August 16 – “A rat story”

It seems that Josh and Christi have their very own rat story.  I will endeavor to tell it to the best of my ability, for it is way more extensive than any I have ever personally experienced.  As was the fix.  Sounded expensive.  Now, their local exterminator was pulling his hair out, because no matter what he did, about once a month Josh and Christi noticed fleas.  Highly unusual since they have no pets.  They do live in the woods, but one would think with all the measures they have taken the problem would have been long since eradicated.  Not so much.  Therefore the indomitable Christi had worked her way up the complaint chain to a regional service manager.  He came out himself to do a personal inspection that lasted well past the three hour mark.  When he came down from the attic asking for a garbage bag, Josh knew they were in trouble.  He was right.  The guy returned to the attic and came back with not one but three deceased rat offenders.  One rat had accidentally impaled itself on a nail.  One died of apparently natural causes.  Old age.  I think the other one had a heart attack when he saw the exterminator had discovered their hiding place.  They were all covered with fleas and were lying in state right near the AC vent leading into the living room.  Fleas had been enjoying a carnival ride like no other for a long, long time – free fall base jumping onto the soft carpet below with no parachute.  The exterminator regional supervisor promised to bring a team out to plug up every crease and crevice anywhere in their house – and there were apparently many.  He also warned them not to go into the attic until his team had completed their work.  He had set out dozens of traps, “and they will take your finger off,” so it was just too dangerous to go up there.  Hey, it’s not like the boys played hide and seek up in the thousand degree attic.  Not a difficult order to follow.  And it sounded … Yep.  Expensive.  But Christi didn’t flinch.  No matter what the cost … the rats must go.  But he wasn’t done yet with his report.  Seems he found a surprise under the house that they didn’t know they had.  Every time the toilet flushed, an array of water spewed onto the ground beneath the house.  And onto the subflooring.  “I’m afraid you need to call a plumber.”  Sounded expensive.

So for the next few nights before the extermination team came, they heard mysterious snapping and scraping and scuffling sounds from overhead.  When the team finally arrived a few days later, they only found two dead-in-a-trap rats.  Seems the customary rat way of doing things includes turning on each other when they get caught in a trap.  Hey, you gotta blame somebody.  The sound Josh and Christi so blissfully fell asleep to over those few nights had been the two trapped rats battling each other for the right to be the last to die.  Whoah.  Sounds really weird to me.  But then I’m not a connoisseur of rat culture.

The plumber arrived and confirmed the leak.  And the expense.  He said he could fix it all right, but it was a bit more extensive than they might have imagined.  All the pipes under the house were original – to the 19^th century (well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but the 20^th century for sure).  They were crumbling in his hands.  The toilet was fine, but a retiling job in years past had not been completed correctly, so there was never a really good seal.  He found some mildew, but no mold (silver lining, right?).  Possible new subfloor.  Definite new interior floor.  At the very least repairing the tiling and toilet seal.  And while they are at it, why not go ahead and put in that third bathroom on the other side of the house?  Sounds expensive. 

But he was not done with his report.  “I’m afraid I have some bad news.  I think you need to call an electrician.”  Now, I’ve heard of the trades working together, but this was getting ridiculous.  But it seems that there were electrical lines running alongside the leaking pipes that had not been properly covered after being spliced together.  Not even with electrical tape.  Just wire connectors.  That was a fire waiting to happen.  Just hit the top of the priority list.  Sounded expensive. 

As far as I know the electrician hasn’t come out yet.  And I don’t think the plumber has completed his repair job (much less the new bathroom).  There have been no more rat battles in the attic, though.  At least none they have heard.  Ain’t home ownership grand?

Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Father, thank you for the discovery and potential eradication of that flea problem.  Keep them safe while all those repairs are being made.  Amen.