It seems almost every time Toni and I get together, something fantastic enough happens to make me want to share it (as well as to prove life is stranger than fiction – you just have to look for it!)
Toni and I went to JoAnn’s Fabric – she wanted some awesome fabric to make into a dress and matching cape, and I was looking for inspiration for the crypto-zoology book covers. After our carts were loaded and we checked out, we realized we still had time to kill before she needed to babysit.
That’s where things took a turn…
Since Toni and I share an office, we talked about getting a dwarf hamster or some other small, furry creature we could put in a ball and watch it run around the room. With time to waste, we went pet shopping.
After finding a pet shop with dwarf hamsters, we were excited to see some were actually awake. We talked to an employee about their furry friends and (warning sign #1) should have left when they couldn’t tell us what types of hamsters they had or the hamsters genders. I asked if we could touch one (warning sign #2), the employee said her arm was too short to reach down into their pen. I asked if I could reach in and pet one, since my arm looked longer than hers (warning sign #3), she warned they might bite.
Like I would let something silly like that stop me – I mean they’re less than 2 inches long (warning sign #4). I reached down to run my finger down the back of one who appeared to be cuddling with another adorable, fuzzy dwarf hamster.
Like something out of a Monty Python movie, the cute, furry animal turned and latched it’s tiny, dull teeth onto my finger.
With a flick of my wrist, I dislodged the piranha hamster and sent him flying to the opposite end of his enclosure.
“I thought that might happen,” the helpful employee shared. (warning sign #5)
My finger tingled, but the skin wasn’t broken – so I shook it off. Maybe the other one was friendlier (warning sign #6).
I stretched my finger down to rub the hamster’s back. The ball of fluff spun it’s head around toward my exposed finger (it’s amazing how something so small can move SO fast), and jerked my hand back. I pride myself on not being that stupid.
At this point, Toni was laughing so hard that she gave herself a headache. (and no, I didn’t feel sorry for her one bit!)
Needless to say, we didn’t get an office pet and are exploring other options.
too bad you cant get a mini horse in a ball!
Wouldn’t that be fun – I bet I could get my fingers out of their way!!
Have you considered a gold fish?
at least they just tickle!