Reading the Room

I returned from my walk this morning to discover the exterminators were here, doing a follow-up a month after their last visit.

I had let the building manager, Danielle, know that I would be out for morning walk and likely home a little before 10, and if they showed up early, she was free to let them in to inspect. They did arrive early.

I walked into the loft to see two exterminators and our building maintenance engineer not looking for mice. Instead, they were looking at books.

I broke into a grin. John, the maintenance engineer, waved, and I waved back.

One of the exterminators whistled. He then said, “This is a lot of books. It’s impressive.”

The other exterminator said, “I have a hard time making time to read a book. I might if I lived here.” I laughed. He went on, “I usually listen to books.”

I told him that I liked listening to books too, especially on longer car rides.

He nodded enthusiastically. “That’s how l take in new things we’re told we have to read for work. I listen to them driving between jobs.”

John piped in. “I was telling them the story of talking with Danielle and saying to her that if you ever moved out, we’d take your books and set up a library here.”

This made me laugh. I told him I’d thought about that. Finding a place like a senior living center or cooperative housing as a place to share them.

John told the exterminators, “He has books on everything.” He went over to a section, randomly pulled a book and joked, “And here’s the book on mouse extermination.” Chuckles abounded.

I smiled and pointed down the hall, “Actually it would more likely be down there. I don’t think I’ve seen a children’s book on pest extermination.”

This reminded the guys why they were there, but I really didn’t mind. It was nice to see them enjoying the moment. They began to work, checking traps. None had been visited. They pulled out the kitchen stove, and one of the exterminators told me that this was the most likely place they would see evidence of mice. “Wherever there is food…” he said.

This made me wonder something I had assumed. So, I asked, “Do the mice move outside when it gets warmer?”

The other exterminator nodded. “Often, “he said. “They want to be inside where it’s warm and where there’s food. In warmer months, they are likely to find both as easily outside as well as in.”

The other exterminator added the chorus, “Wherever there is food…”

I turned to John. “I’ve noticed mice out on the streets in the summer. Especially when the neighbors put the garbage out.”

John agreed. “I have too.”

One exterminator interrupted, “Do you mind traps that snap? You might see a dead one and have to deal with it.’

I told him I didn’t. I’d said when I was in seminary one place I’d lived was so overrun I was taking two caught mice out a day. And that when one ran across my bed, I’d had enough and gotten rat poison.

The story made one exterminator flinch, but the other one said, “I was in a woman’s house once and as I was inspecting, one mouse ran across the kitchen counter.”

“Thankfully I’ve only seen them run across the floor.” I said.

The other exterminator looked up, “I see no evidence of any mouse. Have you seen any?” he asked me.

I told him I’d seen one after his last visit, about a week afterwards, but nothing since.

“Was he wobbling or speedy?” the other exterminator asked.

“Quick,” I said. “But I’ve also checked to see if the places where I put pellets out had been moved. I arranged them into a cluster in many spots, and the clusters seem to be the same.”

“Another good sign.”

They checked the utility room and set out a few more traps, then “I think we’re done for today. Keep monitoring though and let John know if you see anything new.”

“Will do,” I nodded.

“We’ll be glad to come back out if you do,” the other exterminator said. “I’d love a chance to browse some more.” He looked at the books again.

“Yeah, “the other exterminator nodded. “This is the most interesting stop of the week.”

John looked at me with a twinkle. “This has happened every time I have brought someone in.”

“Maybe I should charge admission.”

They all laughed and one said, “I’d pay.” I thanked them as they headed out, still hoping not to see them again, but not as much.