Everyone remembers The Rat. He made his first appearance on Halloween, two years ago, as the serving meal of Miss Jane Hudson.

Since then he has made many command performances, sometimes in the pants of young boys.

Most of all, Mr. Rat has been the constant companion of the two of us in the never-ending game of scaring each other. Hidden in the underwear drawer, Mr. Rat can elicit a sure scream; place on the bathroom floor--well-place to clear the door--he can garner three screams. He pops up everywhere, and every time we promise each other we will never use him again, he does just shows up again.

There's a new rat in town who is popping up all over; the only thing is is that when you are a real rat--one on the lamb, so to speak--you don't attract attention--so to squeak. Knock, knock....who's there?

Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.