Mouse Goes To School

A Memory of South Acton.

When I was about 11 years old I secretly bought a pet mouse on impulse, but quickly realised that it was a silly thing to do as I knew my Dad would not let me keep it. I couldn't afford a cage for it. I hadn't thought it through at all. Frightened to leave it at home I took him to school, stupidly thinking I could keep him hidden in my desk or up my sleeve, but of course the inevitable happened and somebody snitched on me. I thought, 'now I'm in for it' and waited for the screams to emit from my dear teacher as my friend popped his little brown head out from the cuff of my sleeve. but to my amazment she was wonderful about it. She took me aside and gently talked some sense into me. That teacher was Mrs. Lakin and I have never forgotten her. I loved her best of all my teachers. The school, Grange juniors. Consequently I did tell my mother about my pet and she reluctantly argued with Dad about it and won the argument on my behalf. Incidentally poor Junior the mouse ended his life eighteen months later in the mouth of our dog Judy. He had escaped from his cage and Judy had hunted him down whilst I was at school and unfortunately I was the one who found him. A sad end for my little buddy and Judy was in my bad books for some time after.

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