To Sneak A Snack

Pico peer around the corner into the dark kitchen. The room smelled like cut lemons and the remains of dinner. Light from the streetlamp shone in through the window above the sink and made the laminate floor shine like fresh ice on a lake. Beneath the counter hummed the dishwasher. Its rhythmic swish and thump like a thunderous rain storm.

His long nose twitched with his whiskers. Beyond the disinfectant chemicals the humans of this house used to clean every surface, he could smell traces of beef, potatoes, carrots, corn, and green beans. He loved green beans and corn, especially when they were fresh from the garden or dried and crunchy. The mush between those extremes that humans tended to enjoy was just wrong.

Overhead the upstairs floor creaked with movement. His round ears pivoted at the muffled voices. Then the telltale click of a remote preceded the sound of the TV.

He scurried around the corner and across the floor to the first metal chair leg. The shadow of the overhead table covered his small body as his nose bobbed with the new scent of whole grain bread. It smelled fresh and ready to be devoured. His mouth watered. 

Pico glanced around then sat back on his hind legs with a sigh. He ran his paws from the back of his head, over his ears, and down his nose. Rosco was supposed to be joining him this evening. It had been planned. They had planned the whole thing together. Rosco was going to show him how and where to go to get the best food without being noticed. This would be their first mission together since Pico moved in and it had to go right.

He padded to the edge of the table's shadow and blinked into the towering space. The white cupboards hung like clouds far above a counter that was the size of a mountain's cliff. It would take planning and patience to reach such a height. But he was ready. He had been ready for this excursion for a days. Rosco had helped him with that preparation. But where was Rosco?

Something touched his tail and Pico froze. His heart pounded against his furry hide and his shoulders shook. He scrunched his nose then relaxed at the familiar scent. Rosco tapped his tail again then moved to Pico's side with a nod.

"You're late," Pico said with the twitch of his nose.

Rosco shrugged. "I had a meeting with the cat."

Pico viewed Rosco with a wary eye. Usually when a mouse said they had a meeting with a cat the results were never good. An ear, limb, or the entire tail could be missing. Or it could be even worse. But with Rosco things were different--as was evidenced by his unmarred body. For him, "a meeting with the cat" usually meant just that.

"Don't worry," Rosco said as he smoothed his whiskers. "I've seen to it that Fluffy stays out of the kitchen tonight."

Pico nodded. He was not entirely sure how odd relationship had first been established, but there was an understanding when it came to Rosco and his natural enemy. The two had come to some sort of agreement, so if Rosco said he had taken care of the cat for the night then they were clear until dawn--at least from that potential danger.

"Okay," Pico said as he scanned the empty room. "The bread box is on the right countertop by the sink and the cupboard above the refrigerator has all the cereal boxes. Which should we go for first?"

Rosco narrowed his eyes at the two locations then stared at Pico. "I thought we were only going for the cereal tonight."

Pico's expression turned sheepish. "Well..." He glanced at the granite countertop. "The bread smells fresh and you know how much I love fresh bread, especially whole grain."

Rosco snorted. "Yeah, except that's not part of the plan for tonight."

"But it could be."

Rosco shook his head. "You know, as much as I love fresh pumpkin seeds I'm not going to change the plans so I can raid the baking supplies and spend twenty minutes chewing through a plastic container just because I feel like it. We stick to the plan."

"But fresh bread and pumpkin seeds don't equate. I can't plan for fresh bread. This family doesn't seem to keep a regular baking schedule."

"Too bad for you."

"Rosco."

"Look, kid, either you stick to the plan and I help you out or you ditch the plan and I ditch you. It's that simple and I honestly don't care what you choose. Just know whichever one you pick dictates what I do."

His look of expectation settled on Pico and the younger mouse felt his enthusiasm fade. Rosco was right. They had made a plan and it was unwise to change things now.

"You're right," Pico said with a nod. "We'll stick to the plan."

"Okay, then let's get moving before it's time for the evening snack." He glanced around the kitchen then darted across the floor to the sink cabinet. Pico followed behind.

"I though we needed to be at the far right cabinet," Pico pointed out.

Rosco stood with his front paws on the toe kick and pushed with nose against the cabinet's base above their heads. It did not move. He scurried further along the cabinet and tried again.

"Sorry, kid, it doesn't look like we'll be able to get near the breadbox today." He blinked at Pico with an apologetic look then dashed along the cabinets toward the refrigerator and cabinet they had discussed. Pico glanced at the closed cabinetry overhead. The only way to get into the sink base would be to pry the door open or chew a hole in the base. Neither option would be feasible tonight, but it was nice that Rosco had at least taken a look.

"You coming?"

Pico scampered after Rosco passing two more base cabinets before he reached the last cabinet with pull out drawers. Rosco stood with his head pressed to the bottom of the drawer and his nose angled at the space between the drawer and the tow kick. Because of the metal track that allowed the drawer to pull out there was a gap of space. It was a small gap, but one they could squeeze through.

"You want to go first?" Rosco asked without looking back.

Pico took a deep breath then moved to the opening. He reached up with his paws and leaned against the tow kick, gauging the gap with his whiskers. It would be tight, but they could do it. He coiled his back legs then jumped into the gap.

The boards did not give, but the soft flesh of his fur belly did. Pico pressed his front paws to the back side of the toe kick and peddled his legs until he could maneuver himself through. He thumped to the ground on the opposite side in a pile of dust and began to sneeze.

