Our hamster’s burial
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It was a crispy, sunny, Sunday afternoon in nineteen ninety three.
Our whole family was united under the same roof of our old car in solemn solidarity, clinging unto a battered shoe box where our hamster lay peacefully among the outdated newspapers we had provided as temporary
comfort.
Not that it made much difference to our poor deceased creature, who surely had already joined his other soul mates in hamster paradise.
But it was more for our solace than his.
We drove endlessly in search of an isolated spot, that would allow us to dig a hole for our albino pet that had taken a special place in our heart.
Living in a busy town did not make things easier. We roamed around aimlessly, trying to detect that precious empty spot.
There! Shouted our oldest, followed by an echo coming from the rest of us, where? Where?!
The answer came swiftly, On your right, can’t you see?
We darted in a single movement, to the right, our eyes lighting up at the prospect of a discovery, and, yes! It was there!…
Was this going to be the final resting place for our pet? We wondered.
We stopped, got out of the car, our children trooping out, straight and sedate as little brave soldiers.
We studied the grounds as experts would, weighing the pros and cons and finally decided against.
We were staring at a manicured lawn. A public one and therefore, liable to a fine. Besides, even without a fine, we would have never had the heart to spoil such a well tended landscape.
So, off we went, in search of wilder pastures.
After a back and forth animated verbal exchange, we deliberated our verdict. We were going out of the city to find a peaceful spot in untouched nature.
Everyone agreed it was the best solution and peace settled among our tribe.
The further we went, the more subdued we all were. We had to face the inevitable.
Tranquility descended upon the small tight space of our vehicle.
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The day had begun to fall. The sun was hiding behind dark heavy clouds and a blanket of mist hovered on top of the fields in a protective embrace.
We stood perfectly still, as if mesmerized.
This was, thee acme.
In a cowardly gesture, I inquired if anyone fancied digging a whole. It must have sounded far too brutal to their young and innocent ears because, my question collided with implacable deafening silence.
So we all went, together into action ( Mainly me! ) implicating ourselves into the mission we had endeavored to do.
It was quickly over and we drove back feeling gratified for having accomplished what we had set our mind and heart to.
How is it possible, I thought, to have gotten so fond of this little creature, when I used to be terrified of any four legged living form?
I ended up being the one helping him in his last gasps of breath…
A person, I mused, is full of surprises.
After a moment, the car slowly filled with the familiar ” music ” of sibling rivalry and I smiled at the pleasant continuation of life’s trivialities.
All was in its right place.
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