Good Deed for the Day
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121604)
Gainesville, Florida
July 7, 2020 11:31am CST
Shortly before 10:00am, I went on my daily run. Usually, I will run in the evenings when it's cooler, but because of all the rain we've been having lately, I switched to the mornings to beat the weather.
Each day I run, I try to take a different path, mostly for a change in scenery. Today I decided to jog through a nearby student apartment complex. As I'm running, this beautiful 20-something girl comes running out and stops me. "I need your help please!" Being a trained first responder, my first question was "Is this an emergency? Do we need to call 911?" She replies, "Yes, it's an emergency! There's a rat in my kitchen! Please come get it out for me."
Of course, I hate rats worse than anything, so I asked her "Can't you get the maintenance staff here at the complex to come get it for you?" And she said "You're the first person I saw and I need it gone NOW!"
Trying to weasel my way out of this, I asked her "How do you know I'm not a serial killer? You shouldn't just go asking random guys into your apartment." I must admit, her response was pretty good: "Because serial killers don't jog! So are you going to help me or not?" So I told her it didn't look like I was going to get out of helping her.
We went inside her apartment, and I asked her, "Okay, where did you see the rat? She told me it was stuck to a glue trap in the back of her pantry. Okay, well that's a step in the right direction. At least it was already caught. So I opened her pantry door, and looked on the floor in the back. Sure enough, the culprit was right there, stuck in the glue trap. Only it wasn't a rat. It was a tiny little field mouse. Okay, even better. This job wasn't gong to be as bad as I thought it would be. I picked up the glue trap with the little tiny mouse, and took it outside. I noticed that the mouse was barely stuck to the glue, so I went over to a nearby strand of trees, and freed the mouse from the sticky trap, and let it go. It scurried off into the bushes. I went back and told the girl that her "rat" problem was taken care of. I then told her that in the future she should not go inviting strangers into her apartment. She laughed and said okay, and then I went on my way to finish my jog.
Have you done a good deed for someone recently?
38 people like this
39 responses
@Juliaacv (50979)
• Canada
7 Jul 20
Your morning jog story is so funny! 
But....as a good Dad please tell your kids this story, and don't leave out the part about not inviting strange could be serial killers into their apartment.
When she told you that serial killers do not jog, did it ever occur to you that she could have been the serial killer? Your advise works both ways-be careful Jeff!
But....as a good Dad please tell your kids this story, and don't leave out the part about not inviting strange could be serial killers into their apartment.
When she told you that serial killers do not jog, did it ever occur to you that she could have been the serial killer? Your advise works both ways-be careful Jeff!6 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
Haha, that's true! I never thought about it being the reverse situation. I guess I should be more aware of my situation as well!
And yes, I am always telling my kids that they need to be careful around strangers.
5 people like this
@Juliaacv (50979)
• Canada
7 Jul 20
@moffittjc This is just me being your Canadian sister, who would never want anything bad to happen to you.
Speaking of which, isn't it dangerous to be out jogging alone on different routes? Do you know where the gators are and are not? I know that you cannot recognize a serial killer, so I wanted to ask. 
4 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 20
@Juliaacv I jog during the day when it is very busy, and lots of people out. I stick to sidewalks and paved areas, so I don't have to worry about gators. Most of the time I have a running partner with me. Some days I don't, but I don't go into unfamiliar places when I jog alone.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
I know, I thought that was the funniest thing. She probably didn't even realize what she said. If I ever do become a serial killer, I'm going to pose as a jogger! haha
2 people like this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
8 Jul 20
That's a great story :-)
I'm usually trying to be helpful, but these last weeks I haven't really met a lot of people. I did pick up a stranger once, he was waiting for the bus on our national day. No buses would have come for the next day, so I drove him to town.
2 people like this
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
8 Jul 20
@moffittjc I did give a stranger a ride last summer too. A girl who had injured her foot on a consert out in the woods, I was driving from the stables so I took her and her friend to the hospital.
Never hitched a ride with a stranger though. Somehow that seems much more scary.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jul 20
@Torunn Oddly enough, I have never picked up a hitchhiker, but I have caught a couple of rides before with complete strangers.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
Well, you sure did help out that stranger! I don't think I've ever given a stranger a ride before.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7084)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
7 Jul 20
It's really something this girl decided killers don't jog. Sure. Anyway, I'm glad she approached you instead of that killer.
Also, how can someone not know the difference between a mouse and a rat? You lucked out on what you had to do for your good deed. Still, I commend you. You didn't have to do it at all. I know I sound cranky. I'm jealous. I want to be twenty again and here I am almost 70 and "hot" only in the temperature sense haha
I don't think I've really done any good deeds lately, other than contribute to some charities and vote for my friend's cat in a cat picture contest. I really want my friend to win someday. It's a couple thousand bucks.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
If I ever decide to become a serial killer, I will become a jogging killer. That way people will be unsuspecting. lol
I hope your friend wins the cat picture contest!
