The Rat

by Neville G. Martin

This is a short story about my Grandfather Elzie B. Gregory and the time that a rather large rat ran up his pant leg.

It seems he was quietly sitting in his favorite chair, in his living room listening to the radio when the event occurred.

Grandpa didn't get excited, yell, jump, or cuss as you would expect.

He simply lite up his pipe and began to blow smoke down the inside of his bib overalls.

Grandpa puffed on the pipe and blew smoke for what seemed an hour before the rat had all of the smoke he could stand. I believe it was Prince Albert pipe tobacco.

The rat began backing down Grandpa's leg until he was below the knee, then it turned around and scurried away out through the bottom of the pant leg.

After the rat was long gone is when Grandpa began to yell, jump, dance, and cuss.