Shoulder Pets

Of all the pets I have had, only a few insisted on being on my shoulders. When I was a teenager, my hooded rat, Ellie Mae, rode on my shoulders at home, and when I rode my bicycle all around the small town where I grew up.

Now, Luca and Moxi do the same. As they get bigger, however, it has become difficult for them to hang on while I walk around the house.

Yesterday, I was sitting on a stool, taking my shoes off, when Moxi jumped on my back, wanting to get on my shoulder. He had his claws out to get traction while climbing my back. That really hurt as I tried to get him away from me. Then my smartwatch made a sound I had not heard before, so I looked at it. It read, ‘Looks like you took a bad fall. Do you want to call emergency?’ It shows a big red button labeled "911".

I thought that was funny as I carefully clicked on the tiny X at the top corner of the screen.