This is one of my all-time favorite rat stories:

Rat Acrobatics

February 11, 1998

Last night I was reading in bed and Mac and Laramie were on the bed with me. Mac paused near the edge of the mattress for a groom. All of a sudden Laramie darted out from under the blanket and pounced on Mac, knocking him off balance and sending him flying off the edge of the bed. I have this snapshot picture in my memory of a wide-eyed Mac in mid-air, mouth open in a squeak, already twisting his body so as to land on his feet. Apparently Laramie did not mean to do this as the incident seemed to upset him. When I moved to look over the edge of the bed for Mac, Laramie skittered to the side in a panicky motion (an unusual reaction to me moving). I swear the look on his face was, "I didn't mean it! I didn't mean it!" Mac was sitting on the floor were he thunked, so I picked him up onto the bed again and gave him some reassuring pets. Laramie slunk humbly over and gave Mac an apologetic grooming. All was well.

Mac was diagnosed with a fast-growing malignant tumor on November 11, 1998. In honor of his valor through the trials of surgery and in chasing the household cat, Copernicus Rex granted him knighthood.