Since it's spring, we made one of our pilgrimages to the local greenhouse yesterday. It was a nice day and outside. I had Sheba, my oldest, most venerable, and most loved rat on my shoulder. She's 4 years old, which in people years would be 120 years. I firmly believe that a major factor in their well being is to get out, get exercise, and experience new things so I take her as many places as possible when it's over 40 degrees.
I was standing there, looking for some Thai basil when an old couple walked behind me. The little old lady whispered to her husband "I wonder if he knows it's there?" I was formulating possible answers but her husband beat me to it. "No, dear", he said patiently, "it probably fell out of the sky and landed smack on his shoulder. Maybe you should go tell him."
My artistic medium are words, I can usually say whatever I want however I want, but this time was one of those classic Kodak moments. I wouldn't have wanted to be him although I'm grateful to him for the defense. The little old lady muttered something I can't and won't repeat here, puffed loudly, and put as much distance between him and her as possible, considering it was a fenced enclosure. The little old guy, gave me a mischievous look and a thumbs up. I noticed that she paid and left by herself, he was trailing behind her, smiling. Proof that long marriages have advantages that young people don't have.

As Alfreds wife spotted the rat on the mans shoulder, Alfred instantly devised an idea on how to get Ruth to pay for all the groceries that day.

hee hee, love it. I wish I could find an old photo I took (eons ago) of a kid with a rat on his shoulder walking through Greenwich Village. No one batted an eyelash, lol.

Most people don't, with us. We're kind of known as 'those weird people who walk their rats and ferrets', it's kind of funny. There is always one stupid person around but mostly people are fine with it.
I have another incident to relate about a pet store rat that bit me good yesterday later when I have time to write it. Right now we invited a friend over who is down and depressed and we have an emergency housecleaning to pull off in 2 hours. It's not a fun story but there are lessons to be learned from it.

cant wait to read it!

How lovely of you to take special care of your friends (human ones).