I just couldn’t do it. Something about its tiny paws made my body refuse. I threw the spade onto the heap of earth and opened the trap. Freed the mouse. Its little legs moved as fast as they could, and it darted down the slope toward the woods. In my imagination, it had a family waiting for it somewhere, maybe even a couple of friends. His hand came out of nowhere, and the smack made my vision go dark. “What in God’s name d’you think you’re doing?”
