom decided, “Fresh air would be nice.” Jo Jo, our “I’m old, I’m tired, and outdoor mice run too fast so I bring them inside for enrichment activities” sister, took this as an invitation to import wildlife.

 

Jo Jo Dreaming of Frolicing Mice!

Now, because we live in the middle of nowhere in an ancient house that has more historical mouse entry points than a medieval castle, and Mom has lived here for centuries, she knows all the old mice wiggle‑routes. They’re sealed now and Mom checks them every fall -- but Jo Jo clearly has her own… delivery system.

Kozmo and I enjoy catching mice too, but we follow the traditional method: catch outside, do not bring inside, do not store in cupboards. Jo Jo does not follow this method.

Mom discovered the intruder had chewed into:

• A bag of oat flour (inside a heavy plastic bag, inside a cupboard — impressive commitment)

• An unopened bag of flour

• A cake mix box Basically, the mouse had gone on a gluten‑based tasting tour.

Totally. Uncool.

 Mom, still not very mobile, couldn’t crawl around on the floor. Thankfully, Alex volunteered. And by “volunteered,” I mean he heroically belly‑crawled into the cupboard like he was infiltrating an enemy bunker. He found the Mouse Nest of Doom at the very back, cleaned it out, and gagged only slightly.

Mom then set vinegar containers in the cupboards (mouse aromatherapy? Nope Mice hate the smell of vinegar!), left most cupboards empty, and set a trap along the mouse trail. The mouse, however, was a certified ninja. It ate the peanut butter without triggering the trap. Repeatedly. Mockingly.

 

Then today… Mom walked into the kitchen, turned on the cold water, and the mouse fell off the window sill into the sink. Mom shrieked. The mouse shrieked (probably). Jo Jo watched like it was premium cable.

Alex grabbed a bowl, slammed it over the mouse, slid cardboard underneath, and marched the tiny criminal outside to the compost heap for release, where he will presumably tell his grandchildren about the time he survived The Great Kitchen Sink Plunge of 2026.

Jo Jo maintains that she was simply trying to help with groceries.

We are pawticipating in Wordless Wednsday over at Comedy Plus! YIPPIE!!!!!