Unusual encounter

What is the last thing that you think you'll ever see in an air-conditioned foodcourt housed in a shopping mall? I was having my dinner at Kopitiam foodcourt in IMM last night when I had the shock of my life. Halfway through my dinner, I saw something running furiously towards my direction. I wasn't wearing my spectacles, yet I could see it so clearly. I was lucky that I didn't choke on my food but I almost dropped my cutlery. Guess what I saw?

It's a furry creature of about 20cm in length, grey in colour, has a long tail. Need I say more? It's a RAT! My first reaction was to lift up my legs. Apparently, some of the diners around me did not even know what happened. The lady at the table on my right continued eating as if nothing has happened. Oh my, if only she knew there was a rat running inches away from her slippers-clad feet. The furry creature ran under her table, then under my table and headed straight for the recycle bin a table away from me. There was a mop and some cleaning equipment next to the bin and the rat just hid in there.

Some of the cleaners saw it and they were amused. They tried to see where the rat was hiding, yet they were afraid that it might spring out suddenly. I couldn't concentrate on eating anymore. I kept looking out at that corner, just in case it ran out again and leap onto my chair. Well, I'm not exactly sure if rats have such ability but I do see cats leaping onto chairs in coffee shops. You can't blame me for my wild imagination. The impossible has already happened right under my nose.

I wouldn't be as surprised if it was a cockroach or if I were in an old market hawker centre. But how in the world did the rat get into an air-conditioned foodcourt on the second floor of IMM? Did it take the travelator, escalator or lift? Or is this somebody's naughty pet that jumped out of the bag? Unlikely, I thought.

As you probably can guess, I did not finish my food. We hurriedly left when those guys got serious in hunting it down. I had initially thought of staying to see how the drama ends but I'm afraid I might become part of the drama and make a fool of myself :P