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Rat Anyone?

Finalist Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Young Writer Competition
Peter Hare Year 10 Camberwell Grammar
"The Best Meal I Ever Had"

"Not for a million dollars," I said.
"Come on, a million's a lot of money," Jack, my schoolmate, replied.
"But think about it, I could never be with a girl again. My reputation would be ruined forever," I argued.
Jack looked at me, almost puzzled, then back at the sewage tank. He wasn't really going to pay me; he didn't even have a million dollars. But he wanted to see how far I'd go, and I didn't want to play along.

"Not even..."

"No," I interrupted. "Not even."

We turned away from the tank and began our walk home. There was an awkward silence that followed, and I started to wonder why Jack wanted me to eat some of the contents of the sewage tank. It must have been faze he was going through, daring people to do things for money but not actually paying them.

Jack and I rounded a comer and entered a side street. As we walked I saw Jack's face light up and he quickly darted forward to stoop over something on the footpath. I continued towards him, and his eyes quickly scanned the area for any other people. I had no idea what he was doing.

I finally reached him. Jack was all smiles as he carefully picked up the dead rat and held it before my face. With the other hand he reached into his pocket and slowly pulled out a fifty dollar note. He lifted both right up to my eyes, trying to tempt me. He knew I was short on cash, and he loved it because he was loaded.

"You're sick," I told him.

"Fifty bucks, just for one bite," he answered.

"One?" I couldn't believe it, he was actually tempting me and he knew it.

"Only one," he said.

I looked at the dead rat. It had obviously been dead for some time, evident by the visibility of its skeletal system. Its head was hanging off to one side because of a section of missing flesh on its neck that had obviously been taken out by a bite. About four ribs were jabbed through the skin on its chest, which had already begun to decompose. Its four legs were splayed out, with sharp claws curled inward. Jack turned it around so that I would be able to see the rat's face. The eyes were bulging from their sockets, the fluid in them turned crusty. Its tongue lolled to one side, also beginning to decompose.

I slowly reached forward and took the rodent into my hands. I was about to retch and I could feel my stomach heave. The smell overpowered my nostrils. I'd never smelt anything so vile and foul. I couldn't believe I was actually going to eat this dead rat. I closed my eyes and lowered my mouth onto the rat. What was left of the fur brushed against my tongue, causing me to gag. I wanted to get this over and done with, so I quickly sunk my teeth into the rodent's side.

Unfortunately I bit a little too quickly, and blood mixed with other fluids from the rat's body sprayed up into my face. I tore the rat away, ripping the skin and flesh as I did so. My face screwed up as the mushy mixture was chewed in my mouth. I made the mistake of opening my mouth slightly and rat juice trickled down my chin. The flesh was tougher than I thought it was going to be, so I chewed and chewed wanting the moment to pass.

After what seemed like an eternity, I forced the meat down my throat. I opened my mouth to gulp in air and opened my eyes to see Jack bending over retching into a garden bed. I walked over and picked up the fifty dollar note he had dropped, placed it carefully in my pocket, and started off home.

What the Judges said:
Totally grossed out by this one so Peter must have good writing skills – I can hardly bring myself to read it again. Typical bloke – daring to eat something revolting to prove a point!!
Disgusting! Well written and engaging but fails to explain why it was the best meal ever.
Eeew. Is this really the best meal? Poor kid. I guess a meal you get fifty bucks for is pretty cool but personally I’d want fifty thousand before I’d even contemplate it.

growing up / cooking food / knowing how / feeling good