Charli Mills’ flash fiction challenge for March 7, 2019 is as follows: In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a mouse. It can be real, imagined, electronic or whiskered. Go where the prompt leads! You can join in here: https://carrotranch.com/2019/03/08/march-7-flash-fiction-challenge/
I am currently listening to the audio book of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. You might wonder what Dracula has to do with a mouse so I will explain the link. Dracula is written entirely as a collection of diary and journal entries and letters to the various characters. I thought it might be fun to write this 99-word prompt as a diary entry, so that is what I have done:
Yesterday morning I saw a mouse dash across the kitchen floor and slip under the dishwasher. We live near a bird sanctuary so we do get the odd furry visitor. My husband catches mice using a method involving rat glue smeared on a piece of cardboard. I hate it but we cannot have mice taking up permanent residence in our home.
The gluey cardboard worked and this morning I found the mouse stuck to the cardboard. It was still alive and had to be drowned in water. That is the down side of rat glue – it doesn’t kill quickly.
Robbie's inspiration 
If only they’d stay outside. They could live happily and so could we. 😦
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I know, Norah. The always come inside during autumn.
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Nice read on mouse and you know Robbie we too sometimes do similar things or will bring a mouse trap and catch them but they sure are a nuisance in houses.
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Thank you, Kamal. We tried mouse traps but we didn’t catch anything. The rat glue is out of desperation.
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Hahaha for sure and they sure are a great menace. Welcome Robbie.
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Ooh! Good one Robbie!
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Thank you, Ritu.
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My cat used to play with the occasional mouse that would appear in the house. (deep sigh)
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OOOH, I know that kind of playing, Annette. Ours play with lizards.
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I like the diary format for the prompt.
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Thank you, Susan.
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Good use of diary format to write the 99 word flash this week, Robbie. We used glue traps. It seems more cruel than the snapping kind of trap, but those can fail to kill instantly, too. One thing is certain. I can’t have mice living in my house!
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I agree, Molly. I can’t stand mice or rats either.
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I tried that stuff once. The next morning, there was thick black fur stuck in the guck. But no mouse. That was worse than know the mouse/rat was running around my attic!
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That is yucky, Jacqui. It has been pretty fail safe for us but I think it is cruel.
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In fiction or real life, it’s harsh, but we can’t have mice in our homes. We went through that last year. By the way, the pest guy told us to stuff steel wool in all the nooks and crannies that lead to the house. It has been very effective.
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Thanks Barbara, we have also done something similar but sometimes they sneak in through the doors.
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Yes they do – ours came in when we got a new dishwasher and later a new oven and the openings in the back were different. They are sneaky critters.
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Kind of a gruesome story but well done. Dracula would be proud. Ha ha. I’ve never heard of rat glue. (We have fewer mice in the house now that we don’t have cats. They’re the ones that brought them inside.)
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It is quite gruesome, Diana, but it is the only thing that works. Our cats bring lizards in, usually minus a body part. It is horrible.
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Mice are so destructive. I understand.
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I also shared a story on the Carrot Ranch site, and like yours, mine was based on reality, although not a diary entry…I shared a story of how my Mom captured a mouse at our house once…like yours, not eligible for “rehabilitation”
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I read yours John and I am sure I commented that your mother had the right idea about mice.
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Thanks Robbie! Yes, she didn’t say it as a joke, just as a matter of fact!
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Reblogged this on Waterstone Way and commented:
Are you up for this challenge?
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Thank you for sharing.
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I have not heard of this challenge but now I am very interested in giving it a try! I love the diary format you used, very unique.
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Thank you, the diary entry was a bit of fun for me. I was surprised that the entire book, Dracula, is written in this form.
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Have you ever tried using peppermint essential oil? They don’t like the smell and won’t go near mint. Also good to plant around your doors.
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I didn’t know that, Tandy. Thank you, I will give that a try. Mint is great to have around.
