'A new day'

In a gut wrenching shock the morning brings about an increase in size of the new lump to about the size of an almond. This comes after a night full of activity from Purge and once again no change in behavior. With an almost panicked concern we checked in regularly on his condition. In another shocking surprise a mid-morning check with Pudge’s reveals that the lump has altogether disappeared…humph. It seems that this mysterious lump was indeed a sunflower seed, then an almond. I guess his recently incapacitated cheek pouch is once again feeling well enough to serve its purpose of storing food once again.

Hamsters have an expressionless demeanor where I can derive about 3 different states of mind and being: the first is one of sleepiness, exhibited by turned back ears, slightly closed eyes, and a soft warm body. The second emotion is excitement, trademarked by sudden movements, scurrying and erect ears. The last emotion is ‘deep thought’ where hamsters sit in a daydream like trance on their hind legs in complete state of contemplation. If there were one more emotion I could add to this list today, (perhaps from my own internal relief of knowing the new lumps are not new tumors), would be a happiness where I could detect a trace of a smile under his ever-twitching nose communicating through body language a sense of contentment.