He swallows hard, nose twitching, puffy tail appearing over his shoulder as his whole form fluffs out with dark red fur. How had I never noticed before just how rodent-like he seems? But no, not a squirrel. That's an insult to squirrels everywhere. His body shifts again, fur shrinking, darkening, a thin, whip tail appearing, nose pale and covered in whiskers as black rat eyes glare at me with hate.

His mother doesn't notice, made even more apparent when the phone rings. She ...