Mousetrapped

The morning of the day I took this shot was eventful, to say the least. I let myself sleep in and sacrificed shooting sunrise. It was a welcome treat to a landscape photographer used to waking up in the wee hours of the day. I figured I'd have a low key morning and shoot sunset later. Not to be. After getting up, I decided to eat breakfast like a normal human being. I opened up my trunk and saw a little black shadow move about. I pulled some of my bags out. Nothing. So I carry on with my routine. I write it off as my mind playing tricks on me to start the day. I grab my bagels and sit down only to find a hole in the bottom of the bag. I grab more food from the trunk. Another hole. This time in the popcorn bag. Terror. Panic. This isn't going to be a relaxing morning.

Times are tough. Take a break. Enjoy the drama.

I take everything out of the trunk and my newly minted nemesis makes his second appearance. A mouse. In my trunk. He quickly makes his escape between the back of the rear seats. With everything out and on the picnic table, and my panic button fully depressed, I select my weapon. Tripod with spikes. There's no messing around here. I like animals, but I don't care for them making a home in my trunk. This is serious.

I figure I got this little guy trapped. There's no way he has some sort of tunnel access from the trunk to the main cabin. He's gotta be nesting with the spare tire. With my spear in one hand, I rip off the trunk floor. Nothing. I feel defeated. Figuring there's nothing left to do, I move everything back into the trunk but I put the food bag in the rear seat instead. Why? No good reason.

After everything is put back and zipped up for good measure, I pick up the food bag and this little rodent is rummaging around in the bag again. Not exactly ready for this, I scream and throw the bag back in the car. Realizing I won't have him mousetrapped for long, I grab the bag and he does me a favor by diving out himself. Problem solved. Or so I think. For the rest of the trip, I thought the mouse may have peed on my popcorn. I still ate the popcorn.