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Oh no, I wouldn’t know what to do if I saw a mouse glued on a cardboard. I wouldn’t be the one who drown the mouse. My husband uses mouse trap and mild poison. If the mouse ate the poison and died some where on the slop in our backyard, I wouldn’t see it. He used an infrared camera and took pictures and a mouse was caught on camera several nights ago.
Yours is a great story though, Robbie!
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You are very soft hearted, Miriam, and that is a lovely characteristic. I don’t like using the rat glue but nothing else works and I can’t have mice in my house they chew holes in all the boxes and bags of groceries.
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I think I know what it is like. We have a shed in the backyard where we store things. The rat went into a box of my books, and got trapped. He was roasted because the shed is hot in the summer. We usually don’t have rats indoor because of the way most houses are built.
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I hope you are enjoying Dracula, Robbie. I used to see mice in the garden where I lived before, but there were so many cats around I think they kept them in check (or perhaps they didn’t fancy the food in my house). I always wondered about those sonic things you plugged and supposedly scared pests off, but they sure don’t work for mosquitoes. No good method, it seems.
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Poison works, Olga, but it also kills the owls and the other rodent eating birds. We live near a bird sanctuary and I like birds. I am less fond of mice and rats so the rat glue comes into action to let the birds live.
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Oh gosh I don’t know if I’d have the heart to drown it!
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There is no other way that works, Christy. We have tried and I can’t poison them and kill the birds. I also can’t leave it to suffer so it has to be drowned.
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Well that grossed me out Robbie, but well done! 🙂
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Sorry, Debby, but nothing else works. I also feel sorry for the mice.
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I hear you! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
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Thank you, Traci
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You’re welcome, Robbie!
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OMG Robbie!! You’ve scarred me! I love little, fuzzy micies…
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But not in the house! Thanks Jessica.
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I guess I’m not the best judge; I used to have mice as pets 🤗🐭
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eek – poor little mouse 😦
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Sorry, Susan.
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I hate mice in the house. Fortunately there are only one or two a year (that we see 😳). Choosing a diary entry is a clever idea, Robbie. Well done.
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Thank you, Jennie. Unfortunately, rats and mice spread disease and cause an awful mess too.
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They do. You’re welcome, Robbie.
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I remember when I read Dracula several years ago – I had no idea the whole book was journal entries. This was a clever way to write the challenge.
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Thank you, Teri. I am loving Dracula. It is very long though.
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Robbie, you nailed the diary style of writing with rhythms of Dracula. What made Bram Stoker so brilliant was how he made the entries seem so common and yet ominous. I can see this style serving you well!
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Thank you, Charli. I am quite delighted to have discovered this style. I am considering using it for my next book which will be altogether quite different from Through the Nethergate or While the Bombs Fell.
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Your breadth of creativity is amazing, Robbie. You spread your wings wide! I can see you mastering this style for a modern horror tale. It’s almost like telling a joke with a straight face. The narrator remains innocent to the horror the reader has building!
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Thank you, Charli. My mom loves Through the Nethergate which I am still editing and improving thanks to Esther’s great feedback. She wants me to write a sequel. I explained to her that I don’t think I can write sequels. I fall in love with an idea and characters and write about them. When it is done and the story told, I lose interest and find my passion elsewhere. I can’t write just for the sake of it.
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this is what I use Robbie. Except I use a wooden dowel and two one litre plastic pop bottles. I cut the bottles in half and only use the two pouring ends. I fit them both together with the open ends at either end. Of course I put the peanut butter in the middle and use to ramps at both ends. Smear some peanut butter on the ramps to help lure but make sure to wash your hands first to eliminate your scent.
http://fivegallonideas.com/bucket-mouse-trap/
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Thank you, Wayne. I shall try this. It sounds more humane which I prefer.
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let me know how it goes?
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I will, Wayne. Mouse season coming up now it is autumn.
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We get roof rats in autumn, so I know what you go through. I hate to see the silly things suffer, my hubby cornered one in our washer so he turned it on and sent little rat into eternity. Cool inspiration and your journal style was heartfelt and realistic, Robbie!
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Thank you, Terri. Getting rid of rats is certainly a problem.
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