NAME: Templeton, after that scruffy but loveable food loving rat from Charloote's Web, by E.B. White.
TYPE: Dark brown, Berkshire-ish rexBORN: July, 1998
PASSED: September 11th, 2000
FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: Practicing how to best be a diabolical fiend, thwarting his humans at every turn, going exactly where I have told him not to go a thousand times, and generally being devious. He does though, occasionally enjoy having all his scruffy curly fur rubbed the wrong way, and no matter what evil plot he is in the middle of hatching, he will always come skipping innocently over for a treat. He also loves acoustic guitar, and will always lay down and listen happily....it's very sweet.
FAVORITE FOODS: Loves the little red and blue vitamin puffs I got in the bird section of the pet store, yogurt drops, rice, various seeds and grains (he'll happily sit forever leisurely nibbling on them), and particularly anything he can sneak out of Justin's stash.
THE LIFE OF TEMPLETON...(what it meant to be the dearly loved black sheep)
Templeton was perhaps the bravest (and most devious) rat who ever lived. Nothing was out of reach, whether it was the table I told him not to climb onto, or the life he fought so hard for once he fell ill. Everything he did was done with gusto and immense will-power.
Some people didn't much care for Templeton when he was young, but it could be said that they just didn't understand him. He was very different from his companion, Justin...who reserved kisses and cuddles for everyone. Templeton often wanted to be left alone. And he always wanted to stir up trouble! We, however, always enjoyed his devious antics. The way he would wait for me to turn my back, sneak over to the edge of the bed and climb for the nightstand.....only to immediately whip around and innocently groom himself upon my return, a mischevious gleam in his eye. He and I both knew what he was up to, and I doubt there was any limit to his cleverness. He gave us many many laughs with his often successful attempts to misbehave.
He was also quiet though, and I often wondered over what he might be thinking when he waddled to the edge of the bed, or climbed onto the back of the couch, his back to us and everything, just seeming to contemplate the world. He would sit behind us on the couch, not desiring scratches, but simply enjoying gazing out the window, occassionally grinding his teeth...perhaps at a pleasant or funny thought he was having. Or perhaps just because he was happy with his life. Because no matter how grouchy he was, it could never be said that Templeton didn't enjoy his life immensely.
He did not survive as long as he did by our care alone, it was because he wanted to be here, and made it abundantly clear in the way he fought tooth and nail to hang on in the midst of feeling horrible. He was one of the strongest fighters I have ever known, rat or human, and he'll be sorely missed here at The Literary Rats. I am certain I will never meet another rat like him.
Would you like to go on to read about Little Edgar?