Worthington, “You Are the Best of the Lot”! 🤪

Upon a time, our eldest daughter, Liza had a hamster who she named, Mr. Worthington. He roomed with her in the dorm, while she was a student in Simmons College, in Boston.

My family, husband Arthur, & our 2 girls were booked on an English Ship, for Christmas Holiday, in 1973. 🚢

Liza was to fly to New York where the ship docked at Pier 52, to meetup with us.

We were so excited to be together again & shed our heavy winter coats.

Liza was acting strange…twitching her body. As we waited in line to board, Arthur asked, “Liza why are you acted so jumpy…are you OK Honey”? 🧐

With that would you believe… she sneakily flashes open her long coat, and with a “shh” signal, she shows us her coat -lining (half -eaten), with Mr. Worthington, inside, gnawing on it. His moving about inside her coat was tickling her…causing her convulsion-like wiggling. 🙄

“What! Are you crazy you can’t take that creature aboard. Customs will seize it & perhaps arrest you”.

Hubby was… as they say… PISSED OFF but good! 😠😱

“Did we send you to College to get stupid?” He whispered with his teeth clinched.

“How is he going to be without a cage running all over”?

Are you ready for her answer?

"Daddy don’t worry I bought a folding cage… it's in my suitcase.”

Imagine how nervous we were until we got safely, like thieves, with stolen goods, into our adjoining cabins.

WOW! It was then we were petrified the room steward, would report us…& we get thrown off the ship.

The shocked Steward didn’t tattle after the girls begged him not to…imagine!

Well, who could have thought Mr. Worthington would became “the Pied Piper” that attracted all the kids a board the ship, that learned about him!

My daughters had sworn them to secrecy.

Then they hung out in “Worthington’s” cabin to take turns… playing with him.

He was a vegetarian, but the kids kept feeding him abundant portions of every food category. He ate it gladly and got so fat he became a ‘Furry Butterball’.

The sea air, the rocking ship, & all the attention…pleased him.

The last day of the cruise arrived.

Worthington flourished on his vacation…” a rodent never had it so good”!

We, of course generously tipped “Our Oh So Tolerant Steward, Ostwald Burningham”.

In deep appreciation we voiced sincerely our apology for the trouble, and extra mess Worthington's’ had audience caused him.

Our whole family cracked up when true to unique, English candor he answered stiffly, with a smirk, “Why he was the” BEST of the Lot of You”!