In honor of the mouse obsession that rules Melnik, I'm dedicating Pride and Pestilence to my sisters, Ruth Moore Diedrichsen and Nila Moor Novotny, and my lifelong friend, Joani Kroger Rogers.
    Ruth drove the car, Nila had the mouse run up her leg and screamed until it's a wonder Ruth didn't crash and kill us all. Joani, trying to get out, shoved me out of the car while it was still rolling.
    I tumbled to a stop in the ditch and managed not to die, no thanks to Joani. Once I stopped rolling, I looked back and after the car stopped moving, Joani and Nila jumped out. We made Ruth drive home and get another car. It was one of the bravest things I've ever seen.
    These are the types of scarring events that make a women---later in life---write a book about a town that has a really big field mouse for a mascot.