Thirteen Hundred Rats

This short story from the collection Wild Child, originally published in the New Yorker, centers on Gerald Loomis, who, after losing his wife, is supported by friends and neighbors. Choosing a Burmese Python named Siddhartha as his companion, Gerald faces a poignant moment when he ventures out to feed his pet but finds himself unable to go through with it, highlighting a tender and reflective aspect of his experience.