Ratso was the name given to a baby squirrel that fell from it’s nest and was rescued by IVAN who nursed Ratso to health to the point that the squirrel treated my neighbor like its mother until one day last week Ivan didn’t see Ratso under his feet and shortly after there was a squirrel burial in the front yard.

Ivan seemed sad.

When we returned home today, Zylia said. “I’m sorry Ratso.”

Life is like that.