The Key Employees - Balsam Lake Elevator Company
Otis
The Rat on the extreme right, in the tan construction boots, is Otis. He turns a crank that operates the chain that lifts the elevator car up and down once all the doors are safely shut. Otis came to our house from a farm up the road when the barn cat population suddenly exploded and he felt it was too risky to stay. He is conscious of his own safety as evidenced by the fact that he is wearing thick work gloves and steel toed work boots, particularly hard to find in rodent sizes. He enjoys his job and works hard, his tongue often hanging out as he strains to turn the crank. He may not be a big as Brutus but pulls his weight.
His blue eyes make him irresistible to the ladies and he's seen as a hot bachelor prospect in the house. He dated Nellie breifly but her constant frantic behaviours were too much for him. He prefers a more placid existence nibbling on old cheddar and reading history books about the Great Plaque of London in 1665.
At the moment he is a little wary that the wasp behind him on the wall may stab him in his behind with their stinger if he bends too far. He didn't bring his EPI pen to work today. More importantly he doesn't want anyone to seem him cry if he gets stung, especially the ladies!
His blue eyes make him irresistible to the ladies and he's seen as a hot bachelor prospect in the house. He dated Nellie breifly but her constant frantic behaviours were too much for him. He prefers a more placid existence nibbling on old cheddar and reading history books about the Great Plaque of London in 1665.
At the moment he is a little wary that the wasp behind him on the wall may stab him in his behind with their stinger if he bends too far. He didn't bring his EPI pen to work today. More importantly he doesn't want anyone to seem him cry if he gets stung, especially the ladies!
Blossom
Blossom operates the mechanism that opens the elevator door whenever the cab arrives or leaves a floor. It is not as strenuous as cranking the cab, but she still needs to be strong, and be particularly attentive so as not to pinch any passengers. Blossom is a devoted follower of fashion, a real fashionista. She is wearing Gucci's designer line of "More Cheese Please" apparel. The saddle shoes she picked up at the local Thrift Store. She would love to be able to sport some serious bling at work but safety rules don't allow her to wear loose jewelry around moving machinery!
She lost her tail during a cosplay incident with her husband playing the role of infamous farmers wife when she feigned trying protect three vision impaired mice. The knife was real and she forgot the "safe" word. She moved out! She came to our house from a women's shelter as a victim of domestic. It's all very embarrassing and she doesn't like to talk about it.
She has made herself a lovely little nest behind the cabinets down in the kitchen pantry where she hangs out between shifts watching YouTube shorts and reading fashion magazines, "Rodent Couture" being her favourite.
She has a bit of a crush on Otis but he doesn't seem to notice her. She sometimes wonders what it might take to make something happen with a kinder, gentler mate.
She lost her tail during a cosplay incident with her husband playing the role of infamous farmers wife when she feigned trying protect three vision impaired mice. The knife was real and she forgot the "safe" word. She moved out! She came to our house from a women's shelter as a victim of domestic. It's all very embarrassing and she doesn't like to talk about it.
She has made herself a lovely little nest behind the cabinets down in the kitchen pantry where she hangs out between shifts watching YouTube shorts and reading fashion magazines, "Rodent Couture" being her favourite.
She has a bit of a crush on Otis but he doesn't seem to notice her. She sometimes wonders what it might take to make something happen with a kinder, gentler mate.
Nellie
Nellie previously worked in a daycare for a while but the stress was too much for her. Perhaps this is why she behaves more "squirrely" than rat-like and she often looks like she might jump right out through the window at any moment.
While her job in the company requires her to be observant, many think she goes well beyond that, and that she is downright nosy. She anxiously presses her hands against the window glass to get the best view to what's going on outside while he constantly wags her tail, a sign of her pent-up energy. Nellie is always sporting her classic "Keds" sneakers to facilitate any quick getaways a moments notice. Her ears are always erect, listening for the approaching footsteps of any passengers, or an occasional piece of gossip that may come floating down the hallway.
Recently her husband ran off with a flashy little red squirrel from the local trailer park so she often spends her time off at the local gym running in the hamster wheel before returning home to her nest in in the mattress of the guest room,
Brutus
Brutus is the quiet giant of the rats. He is the most senior employee and commands a lot of respect from the others. They view him like a father figure often asking him for advice whenever they get the chance, although this can be tricky because he likes to frequently nap at work. The others cut him some slack and let him take naps when the boss is not expected in. His loud snoring is often louder than the clanking noise made by the chain.
He's a dreamer. He has a lifelong dream of travelling to New York City to tour the myriad of historic sewers in the city, but he is getting older and his legs just don't seem to carry him the same. It could be all that Limburger cheese he eats any chance he gets that slows him down.
He has made his home in a hole just outside the garage under the heated floor slab. It's a comfortably warm hiding spot where he hangs out cuddling with a stuffed toy he stole from the neighbours yard. It makes a terrific companion for the less active and passive nature of Brutus.
As a young rat he always wanted to join a motorcycle club and tour the country, but his feet were too short to reach the foot pegs and the helmet pinched his ears, so instead he settled here at Balsam Lake working in the Balsam lake Elevator Company.
He's a dreamer. He has a lifelong dream of travelling to New York City to tour the myriad of historic sewers in the city, but he is getting older and his legs just don't seem to carry him the same. It could be all that Limburger cheese he eats any chance he gets that slows him down.
He has made his home in a hole just outside the garage under the heated floor slab. It's a comfortably warm hiding spot where he hangs out cuddling with a stuffed toy he stole from the neighbours yard. It makes a terrific companion for the less active and passive nature of Brutus.
As a young rat he always wanted to join a motorcycle club and tour the country, but his feet were too short to reach the foot pegs and the helmet pinched his ears, so instead he settled here at Balsam Lake working in the Balsam lake Elevator Company.