The Squatter!

[HARDCORE]

With no power and pitch black for days during the recent firestorms, I was unable to conduct a daily ritual, it being, checking my oil and water every day.

Well, I had to make a run down the mountain this morning, and the carnage (fire damage) was horrendous for over 40 miles that I saw! Before taking off, however, I lifted the hood of my old Ford, and much to my surprise, I saw a packrat that had built a nest over in the corner, right beside the heated intake. He saw me and split, but had to leave behind about half a package of Chex Snacks that I had thrown out into the yard a few days earlier.

The little bugger had run the gauntlet of cats, coyotes, and other vermin that loved to snack upon rodent hors d'oeuvres, back and forth over about 25 feet of no man?s land, until he had built himself quite a hooch under the hood of my ride!

Well, Mickey beat a hasty retreat, but left behind most of his rations. This isn?t all bad, however, as I immediately posted a sign down on the board at the local mini-mart:

?For rent cheap, small cozy digs with a fully stocked pantry. Only illegals and politicians need apply!?

Hell, if that fire would have come any closer, the wife and I might have had to move in under the hood ourselves!

VERITAS