A chuckle tickled his ears and Pico turned to see Rosco already inside and upright. His dark fur was powered a light gray in spots, but he stood upright watching Pico with a smile.

"Well, that wasn't the most graceful entrance," Rosco said as he approached, "But you'll get better with time." He moved to the back of the cabinet where a hand towel that had once been in one of the drawers now lay forgotten behind it. "Come on."

Pico blew the last bit of dust from his nose and trailed Rosco to the towel. The darker mouse was already up the towel and to the second cabinet drawer. By the time Pico had covered that distance, Rosco had made it into the third drawer by way of an apron string that hung down the back.

Pico climbed the last length of the fabric tie and fell into the upper drawer with a plop. His chest heaved from the effort. He was not out-of-shape, but he usually did not have to work so hard to get into a cabinet of food. This new house was much cleaner than the neighbors--his last place of residence--and had he been given the choice to stay he would have. Unfortunately the exterminators had made that option unavailable. 

Fortunately Rosco had welcomed him in and sworn to "show him the ropes." When Pico had heard the phrase, however, he had not imagined that it involved real rope climbing.

"You doing okay, kid?" Rosco leaned over Pico, his black eyes blinking at him.

Pico rolled onto his paws with a nod. "Yeah, doing great. Now where?"

Rosco grinned then moved so he could perch on the corner the drawer. He pointed to a hole in the wall where wires ran through. His eyes glinted as he glanced at Pico. Then with a leap he sprang for the hole.

Pico gave a startled squeak as Rosco grabbed the wires, holding on until his body stopped swaying and he could haul himself up into the hole. The darker mouse turned around and bobbed his nose.

"You're turn."

Pico gulped, but followed Rosco's example by situating himself on the corner of the drawer and leaping forward. For a brief moment, panic overtook him as Pico failed to grab the first wire. Then his paw snagged the second and he clung to it with both front limbs, his body and tail twisting as he fought to right himself.

After a moment of struggle, Pico rolled onto the wire and clung to it with all four paws. He exhaled his relief before glancing up into Rosco's face. Pico felt his embarrassment rise, but Rosco gave him a partial grin.

"Not bad, kid. Come on." He disappeared into the hole and Pico hurried to catch up.

When they had first discussed this operation, Rosco had warned that the en devour would not be as easy as he was expecting. He had also cautioned about trying something like this too often, especially when the homeowners were on the premises. Pico had not given the matter much thought since he had always been able to do whatever he wanted in his house whenever he had wanted. But this was a new house and the rules were different.

Pico poked his head through the hole and scurried up the wires after Rosco. The other mouse was already further up the wall, heading to a spot of light in the distance. The smell of bran, oats, and wheat drifted in from the opening.

Pico felt his stomach rumble as he neared the patch of light. Yet the wires he was on did not connect to the opening. He stopped and watched as Rosco left the ropes and began climbing the wooden beams of the house walls. The older mouse made it look easy.

"Time to change tracks," Rosco called as he turned around after reaching the small hole of light.

Pico nodded and flicked his whiskers. He crossed to the spot he had seen Rosco use and jumped from the wire to the wall. His claws dug into the wood and with effort he scaled the timber stud until he was across from Rosco.

"Last jump," the other mouse said.

Pico settled himself then leaped, landing next to Rosco and the lit opening with a thump.

"Nice job. Now, before we go in there are two things you need to remember and you have to promise me you will follow. Can you do that?"

Pico glanced from Rosco to the hole. He could smell the cardboard boxes of cereal and all the grain each one contained. They had made it to the top of the cabinet refrigerator and were about to gather the soils of their hard labor.

"Pico!"

"Yes," Pico said as he turned to Rosco. "Sorry."

Rosco stepped in front of the hole and narrowed his gaze at the younger mouse. "I'm serious, kid. If you can't follow my guidelines then you're out and on your own again. These people don't mess around with rodents. If you want to stay here and be safe you need to be smart and listen."

"Yes, sir."

"Alright," Rosco said with a nod. "When we go in we are only going to take from the boxes on the far left. Those are the boxes that the owners tend to eat less. They should already have openings in them so no chewing through new bags. Also, no snacking while we're here. The object is to get in, stuff your checks, and get out. Remember you still have to fit through all the holes and climb all the way back down. We'll feast after we get back to the nest. Deal?"

Pico's nose twitched. How could he not snack on even a grain--a single grain? The idea of not even being able to take a nibble until they were back was just torture.

"Deal?" Rosco asked again.

Pico debated. Sure, Rosco had been in the house longer and probably knew best, but really what harm was there in a bite? Then again, Rosco had been in this house a long time and it was probably because he knew what he could and could not get away with. Pico sighed. For right now he would need to go by the plan that was sure to work. And if the plan that worked meant no snacking until they were back, then that was what had to happen--at least for now. Maybe later things could change.

"Pico? I mean it, kid, if you start snacking and messing up our time frame--"

"I won't. I'll follow your rules. No snacking until we get back and don't carry more than I can handle on the way back. I figure we can make another trip if there's time."

Rosco's nod was slow. "Yes, if there's time."

"Okay."

"You sure you're good with this?"

Pico nodded. "Yes, sir. You know best."

Rosco's nose twitched and his eyes narrowed. For a moment, Pico feared the other mouse would call the whole thing off. Then Rosco sat back with a nod.

"All right. Let's go." He turned to the hole that led into the cabinet. "And, kid, nice job so far. Just don't go solo and the two of us might have a future in this house together." He hopped through the hole and a second later Pico followed with a grin.