Flying Hampster

We have a new class pet. His name is Ziggy, and he is a six week old hamster. I really was hesitant to allow living things into the room,at least those that cannot take care of themselves fairly well. Fairly well is a fluid concept in the middle school world. Most of the time, if they ate and didn't break anything we call that a victory!
The last time I had a class pet he came back to school from the weekend dead. And then he sat on the shelf in his cage for about three hours before the little girl had the guts to tell me he had died! Deceased animals and school children don't mix all that well. I've already hosted one pet funeral, and don't have much desire to repeat that fun. Our shaky rendition of Wind Beneath My Wings was reason enough to say, that's enough to class pets.
But, Amanda's hamster had babies and she was insistent that one come to live at school. He's only been here about a week, but I am in love! He is light tan, with little gray ears that stick out at all times. He has pink paws and a twitching pink nose, that he rubs ferociously that just makes me melt. He spent the first few days just exploring his new cage, and surving the taps and pokes frequently directed at his plastic cage. But after he started squealing a little too much, we decided he needed to take some countertop field trips. Evan and Keegan were the first students to get him out, and he didn't take too kindly to ten year old hands. He peed on Evan's shirt and jumped from Keegan's hand about four feet to the floor. Keegan stands over Ziggy, who is sprawled and dazed on the ground, and says "You better stop that or you'll get a concusion!"
Ziggy may meet his maker sooner than he'd like, or maybe that's what he prays for at lunch after surviving a loud fifth grade morning. Either way, I'm glad he's come to give me company in this school of crazy kids! Ziggy and I taking on the middle school!