Musophobia

I cannot deny that I have a problem. I have a very irrational fear of mice. A true phobia. Musophobia if you want to get technical. I understand that it is silly. Mice are so very tiny and I don't know anyone who has suffered from having their toes chewed off by mice in the middle of the night. But if I see a mouse, a shadow,or the occasional crumpled up grey sock, all rationale goes out the door. I am perched on the highest bit of furniture I can find. I am sweating, my extremities are tingling, and I am shaking. This is not an exaggeration. I don't like it but it seems to get worse with age, the more I think about dirty mice being in my kitchen, the more I shiver. I will tell you my latest musophobia adventure.

About a week ago. I made caramel rolls (my favorite!) for a snack and saved the rest for our breakfast. I left them on the counter with a dish towel draped over the pan. The next morning I went to get a caramel roll and there was a little hole in my dish towel. I thought at first that I must have burnt a hole in it, because it's not uncommon for me to burn things in the kitchen (don't worry, only once has there been true flames). I lifted the towel and one roll looks like a child had eaten just the gooey caramel top. Then I noticed little mouse droppings on my towel and ran. Poor Kyle was trying to sleep in, but I went in and told him all about it and finally, to shut me up, he went to check the kitchen while I stayed feet off the ground on the living room couch. We went and bought mouse traps that day.

A few days later, nothing had happened, except for a few noises I heard coming from the kitchen at night. I wasn't about to investigate. I just ate meals out until I was sure of the situation. Finally Kyle and I were both home at the same time so I stood on a kitchen chair, peeking from the dining room, supervising while Kyle checked every cabinet, nook, and cranny for evidence. He didn't find any, but since I didn't think he was looking hard enough I cautiously looked and found droppings on my countertop and under the sink. This is really gross, but I was too scared to clean it until I knew the mouse was gone.

I only went to the kitchen if I had a 2 dog escort, and it was a quick in and out. I was in STL this weekend and I got a text from Kyle that said "Good news is, we caught the mouse. Bad news is, there is no mouse or trap. I think Archer ate it."  Apparently there was a mini murder scene of peanut butter and blood on the counter, with no evidence of the weapon. I told Kyle to make sure it was clean before I got home because I didn't want any part of that. Archer was acting fine, so we thought the trap must have fallen behind the stove in the commotion and maybe he only ate the mouse. I also thought maybe Archer was the one we caught and it was his blood from getting snapped for attempting to get the peanut butter.

I got home from our trip and fed the dogs their supper. I hopped in my pajamas and get ready for bed. I noticed the pile of dirty clothes in the bathroom were strung around but I thought maybe in my hurry to get packed I was throwing things around. (I am also faulted with being messy) I kicked the clothes back in a pile and finished my nightly routine. As I am sitting there, I glance over and see the mouse trap sitting upside down, right there in the pile of clothes I kicked! Thinking it was just part of the trap that Archer must have chewed on, I looked and then I realized there was a tail....not good. Luckily I had just flushed. I jumped up and ran lightening speed to my bedroom and jumped on the bed doing a heebee jeebee dance. I guess the dogs thought my yelling was a game, Lola jumped right up behind me and Archer jumped after her. Which is also funny because neither of them jump on the bed. We have to boost them up if we ever let them up. Thank goodness I had just peed or else this would have been worse.  I texted Kyle, who is at work. I told him to hurry straight home because I found the mouse and trap and I was locked in the bedroom with the dogs. Then I called my brother for support. That was twenty minutes ago.

I am still locked in my bedroom until Kyle gets off. I guess now that the mouse is caught I can be brave enough to clean the kitchen without worrying about a mouse jumping out at me. Oh shoot, I just remembered I left my night guard in the bathroom and all this anxiety is going to give me jaw pain for sure!


*Phew! Coast is clear. Kyle just got home. But...all this time the mouse was still alive in the trap. It could have wiggled free and got me. Probably having nightmares tonight. Glad that is over!