Chewers is the perfect home for the Greek mouse god, Apollo Smintheus. Thank you, Nolcha Fox, for bringing this Greek tragedy to the world. And everything in this story really happened to me. When our three elderly cats died one by one over a two-year period, we noticed mice showing up. They are devious little buggers.
Apollo Smintheus
My warp speed. Your screams when I launched out of the sunflower seed bag. Like a SpaceX rocket. Your gaping mouth as I raced to nab a cookie cooling on a rack on the stove. And scrambled to the fridge top to break into a bag of Chili Cheese Fritos. My musical offerings, the clattering pans and lids in the oven drawer. The sticky gifts I scattered about on your counters. And in your Hydro Flask water bottle you safely stowed in the lower cupboard. And in your new floral coffee mug by the sink. And on your sheets and in your hair as you slept. You gifted me sachets of peppermint, cloves, and cinnamon everywhere in my Smintheion. Especially in my nest and shithole behind the microwave. And where I hid my cache of cat food in your closet in the uncovered bin underneath your sweatpants and long underwear. To your horror, one night I scuttled up over the headboard and across your chest and back to the floor and into the bottom drawer of your dresser, where your husband nabbed me and took me to the creek bank in the park across the street. As he did with my thirsty brother, whom you peed on. You almost flushed – but didn’t. Just gasped as he did the backstroke. His lips fluttered like a god praying for air.
Notes
Apollo Smintheus – The Greek god of mice
Smintheion – The sanctuary of mice, the temple dedicated to Apollo Smintheus
© Barbara Leonhard
Extraordinary Sunshine Weaver 
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