I can’t believe Wilfy is dead
He was my best friend, he really was - I work from home as an illustrator and he spent every day with me, rumaging around me, visiting his usual haunts around the living room. He followed me around and would climb back up my leg if I tried to put him down. We had our porridge together every morning and he spent most of his time curled up on my knee during the rest of the day, boggling and bruxing while I stroked his head and ears. After a while we didn’t bother with his cage as he was so content to just be with me and then go to bed in his padded kennel.
He was from a pet shop where rats are bred to feed reptiles and he wasn’t in a great state. I knew I would only probably have him for a short time (just under two years) because he had a bad chest and shocking skin (he hated his baths). What I wasn’t prepared for was just how much I would love him. I miss him so much - sooooooo much. I would draw with him on my shoulder, sometimes he would try to get under my hand as I drew for a pet, or lie accross my drawing hand - it wasn’t easy drawing with Wilf - but to be honest, I think I’d rather draw with him than without him. My morning was so strange today, only porridge for one. We really were inseperable. This is a link to a picture of Wilfy asleep on my knee - he often slept on my lap like this:
http://www.inkyminx.smugmug.com/gallery/1135672#59891076
All my love to you Wilfy - I wish you were still here.
July 16th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
What you wrote is lovely. My little rat Steve died this morning, and I’m sitting here wondering how a fuzzy $6 little guy could break my heart. I smiled when I read how Wilfy would lie on your hands when you were drawing. Steve just had to lie on top of my hands when I worked on the computer. He would happily snooze on top of my moving hands as I typed.
They really are kind, loving companions. I can’t believe Steve won’t be curled up on my shoulder bruxing any more. I’m sorry about your Wilfy.