My mom took Heather to the vet this morning.

I remember when I got her. We'd gone into a pet store to look at the puppies, and I drifted over to the rat tank, as I have a habit of doing. And I saw this completely adorable little tan-hooded rat with a weird kink in her tail. I don't even remember how much I paid for her, but it was ridiculously cheap because they weren't rats for pets, they were feeder rats. I didn't even have a cage; some lady who was in the store brought one back for me.

I just... I put my hand in the tank and she came right up to sniff at my fingers. I took her out and she was so sweet. Never once has she bitten anyone hard enough to break the skin, or bitten them maliciously-- only "oh hey food! wait! finger not food!" bites.

Heather Ratface has been a wonderful pet. I don't know if I've been as good a ratmommy to her as she has been a ratbaby to me, but I love her.