Phantom Felines And Other Ghostly Animals - Gerina Dunwich 2006

Sir Cedric the Guinea Pig
Other Ghostly Animals

by Toby Longbrake

Although I had one pot-bellied pig, three geese, two dogs, and four cats, I felt I had a giant void in my life when I lost my first pot-bellied pig to liver failure. I had been on permanent disability for about six months when my daughter came over to my house with a baby guinea pig. It took about one minute for me to fall in love with the little guy. My husband told me I had enough animals, but finally gave in to letting me keep the guinea pig, which I named Sir Cedric.

He slept in a cage at night, and each morning I took him out and put him in a playpen with his little house and plastic tubes. Whenever I walked into the room, he whistled. I would say to him, “Let me give you a kiss,” and he would turn his head so I could kiss his cheek. He would kiss me too.

I had Sir Cedric for about a year and a half before he became ill. I knew that once guinea pigs get sick they usually die. I sat up with him all night and then took him to the vet in the morning. He gave Cedric some medicine and instructed me to give him apple juice. I sat up with him the next night and, lo and behold, he survived!

About three months later he became ill again. But this time he didn’t make it. I was devastated. I know the tears I had shed were for a rodent, but like the vet once said; you can’t help what your heart loves.

A few days later I was sitting in the living room when I saw Sir Cedric run across the room. I thought maybe I had lost my mind, so I didn’t say anything about it to anyone. A few days after that, my grandson said he saw a rat with no tail that looked just like Sir Cedric. Since then my husband has seen him, too.