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Ears was not my own rat, and I never had the privilege of meeting him in person. But I loved him - and still love him - just the same. He was very lazy, and his favourite game was one he invented called Ears Pancake, where he would lie as flat as possible on the ground and brux (chatter his teeth - rats do this when they are very happy) like he couldn't contain his joy, just from lying there. He was very simple, and not at all like a typical rat, but that is why I adored him so much.

Seeing pictures of Ears and reading stories about his strange behaviours would always cheer me up or calm me down if I wasn't feeling good. I think rats are the cutest pets ever, so I often get happier when looking at rat photos, but there was something very special about Ears that made me squee extra hard.

I really could relate to him. Even though he was lazy and calm, he was easily scared of things, walked nervously, and didn't always know how to act with other rats. He also had a fear of spoons. I can be anxious myself, over the smallest things, so I felt like we had a lot in common.

I decided that maybe he had invented a good relaxation technique with Ears Pancake, so I started playing Toby Pancake when I couldn't sleep, or when I was in an anxiety-inducing situation like being at the doctor or dentist. It worked to calm me down physically, and mentally too. How could I be upset when thinking of such an adorable rat? He always made me smile.

Rats are just as intelligent and loving as dogs - well, Ears was a bit simpler than that, but many dogs aren't the smartest either. I hope that you can see how much rats can touch people's lives, if you didn't already know that (I didn't, before Ears!)

Ears, I will always play Toby Pancake for you. Thank you for brightening my life so much with your endearingly simple personality and love of the smallest things in life. I will never forget you. I was so proud of you for finally learning your name. I wish you could have lived longer to learn more things, and teach more people about playing Ears Pancake, and maybe to win an award for being the flattest rat in the world (Is that what you were practicing for? Everyone suspected that you were secretly a genius, inventing things and curing cancer while your owner Lisa was at work). I wish that I could have had a chance to pet you. But I am so glad that I knew you at all.

Love, Toby

(I wrote this the day Ears died and I haven't changed it since.)

Ears' owner: many-splendored-rat
Art by ShatterJemm
Background by knitetgantt