Mouse

Have unpleasant encounter with mouse--should say fraught evening spent in company of mouse. Have been ignoring signs of infestation to come, especially last weekend when heard distinct squeaking of small clan of mice behind refrigerator and told Dave firmly and delusionally that It must be the Noise of the water going down the Drain, despite fact that drain has never--and never will--make noise of mouse chatter. Similiar delusion/self-defensive brain switcheroo occurs when am in living room last night and see gray shape out of corner of eye. That is a Moth, tell self. Unfortunately, gray shape is on floor and gets entangled in bottom of curtain for what seems like several hours while watch, paralyzed, as he leaps back and forth, causing curtin to sway violently. Mouse regains sense of direction and runs into presumed hole under radiator. After long, sweaty hunt for traps--in junk drawer in kitchen, in cabinet under bathroom sink, in shoebox at back of coat closet, in drawer in desk devoted to pens and tape, finally find traps at bottom of sock basket. (??? and Note: Life is unbearable if socks kept in basket rather than in functioning dresser. Further note: purchase closet organizing system as soon as bank account allows.) Set traps with peanut butter and barricade living room so that Jenny--who hasn't stepped a paw in the living room since the trouble began--won't get caught in trap. Dave gets home. He is grim and understanding when fill him in. Am on way to living room to show him death machines, when hear snap. Dave says sighing, It sounds like it's over. Further investigation reveals that it has only just begun. Trap is flipped over and mouse is calmly eating peanut butter off of disarmed trap. Readjust remaining trap and leave living room for the night. Get up this morning to see that trap still set but has been licked clean. Suffer low moment.