Lucky Go Happy

1. A Beautiful but Boring Life

Lucky is no ordinary rat. He is happily married to his only wife. They have two children, ages two and five. During the week, Lucky works from nine to five, while his wife looks after the children.

Lucky showed enormous potential as a young rat. Everyone expected him to climb the corporate ladder like other rats, by starting as a runner in a laboratory. From an early age, however, he excelled at math, and it soon became evident that his passion for numbers would see him follow a different career.

Lucky worked hard in school and graduated at the top of his class. He received the prestigious World Wildlife Fund study grant to further his education.

Upon completion of his degree in applied mathematics, he started teaching students from all walks, crawls, and flights of life at the African Bushveld Technical Academy.

Lucky finds immense satisfaction in what he does. He has devoted many extra hours to his students and to the academy.

Lucky was promoted to senior lecturer two rainy seasons ago. The new role has been fulfilling and helped to repay most of the mortgage on their upmarket den not far from work.

Apart from his passion for numbers, Lucky is also a part-time writer. He gained acclaim across the Bushveld region with the publication of his first book, Surviving Global Warming: Raft-Building Techniques for Wingless Mammals.

Lucky has a very good life, albeit monotonous at times. Arriving home from work, he helps with the afternoon routine of feeding and bathing the children. After the customary bedtime stories, Lucky spends a few hours with his wife to reflect on the day and to discuss their hopes and dreams for the future.

Weekends mostly involve extended family commitments or attending children’s birthday parties. Birthdays are a big thing in the rat fraternity and occupy most of their weekends. On off weekends, they break away for a family camping trip or throw a few crickets on the barbecue with some friends.

Once a year, leave permitting, Lucky and his family spend their summer breakaway at their holiday den on the banks of the Mamba River. Here the focus falls on spending quality time with the kids. Fishing and swimming are the highlights during the day, while bonfires and stargazing fill their nights. During these weekends, the lecturer makes way for the dad.

It is a good life indeed. It is a life to be grateful for, but not one to be ecstatic about. This worries Lucky. There is so much to be thankful for, yet something is missing. He knows he is no ordinary rat, yet somehow he is leading an ordinary life. Is there something more to come, or is this it? Is this how he will spend the remainder of his life?

Lucky has pondered these questions so many times before. This time is different though. This time he is on the eve of an adventure that will change his life and the way he looks at it forever.