“Are you okay?” “I’m great. We’re buying a scabby little mutant baby.” Sam gives him a flat look. “He can hear you.” “He’s a rat.” “They’re very smart.” I pretend to cover his little round ears, and he scrubs his face against my hand. “Aww …” I melt. That makes my mind up immediately. Look at me, so starved for affection that the slightest hint of it has me buying a rodent.
