My girlfriend, Scientist, kills mice for a living. In theory, she has the kind of job that can only be described as a budding sociopath’s wet dream: Each day, she is responsible for the death of 250 mice.
Before the little furry vermin are sent to their death, they get shot up with illegal drugs, including Heroin, cocaine, and PCP.
It’s weird to think that she got a degree to shoot mice up with H.
Because of the staggering amount of mouse deaths in her lab, my friends and I have come to call her office “Maushwitz.” And yes, we’re aware that we’re probably going to hell for that.
Ironically, one of the reasons Scientist hates her job is not because of the mouse, but a rat. Allow me to explain.
One of her co-workers bears an uncanny resemblance to the offspring of Edward Norton and a rat: the beady eyes, pointy noise, and huge incisors have all contributed to his nickname: Ratboy.
His grotesque, rodent-like appearance is not the only reason for the moniker, however. Ratboy might be one of the most irritating people I’ve ever met. There’s just something about a rat-like idiot with a superiority complex and an inability to keep his mouth shut that just rubs me the wrong way. Call me crazy.
Ratboy was talking to Scientist when he said, “So I’m thinking about leasing a car.”
Scientist: OK. Why don’t you just buy one?
Ratboy: Because I’m not an idiot like you.
Scientist: What?
Ratboy: Well, look: in three years you’ll be done pay for your car and you’ll be stuck with a cheap piece of shit. In three years, I’ll just be able to start over fresh with no commitment.
Scientist: I really like my car. And in three years I’ll OWN my car, which will be worth about 15 grand. I can use that TOWARDS a new car, if I want one. You, however, will have flushed about 20 grand down the toilet and will have to start over.
Ratboy: You’re so shortsighted. Leasing is the best possible long-term investment you can make.
This is exactly the kind of fiscal savvy that can only be seen in companies like Enron. I wonder if there’s someplace he can go to lease a set of teeth that don’t look like they were just gnawing drywall.
As the conversation above clearly illustrates, Ratboy is not what you would consider “smart.” But it’s not because he doesn’t read. As my girlfriend discovered in a separate instance:
Ratboy: Hey Scientist, I have a site you should join.
Scientist: Oh yeah?
Ratboy: Yeah, it’s like the greatest idea ever: booksfree.com
Scientist: OK, what is it?
Ratboy: Well you know Netflix? It’s like that, except for books. I pay $30 a month, and they send me any book I want, with no late fees.
Scientist: So…it’s not really “free.”
Ratboy: But I can borrow any book ever made!
Scientist: You mean like the library, which is actually “free.”
Ratboy: No, this is cool because it’s online. And this is unlimited.
Scientist: …Like the library?
Ratboy: But there are no late fees!
Scientist: Late fees at the library are like a nickel. You could keep your books for 2 years and not owe $30…which you pay every month.
Ratboy: But they have EVERY BOOK. Not just some old research material.
Scientist: Have you ever heard of interlibrary loan? Libraries can borrow books from other libraries. So you can get any book every printed.
Ratboy: You’re so shortsighted, Scientist! I can’t believe you don’t understand why this is the best site ever.
While I was writing this post, I decided to do a quick image search of the web. Apparently, before he committed crimes against common-sense in a Westchester laboratory, he spent his evenings in the Gotham City gutter trying to thwart Batman.
The resemblance is eerie.