When It All Happens

By the end of the week Wilbut seemed to have sorted himself out. It all happened and life for James became really busy really fast. Wilbur's ears completely formed, his eyes opened, his hair grew enough that it wasn't obviously patchy, and he started moving around on his own. It was adorable. James was receiving so many emotions through his contract with Wilbur that he often found himself unable to move from being overwhelmed with sheer amount of connection he had with the pup.

On the other hand James also couldn't believe how much trouble a pup could get into.

The ninth day at school Wilbur wiggled out of the blanket on his own for the first time and pocked his head up out of James' shirt pocket. Still blind the little guy could only hear and smell what it could not touch.

It wasn't until the girl next to him began to scream right in the middle of class that James moved. At first he bent closer to see if he could help, but his motion made her go into an even more desperate fit. Tracking where she was looking he immediately covered his pocket and ran out the door of the class.

He knew he was in trouble and comforting Wilbur who was probably just as traumatized he waited for the teacher to come confront him.

"James, this is a tolerant school, the policy is to allow pets into the classroom, but the school does ask that students with large or more objectionable pets keep them home. Jane says she saw a little devil?"

Mr. Barklay, James' homeroom teacher just explained the policy and then asked a question very hesitantly.

"Oh, sorry Mr. Barklay, I am sorry, I understand and it is not a devil. It is a baby mouse."

Apologizing was starting to become a more common occurrence these days.

"A baby mouse?"

"Yes, here look, it's eyes are still closed, its ears aren't the same size yet, and his hair is still sparse. But this is all normal for a mouse pup!"

James confirmed and showed his teacher the mouse.

"Oh, ha, ha. I can see that if you don't have someone at home to feed it you won't be able to leave it behind. Is that right?"

Mr. Barklay laughed and relaxed a lot.

"Yes, I don't have anyone to help me out."

"Alright, perhaps it will be best to have you introduce, ... , what is his name?"

Mr. Barkly interrupted himself to ask for a name.

"Wilbur, this little guy's name is Wilbur."

"Wilbur, then. Come on introduce him to the class so everyone knows him. A growing baby can get into a lot of trouble. It is best if everyone can recognize him."

They went back into the class and in dead silence Wilbur was introduced. He had to go up and down the rows so that everyone could see.

"So disgusting, I can't believe he tamed a mouse!"

"What is the point of a mouse, pet?"

"It does look like a little devil doesn't it."

James could hear all of their comments. Sometimes it was a curse to have ultra sonic hearing.

The next day Wilbur fell into James' water cup at lunch. Wilbur was just trying to get out of the pocket, the fact that he fell into the water was just a coincident. But as it happened Wilbur then peed in the water turning it yellow which caused two students to throw up at James' lunch table.

One good result of introducing Wilbur to the class was that Ronda the class president and generally accepted as the most beautiful girl in the school came up to him after class on Wednesday to say hi.

At this point Wilbur was mostly looking like a real mouse. His hair was still sparse, but it was fairly even. His ears had matured so now they weren't lopsided and his eyes were just barely opening.

"Wow, he is so cute!"

Ronda said starting a conversation.

"Right, that is what I think, too!"

It was nice for James to know that someone else beside him thought that Wilbur was a cute little fellow.

"It is so unusual to have a mouse as a pet! How did you choose him? I bet he will be great for exploring and working in the tightest spaces. Is that why you tamed him?"

Saying a whole bunch of things all at once Ronda beamed at Wilbur.

"Ah, yes, ah, yes, I guess. No, really he will be good at exploring and in the right circumstances he will be a genius!"

Stammering for a bit at the beginning James tried to end on a good note.

"I can see that. My family actually runs a flour mill and we have mice all up into our mill. Especially in the tight places like in the gears. We employ ratters that keep the mice out of the flour, but it has been impossible to keep them out of the entire mill itself. Anyway, I was talking to my Dad about you and Wilbur here and I thought it would be a great idea to have Wilbur go in and clean the place up. We figure that if the food is gone the mice won't want to live there at all. What do you think?"

Ronda spoke for a long time and then looked expectantly at James.

James, who was overwhelmed just talking to Ronda let alone realizing that there might be some additional uses for his pet that he had not thought of before was incapable of saying anything intelligent.

Eventually he was able to cough out.

"Okay, yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

"Great, why don't you come over after school today? I know Wilbur is too young, but maybe you could take a look and see if you think it is possible."

She looked at him hopefully and he hesitated.

It wasn't because he wasn't going to say, yes, it was more that he didn't know how to say yes in a way that didn't make him look like he was an idiot. His family owned a lot of ratting pets, they even made a business of it. He had to wonder if his family were the ones hired to service the mill. but James was unable to find the words to explain himself. Not wanting to sour the moment he said a single word.

"Okay."

When he said his single word she paused and waited for him to say something else, but James just started looking awkward and to the side so she shrugged.

"Okay, see you later!"

Ronda said and then turned away before coming back.

"By the way, what ability do you share with him? If it is something helpful, maybe my Dad will want to have you back often."

She beamed at him.

Without thinking James chuckled and then said.

"No, I don't think it will help in this situation. It is just a fertility bonus..."

While he was saying the words he saw Ronda's bright smile suddenly fall.

"Hhhh, did you say fertility?"

Confused as to what was happening James nodded and said.

"Yes. Fertility."

A long paused happened. Or at least it seemed like a long pause to James.

"Well, actually, I just remembered. Tonight is the night that my Dad goes out with his friends. Maybe tonight isn't a good night."

After busting up the deal she suddenly brightened again. But the words that ended up coming out of her mouth left him confused.

"Oh, okay."

Again he said something dumb. This time it was because he really couldn't think fast enough to figure out what was happening.

"Maybe another time. See ya!"

Ronda called over her shoulder as she ran away.