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WhiIby Free Prea, Wednesdy, June 5,1996, Pqe 7 .>. ~'* I 1 Life and death Three weeke ago 1 wrote about Fudgie, the pet family rat for the past twenty monthe. Fudgie had lived, as far as I could tell, an exemplary life. She didn't smoke or drink, avoided fat-encrusted food and excess salt and sugare. Then she died in the prime of life. We should make no attempt to draw morale from thie tale. Rats die when rats cdie, whicb is usually when they approach the two-year mark Some-last tbree years, but, then some people ive until thefr nineties,, too. 1%e exception does not make the rule, else life ineurance companies would go broke. The moat important part in the life of a family pet emerges in the pet's death. It ie here cbildren learn abut bs, mourning, the uniquenees of life. About buriale under the soft maple tree, and a newfound interest in the business hours of pet stores. Brin focused on that immediately after the funeral. "Can we go," she eaid the very next night, "te the pet store?" Then a child learne patience. Yes, said the pet store clerk, we have hooded rats. No, they are flot ready te leave. When? Ilil ask, juet a moment. 1So then we found that baby rats two weeks old would not be ready te leave Mother until they are six weeks old. A month. Four weeks. Twenty eight daye. I know a ten- year-old who counted every day. Until last Wednesday, one week ago today. A caIl te the pet store. Yes, they still had rats. No, they had not been put on dieplay. When would they be ready te leave? Just a moment, rll ask (Picture a grown man holding a phone receiver, with a ten-year-old domng a one-foot dance on hie left tee, eaying, peeplease, please, please, please...) Tonight, was the anewer. From the way Erin skipped up the itchen wall and acroee the ceiing,, I believe this was the answer she wanted. Thus did Caramel Fudgejoin ourhappyfamily. She je a tiny, wee, mouse-sized rat, a condition we're teld ehe will overcome. In rat age, eîhe qualifies for the pre- adolescence, wbich, pute her about'the same age, rat-wise, as her owner, Erin, je, human-wiee. More or lese. She now. occupies Fudgie'e old cage, already has adapted to the water bottie, her food eupply, the network of tunnels and a doîl house, and has fallen asleep ini her tete-cage. Note that we eay, 'She', which je a conscioue choice by her owner, unlese the pet store clerk misread the not-so- obvioue signe. Itfe happened before, we've been teld. So what doee a cbild learn,, some might ask, when one loet pet je replaced by another loet pet? Might not the leseson be that ail life !a replaceable? No. A child learne the fragility of life. Will you corne down with me to check on Caramel? Come with me te have a look. Let'a go down and check on her now. This for the firet five days, amid worries and concerne. Maybe we teok her too young. Maybe she won't eat. I don't think ehe je drinking water. I»ok, she waves from aide te side when ehe stands stifl, do you think she's aIl right? This, dear reader, je the beginning of parenthood; of worries that get lighter or heavier but neyer go away. Caranmel bas already spentcorfnforalehourecupe i I *A rail car of cattle desitined for England was shipped froin Myrtle Station te Toronto on. Juno 1. *Tho north ward basebali club is called the "Sand Rata," and the asouth ward toarn is th& "Marsh Toada." *Early summer cloeing for Brooklin merchanta ia 7 p.m. sharp. *Doga are killing chickons in Whitby, croating much concern for poultiy farinera. j .......... ami .. Ili" "'Il CENIENia««UCELEBRATUON 0 OIULODGZE, JUNE S, iom Composite Masonic Lodge celebrated ita centennial with a gala dinner at the Ontario Ladies' College (now Trafalgar Castie School). Special guest speaker at the dinner was Nelson, C. Hart, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario. This picture. was taken in the Ladies' College concert hall. WMhy Arcive. photo 10 YEARS AGO from the Wednesday, June 4, 1986 edition of the WII1TY FREE PRESS 0 GO Transit unveiled its plans for the station te be built at Whitby. a WVhitby's population is 45,000. 9 Whitby Jaycees launched the DUTI (Driving Under the Influence) program, te fight inipaired driving. 0 Nine-year-old Jefirey Dusome of Wbitby plaoed firat at an international Judo tournament at Buffalo, New York, on May 24. 35 YEAIWS AGO from the Thursday, June 1 ,1961 edition of the WHITBY WEcMeKY NEWS a Several Whitby streeta wlll be paved this year. a Ontario County wants developrnont of Thickson Road from the Bas e io Bro>kin. 0 Oshawa Mayor Christine Thomas was gust speaker at the graduation exorcises for the Ontario Hospital School o! Nuruing at Whitby. s Steaks and roua are selling for 73 centaapoun at the AandP stoe.. 100YEARS AGO froin the Frday, June 5..1896 edition o! the WBTBY cHONICLE IL -- m