Oh you dirty rat, by J.C. Kavanagh

  

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Rats. 

Who likes ‘em?

NOT ME!

So when I heard tiny feet scrabbling on my boat, I did not think ‘rat.’

Not at first.

We were tied up at an Erie Canal town dock in New York State. By outward appearance, the docks were clean and well maintained. Trash cans were evenly distributed. Me and my partner, Ian, had walked into town to pick up a few provisions (like fresh baked bread!) It was a warm and humid day and we left some ports open as the weather forecast was zero per cent chance of rain.

The forecast did not predict 100 per cent chance of rat. 

That night, we left the freshly baked bread and buns on the galley counter. The scrabbling sounds we heard before retiring for the evening was attributed to a few drops of rain (I mean, how often is the weatherman accurate?)

So imagine my shock - my first morning visual - was the sight of a half-eaten bun and multiple crumbs strewn across the counter, and one bun completely gone.

Oh, that dirty rat!

Ian and I marched to the nearest hardware store, which was not ‘near’ at all. After 45 minutes, our angry not-on-my-boat stride became a slow version of “are we there yet?”

Fifteen minutes later, we arrived. The hardware store had an excellent selection of rat removal products, so it seemed we weren’t the only ones with this problem. I took no comfort in that.

We set out our traps that night along with a tasty piece of homemade bread. 

At 1:30 in the morning, the big fellow was caught. It was promptly evicted and I did not hesitate to make the following announcement to the neighbourhood rats: NOT ON MY BOAT!

As you’ve likely ascertained, me and rats are not friends. So when I included them in an action-packed scene in A Bright Darkness, the final book of the Twisted Climb series, I did not place them in a good light. Literally. Dreadful creatures!!

Hope your summer was eventful, as mine has been. We are 1,000 nautical miles into our sailing adventure to the Bahamas. 2,000 more miles to go :)

Stay safe and don't forget to tell the ones you love that you love them :)

J.C. Kavanagh, author of

The Twisted Climb - A Bright Darkness (Book 3) Best YA Book FINALIST at Critters Readers Poll 2022
AND
The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2) voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll and Best YA Book FINALIST at The Word Guild, Canada
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
Voted Best Local Author, Simcoe County, Ontario, 2021
Novels for teens, young adults and adults young-at-heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com