Riri the Rat Spies Spring Right Around the Corner - Maybe
- Philip Thibodeau
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Given that it was a windy 15 degrees Fahrenheit outside, none of the participants in the ceremony were eager to leave the warmth of their cars until right before it began. Still, once the clock struck 11 on a frigid Sunday morning, a small crew of participants from Sober Southington dutifully joined Shane Shackelford in the gazebo on the town green to kick things off.
Those present were about to perform the Groundhog Day ritual, though with two small departures from tradition. First, it was not actually Groundhog Day, but the day before – on a Sunday when everyone was off from work.
Second, no groundhogs took part in the proceedings. Instead, Shackelford’s pet jumbo rat Rhiannon stepped up to be mammal of the hour.
Rhiannon, who is known to her friends as Riri, arrived with Shackelford in a soft-sided pet carrier. There were worries before the event that Riri might be harmed by the cold, but to all appearances her warm blood and fur coat served to fend off the bite of the polar vortex.
If anyone was at risk of frostbite, it was Shackelford, who came wearing shorts and moccasins, along with a gold team jacket, sunglasses, cigar, and a blonde wig, and did his level best as a Tennessee native to reproduce a Southington accent while serving as emcee.
Joining him were three other members of Sober Southington – which is, according to its Facebook page, “A group dedicated to breaking up the monotony of socializing with a bevvy. Instead we come together and enjoy each other fully with open ears and conscious thinking.” Trevor served as TV reporter, John read the official proclamation, and Shante played the role of animal handler.
Shackelford first made a speech promising that Rhiannon “has a nose for this weather stuff, so, God willing – God willing! – it will be an early spring.” Trevor then read out the proclamation:
“Good morning, Southington. Thank you all for coming out on this chilly Sunday morning to help us make a little bit of history. Today we are proud to celebrate Southington’s very first annual Jumbo Rat Prediction Celebration. For years people have looked to a small furry forecaster to tell them if winter will hang on, or if spring is just around the corner. Today Southington joins that tradition in our own unique way. Whether we end up cheering for an early spring, or groaning about a longer winter, we will be doing it together. So, as we get ready for our inaugural prediction, let’s remember why we’re here: to have fun, to share some hometown pride, and to brighten the heart of winter with a little humor, and a lot of community spirit.”
Once all the preliminaries were taken care of, it was time for the main event. Shante carefully removed Riri from the pet carrier and placed her into a shoe box that had a pair of fateful doors. The spectators all held their breath. Finally the jumbo rat made her appearance – at the door labelled ‘Spring’.
Or so everyone wanted to believe. In fact, a video taken by the Outsider clearly shows Riri poking her nose out of the winter door before thrusting her torso decisively into the spring portal. Here is a screenshot of her first, brief appearance:
So does that mean winter will linger? Or is spring right around the corner?
That may be a question best left for the weather professionals to decide. All that can be said for sure is that it was cold – and that Sober Southington, with the help of a genial rodent, has done its part to make Southington a household name, right up there with Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
