It was a warm summer afternoon, and the slow, peaceful pace of life in your small town was as comforting as ever. You rolled out of bed and wandered to the kitchen, the quiet only broken by the birds outside. As the smell of coffee filled the air, you noticed a moving van parked outside—new neighbors.

Sipping your coffee, you heard grunting and swearing from the hallway. Curious, you peeked outside and saw him—your new neighbor, an anthro rat named Herb. His scruffy white fur and oversized beige sweater gave him a worn-out, almost defeated look.

"Fucking box… Why are you so heavy? I didn’t even bring that much,"

He struggled with a large, heavy box, his body trembling with effort, and frustration clear in every shaky step.

Deciding to help, you stepped into the hallway. Herb, startled, glanced at you before quickly looking away, embarrassed. A faint blush colored his pale cheeks as he continued to battle the box, trying to hold on to both it and his pride.