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 Living in Michigan in February, it's always nice when a cheap vacation to the warmer parts of the country presents itself. We had a deal we couldn't pass up to go to Florida for a week. We took the dog to the kennel and I asked a fishing buddy if he could swing by and throw a few carrots in the kids Guinea Pig cage and give it some water and pellets.
All was well, talked to him a few times. The pig appeared to be happy and gay. All that changed the night before we left to come back home. I get a call..."Dude, the hamster died!". "First off, it's a Guinea Pig", I tell him, chuckling.
I half laugh and start to question what happened. He explains that the little guy was fine, no problems all week. He came by the last time to check on him and the little pig had expired. Well having been through several pets (as most of you who have kids probably have too), I was like "No problem, I'll take care of it, it isn't your fault". He felt horrible and wanted to buy a new one... "NO NO NO" I said, as we didn't need to replace him. I think he was more shook up that the kids would be once I told them.
Well we got back to the frozen tundra that is Michigan in February and a week passes without the kids noticing the absence of their dearly departed little fur ball. I had put the little deceased pig out in the garage (where it was well below freezing) as the ground was still frozen and I couldn't give him a proper burial. In the midst of taking him out of the cage the fly tier in me saw some great use for a few plucks of fur and a good (or rather) sick joke for my buddy. I took enough fur to make a dozen or so flies. He's getting back into fly fishing and I always throw him a few flies here and there which he is always grateful for. So I've tied up a dozen of these aptly named Death Angel dries. I'm giving them to him without the origin or the story of the fur. I'll see how they fish first and them let him in on the piggy tale. Matt if you are reading this have fun with the flies and seriously, it wasn't your fault!  |
