La rata

So....new adventure, a rat. We have known there was a rat in the house since last Wednesday. Nadine was putting laundry into the machine from the sink (Like the big ones most people have in the wash room). I was in my room and suddenly heard the loudest scream I'd ever heard. It happened four more times as I was coming from my room to the kitchen (passing the laundry room on my way). Nadine was standing by the window screaming bloody murder and would not tell me what had happened.
Finally she stopped long enough to say, "Una rata, una rata." She calmed down over the next minute, and told me the story. As she was putting the laundry into the machine she felt something furry move beneath her hand. She looked, saw a "huge, furry rat" and ran screaming from the room. Soon the neighbor came to see what had happened. I was surprised no one came sooner, as I had really thought she was hurt or in pain or saw something horrible. But, it was just our friendly rat.
Throughout the week we heard him a few times, rustling around in the washing room, which just happens to be located in the same area as my bedroom. So one morning I was not surprised to see the rat run across my path as I walked to the kitchen. It ran from behind the garbage to behind the washing machine. I just went about my day and told Nadine about it when I saw her again.
A few times in the last week we have found holes in some of the clothes in the laundry room. We also found droppings (or poop) in the kids bathroom upstairs. I even though I heard it running around one night. Although Nadine was concerned, we weren't quite sure how to go about getting it.
So last night I'm on my bed watching a little tv on my computer before I turn out my light when I hear a little noise. I thought, "the rat." Then I convinced myself I was being silly. I went back to watching, but I heard it again. I very bravely peeked my head behind my dresser, and sure enough, there it was doing it's little ratty things. I quickly but quietly moved from the room, climbed the stairs and called to Juan Carlos. I figured at least it was trapped in my room and maybe they could use that to remove it from the house. I felt a little bad, as I really didn't want the little guy dead, but he was ruining clothes and possibly furniture and there is the other issue of the diseases they carry and the biting and all.
So, after taking everything out of my room and me making a trip to the gate for one of the guards, asking in my nicest Spanish, "Puede ayudarnos, por favor. Hay una rata en la casa." (Ok I actually made a mistake and said Habia instead of Hay, but he understood rata). So we went back to the house and I let him in my room. After a lot of thumping around finally the door opened and out came the guard carrying the rat, bluck. Anyway, it was an exciting night, I guess.
I leave at 4:30 for Acapulco!!!!! YAY!!!

Jenn