On halloween of all nights... You mean little ham, it does kind of fit. Grumpy, funny Marley left us today for the bridge.
In March this year, me and my college room mate went to Pets at Home up the road, having a look around. We did not plan to do anymore than peek at the animals, but then we saw him and that was it. This sad looking little hybrid was sat in the corner of his tiny tank, looking so miserable. His soft white fur was greasy and he was not happy about all the people staring at him. From the off Marley was not a people-ham. :L
We learnt from the member of staff that he had been in adoption for eight months, and was brought back to the store by the people who bought him because when they got home they realised that he only had three legs. Poor Marley was missing his front left leg, which meant he had trouble getting around and using a wheel. We decided it must have been a genetic deformity, as he had a large oddly shaped lump where the leg should be, and it felt as though there was the beginnings of a limb that never really grew.
We felt sorry for the little man, and we left with our first P@H adoptee (this was my first ever visit to a Pets at Home. I had avoided it before on a moral high ground :L). And so Marley came into our lives as our angry little college room mate - the third resident in the wonderful Main House Room 6.
We named him after the legend Bob Marley, as our room 6 theme tune for the year was 'Buffalo soldier'.
Marley, or Spud as we mostly called him (fat little toad that he was) spent the rest of the college year chilling out with us, entertaining us as he waddled around on the floor or sat and helped us with our coursework.
His funny quirks never failed to have us in stitches, especially when he woke up in a particularly bad mood. He was an angry little sod, always biting and glaring at us with his frowny little old man face!
The only thing that would calm him down was his favourite thing in the world - a mealworm, or a bit of millet. Or a bit of toast if we were making some.
We even made up a little voice for him when he went off on one - one we still use to talk to eachother now. To all who look strangely at us at in the social room, it is known as the Spud Voice. :L His most used phrase was "I'll 'av ya! I'll f**kin 'av ya!". And he would have me! I still have the bite wounds if I look!
He went on many adventures with us, going for rides in the car and coming up to the woods with us on some of the warmer summer days. We even took him to the park once on the way home from college!
We decided a while ago that when he passed, we would bury him in our favourite spot up in the woods near college, where us and our mates have spent so many evenings, well, doing what students do. :L Being as it is firework night on Tuesday, and we're going up to the woods to set some off, we'll burn our little fire thinking of the one college buddy we are now without. We'll let a cracker off for you, Spud.
Come September this year, we decided not to bring him back to college with us. He had been slowing down, and now that me and my friend are over 18, we're not allowed to share a room anymore. He lived his last few weeks at her house, as he always preferred her (never mind that I'm the one who works in a pet shop, and bought all his toys and treats!). I got to see him last Friday, coming home from college. I knew it wouldn't be good, but I'm glad I got to see him and hold him one more time. I gave him a hug and a kiss and the mealworms I brought him, and I knew I wouldn't get to see him again. It was clear he was at his end.
Then today, I got the message. He was gone...
Marley, my man, you may have been an ill-tempered little git, and you never appreciated what I spent on you, but you were a cracking little hamster. You were a funny and brilliant room mate, and a fantastic little buddy. I love you Spud, and I hope wherever you are there is plenty of toast and mealworms.
See you round, buddy. We'll miss you xxxxxx
Goodbye, Old Man Marley
Linear Mode