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
7 Jul 20
Nothing along those lines, lol. Did you know that certain critters can find their way back to homes they're extricated from? I heard a good story about it once but I done remember what critter it was whether a mouse or something else.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
I walked a really long ways away from her apartment (and other apartments) to a small wooded area to let the mouse go. It would have to scurry a really long way to find its way back!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jul 20
@MarshaMusselman I guess those little mice are much smarter than we give them credit for. Either that, or there must have been some good eats inside that house that kept drawing the mouse back!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
9 Jul 20
@moffittjc I heard a story about a critter bugging someone in their home and a friend did like you did. Then a few days later there was another mouse and the same person got rid of that one. This went in for some time until the friend finally put a small stripe of yellow paint on the critters back before taking it far away and guess what they found out? That very same critter found it's way at back again. I don't know how common this is but it happened.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
I didn't even think of it in the moment, but now that you mention it, she did not have a mask or, nor did she put one on. Of course, I didn't have a mask on either, because I was out for a run.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
@DianneN I usually carry a mask with me just in case, but for some reason I left the house this morning without one. And of course it's the one time where I actually interact with someone along my jog.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160697)
• United States
8 Jul 20
I am not seeing anyone to do good deeds for, other than online. So sharing recipes, offering a good word, those are pretty much the extent of my good deeds. You are like me, though, you let the "rat" go. Good deed for that little mouse as well as the girl.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
Good deeds don't always have to be done in person. Online good deeds count as well. Sometimes, the best good deed we can do for others is to just offer words of encouragement.
2 people like this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
8 Jul 20
That's great! You were able to solve her problem.
2 people like this
@cherriefic (10399)
• Philippines
9 Jul 20
@moffittjc A mouse family maybe in there. Scary...
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 20
@cherriefic That's better than a rat family being in there!
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
Well, we caught one mouse. Hopefully there aren't other mice inside her home.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61102)
• United States
8 Jul 20
Me??? DO a good deed???? lol Nope I don't see anyone to do it for lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
That seems to be a common theme among many. Hard to do good deeds when you're self-quarantined in your home! But even online deeds can count as good deeds, if it helps somebody!
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (106362)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Jul 20
@moffittjc You just need a hammer But they can get themselves loose from most sticky traps if you dont find them in time.
But they can get themselves loose from most sticky traps if you dont find them in time.2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 20
@wolfgirl569 I had a feeling that might be the case. This little mouse looked like he was pretty close to freeing himself already.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
I'm just glad it ended up being a little mouse and not a big rat. I can't handle rats. I would have had to call you to deal with it! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
But if there really was a rat in there, she might have had to save my life instead. I hate rats. I'm terrified of rats!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 20
@thelme55 I may not have showed my fear, but I told her my fear. I told her that I was terrified of rats!
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77081)
• Germany
8 Jul 20
@moffittjc but you didn't show her the you were scared of rat instead you got the mouse for her and let the mouse its freedom. You were brave to not show your fear.
.
.2 people like this
@LindaOHio (178780)
• United States
7 Jul 20
What a great story. You lucked out that it was a mouse and that it was already "stuck". That's your Good Samaritan deed for the week! No, I haven't had a chance to do a good deed for anyone lately.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
I was just lucky it really wasn't a rat. I can't handle rats. I would have probably freaked out more than the girl did.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
Trust me, I did not want to help (I am afraid of rats), but I'm also the type of person who won't say no to someone in need.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jul 20
That was nice of you to send them a baby carrier!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 20
@Adie04 I'm sure they are glad you did as well!
1 person likes this
@kareng (59199)
• United States
21 Jul 20
@moffittjc She was good today. Both of the little dogs always follows me to the mailbox. Jessie likes to roll in the middle of the road and scratch her back. That is her bad habit. She was not around when I went to get the mail today so Honey was my only tag-along. I told her not to get in the road and she stayed on the side of the road the whole time. Good girl!!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jul 20
@kareng That's really nice that Honey listened to you about not going into the road.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul 20
And Honey will tell you that is the best good deed you ever did!
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54187)
• Louisville, Kentucky
19 Jul 20
@moffittjc Yes, that wouldn't be good if the poor thing found its way back. From experience, they usually get in around pipes under the sink or bathroom but I'm sure that's not always the case.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Jul 20
@simone10 They seem to be able to fit through the tiniest of holes or slits or other unknown openings in homes. Openings we think no bug or insect can crawl through, yet mice somehow can squeeze their way through.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 20
I just hope that little mouse doesn't make its way back into her apartment. I told her she needs to get with a pest control company and figure out how the mice are getting into her apartment so that they can try and plug the hole. I hope there are not more mice in her house already.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jul 20
I'm sure he appreciated that. I've been taking my son to work as well. I'm just so happy he finally has a summer job so he can start saving up money. He wants to save up to buy his own car (he's 17).
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 20
@just4him Actually, up until this year, he had no interest whatsoever in driving. He didn't even have his license. But his job he got for the summer required him to have a driver's license (even though he doesn't drive at work), so we took him to get his license. Now that he has it, I think it woke up the "typical boy" part of him! lol
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Jul 20
@moffittjc He's a typical boy, wants his wheels.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
Thanks. I was sweating bullets thinking I was going to have to deal with a rat. I don't like rats at all.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jul 20
Yeah, I do not think the glue traps are humane at all. I was glad I was able to free this particular mouse.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
14 Jul 20
first your retelling of the story made me laugh.
My wife, to this day, refuses to have anything to do with Rats. Even, as in your example, those that are simply mice. All are rats in her eyes@
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
14 Jul 20
I know so many people who think that way. Doesn't matter if it's a cute little mouse. In their eyes it's a giant New York City subway rat! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121604)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jul 20
@DocAndersen Although I've seen plenty of NYC rats, I've never had to look at one face-to-face. But last year, I opened up my trash can out back to throw in a bag of garbage, and a giant rat leaped out of the can right onto my face. I never screamed and cried and yelled as much as I did when that thing jumped on my face. I thought I was going to die.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
14 Jul 20
@moffittjc late night in NYC I met one of those face to face. I think he or she thought about jumping on me for a second.
1 person likes this
