Ratty Box Saloon

Sheriff Barry adjusted his tiny hat and narrowed his eyes at the swinging doors ob the Ratty Saloon. The whole town had been whispering for weeks about the outlaw known only as Black Bart — a scruffy troublemaker wiff a talent for disappearing right after ebery crime.

Missing sunflower seeds. A suspicious cheese tax. Four tiny boots stolen off the general store display.

And worst ob all…someone had drawn mustaches on all the wanted posters.

“Dat’s him,” Barry muttered softly, climbing onto a wooden crate outside the saloon. “Only Reuben, eh, I mean Black Bart… would commit crimes dat oddly specific.”

Inside the saloon, hidden in the shadows, Black Bart peeked fru the doorway. His whiskers twitched nervously. He had barricaded himself inside wiff a napkin, two crackers, and absolutely no real escape plan.

The townsfolk expected a dramatic showdown.

Two rats. One dusty street. Tiny paws hobering ober pretend holsters.

But Barry was not really the gunfight type.

Instead, he placed a pile ob the tasty Cowboy Crunch on the crate in front ob him and settled down comfortably.

“Well,” Barry announced, nibbling thoughtfully, “I suppose I can wait.”

Inside, Reuben blinked. Outside, Barry continued eating crunchies one by one while the afternoon sun drifted across the tiny western town. Ebery now and then he called into the saloon:

“Yer still under arrest.” A pause. “Do I still get snacks?” Reuben asked from inside.

Barry considered this berry seriously. “Depends how many crimes you confess to.”

Another long silence passed before Reuben slowly pushed open the saloon door just enuff for his nose to appear.

“I may hab accidentally stolen the mayor’s edamame.”

Barry sighed. “Dat WAS you.”

“And possibly replaced the town water tower wiff oat milk.” Barry took another bite of Cowboy Crunch.

The outlaw life clearly exhausted Reuben, because moments later he shuffled out peacefully and sat beside Barry on the crate instead. The two shared snacks while the sunset glowed ober the Ratty Saloon.

No gunfight occurred. Mostly because both of them preferred treats to violence. And because Sheriff Barry secretly knew the town was a lot more interesting wiff Reuben around.

(Fank You Ratty Box for another brilliant box and inspiring the imaginashuns ob rats everywhere).