Mice Like Milky Way, Too

So the other day I was craving some chocolate. I had already eaten all of the Hersey Kisses that Val sent me, (don’t do the math!) when I remembered that I had a Milky Way bar in my backpack. I had gotten it at the Manas chow hall on the way to Afghanistan, but forgot I had it. So I took a break from work and walked back to my tent. I picked up my backpack that I leave out on top of one of my bags because I have my magazines and books in it. Apparently I also leave the zipper open so I can get into it easier. Once I pulled the Milky Way bar out, I noticed a small, bite-sized piece missing. I didn’t remember starting to eat the candy bar. Then I realized that once I start a candy bar, I finish it. Then I realized a mouse had chewed on it. There were strips of wrapper in the backpack. I was devastated! I thought about eating the opposite end, but thought about what Val would think, (she’s my moral compass) so I just threw the candy bar away. Since then, I’ve gone to the south side of the airport and bought a variety bag of bite-size candy bars (aka “portion control”) and I now store all food items in my footlocker. Every now and then, I leave a small empty wrapper on the floor so the mouse can smell it and think he’s going to get some more of my chocolate. I hope he’s as disappointed as I was when I missed out on enjoying my chocolate bar. And I hope he thinks of me and says to himself (in lyrical, Seussian form), “That fat rat!”