Pacman Frog

Rat

Rats, cats, dogs, and frogs... 

I love animals and so do my friends, but I have a special bias for amphibians and rodents. When I asked my parents if they'd be open to getting us a rat, they visibly cringed and looked distressed at the mere mention of having a rodent as a pet. My dad, a large and responsible person said sheepishly as if losing his manly facade entirely, "Jesus Christ! Nina, rats are not suitable house pets. I still have nightmares of when they would ransack the dumpsters outside of the restaurant!" My mom had a similar rebuttal as she shifted herself in the passenger seat to face me in the back of the car. "Em, the rats crawl and scary; not good and cute like cat or dog." my mom spoke, her deep Vietnamese accent chopping up her sentences and misplacing her words. It always bothered me that I could never seem to fully comprehend my moms own words sometimes, considering I'm her daughter.

 Personally, I always thought they didn't like rats because my parents grew up in Vietnam, where the majority of locals at the time didn't have the resources or money to adopt house pets, and stray animals would roam the cities, unleashed. Additionally,  when I came over to stay with my cousins one summer, they told me not to touch the stray dogs because most of them weren't vaccinated and could have rabies. So, naturally, I assumed that pet culture in Canada was just a complete juxtaposition in some parts of Asia, where cute animals weren't upheld to this high standard of pampered supremacy; and as much as I don't want to re-affirm stereotypes, it is true that some Asians do eat dogs and cats. In all truthfulness, I still love my heritage, but I always felt jealous of some of my friends who normalized having bunnies and felines under their roof, which was completely alien to my parents; and pure insanity to even mention housing a rat! Regardless, my pestering persisted. Day after day, morning to night, I would always say, "What do you think about getting a rat?" In which my mom and dad's immediate reaction was, "NO FREAKING WAY!" I even resorted to making a whole slide show presentation about domesticated rats in an attempt to persuade my parents. 

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Nina's Awsome Pro-Rodent Slide Show Presentation!!!

Slide One: Feral rats are NOT the same as domesticated rats!

Slide Two: Rats are easier to take care of when compared to dogs and cats

Slide Three: Rats are just as smart, playful, and compassionate as most house pets

Slide Four: Rats have Cute human-like paws and are more closely related to humans; making us more compatible!

Slide Five: I will be responsible for all its maintenance

Slide Six: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! YOU LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER, RIGHT?!?!?!?!

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To put it simply, my parents didn't budge, like two impenetrable lion-dog statues, blocking the entrance to a sustainable rat breeder and segregating me from my beloved rodent companions. It hurt at first, having my hands empty, void of the small furry friend that I had continuously insisted on. However, all successful people must accept rejection in order to eventually pursue greater aspirations, and fortunately for me, I was a smart girl, like a rat, and I had the perfect game plan...

One day I walked into my mom's kitchen, my glasses comfortably positioned on my nose bridge, and my plaid pyjamas were buttoned up and cleanly put on; as if to imitate a businesswoman awaiting a meeting with the executives of her company. I looked like a professional, albeit, with bad taste in fashion, but an obvious competitor nonetheless. "Mother," I addressed her, my words formal and direct. My mom looked over her shoulder to see me sitting on the island, hands clasped and grinning from ear to ear. I waited to get her full and undivided attention, not willing to be overshadowed by the green onions she was chopping. Finally, when I was certain she was curious about what I had to say, I finally asked, "What do you think about getting a frog?"