This article is from the WSSF 2010 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

From Laura Tukey, Auburn, ME

I’d never tried these particular girls in the bath or pool. So when I noticed when I gave them a dish of water (on the play table is 1 water bottle—8 rats playing need more water) they seemed more interested in paddling; in Valentina’s case dunking her entire head under. I decided to pull out the rat wading pool (a large shallow dish). Amelia waded across. So I added pumpkin seeds and a cherry (we were eating cherries). Well, from there went in corn I’d had and they were all going nuts rescuing the food and toys. Well then, I had the bright idea to add a cucumber to attract all the stragglers as a few of my girls wouldn’t get in for dry food (wet dry food). Amelia was giving paddling lessons in both dishes. I put in the cucumber. Presto, everyone in. I’m laughing so hard I’m crying at all the splashing, dunking, etc. They really were like kids at the beach. It’s about that time that company shows up. Eying the knife (for the cucumber), my microwave pot (the only shallow one), the food, and the rats, she totally asks me straight faced, What are you making? I couldn’t help it I’m laughing so hard I said, Rat soup. So now whenever the girls swim, we joke and call it rat soup.