"I could give them some wood though, couldn't it? Scrap pieces that aren't all splinters?" He thought that might be nice for them, especially to keep their teeth in order. Thomas smiled as he ended up with a second rat climbing on him, utterly delighted.

"Perhaps a cat some day, but... I think I've found my new little friends," he admits. "Do you think they'd be a good sort for me?" As it was, the gray rat that had settled on his shoulder had tucked himself against Thomas's neck, tail loosely curled around him. He seemed quite content to stay there and snuggle.