I
dream of the day I can buy an Electrolux vacuum. This desire is far and
away
from my pocket book limits, but I can wish.
With
my real estate hat on, and enjoying the sunny warm day, I am previewing
available
homes for sale in the area. We are at a fairy tale designed charming
modest
home with a steep pitch roof and small, but adorable rooms, with
wallpapered
walls and wooden floors. The lot is on a slough. This slow-moving
waterway is at
the end of the back yard. It is a quiet, secluded area and close to the
golf
course. The home is vacant.
I
am with the listing agent. After I see the layout of the home, check
its
condition and what it may need to be updated, if
people want to remove the special fairy
tale look it has, we go inspect the shed in the back yard. It needs a
bit of
loving attention. As we look around inside,
I spot an Electrolux. All the attachments are near it. My heart
beats
fast. I turn to the listing agent and ask, “Do you think the owners
would sell
this vacuum?”
“They
don’t care about it. You can have it.”
“Really?”
I can’t believe my luck.
“Yes.”
I
run over to it, open the front to look at the filter and see a nest of
baby mice,
nuzzled near their mama. The agent said, “Do you really want this?”
“Oh,
yes. I need to relocate this little family of mama mouse and her babies
so I
can take the vacuum home.”
We
find some rags and gently move the little brood out. I place them on a
bottom
shelf inside a small shoe box that was left in the shed and put an
opening in
the side for mama mouse to go in and out. I put fluffy cotton that I
find
nearby into the shoebox to make them comfortable. Before I put the top
onto the
box I watch the little ones, I see them wiggling and getting into the
cotton.
Mama seems comfortable too and is watches me, then turns and gathers
her little
ones closer to her. She seems to be happy with her new surroundings. I
then
place the top gently onto the box and know they will be comfortable and
safe in
their new little home. I take the emptied vacuum filter outside and
shake it with
the wind directed to carry all the dust away and place the filter into
a paper
bag that had been laying on the shelf in the shed. When I leave the
house, I go
to the local vacuum and sewing shop, show the salesman the filter and
buy a
replacement. He throws the old one out. Then, I take my prize home,
clean and
sterilize it. Presto, I have my dream come true.
And
it works. Perfect.
I
drive back into town and go to the pet store to pick up food for the
mice. Since
there are pet mice for sale in the shop I get help on what to buy. Then
I drive
over to the house and go in back to the shed where I set out the food,
I make
it handy for mama mouse.
What
a wonderful day. Mama mouse no longer
lives
in a home that ‘sucks’, and I honestly made a ‘clean’ getaway. I now
can ‘tidy’
up with ease, and be ‘dirt’ free every day I use it. I whisper good bye
to mama
and her little mouse-kens. And I am thankful for my wonderful vacuum.