A Really Strange Encounter

Published early on our Previews page on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Official publication date for the main page of our site: Sunday, January 4, 2026.

This illustrated story was submitted anonymously.

When I was first married we lived on Staten Island, and I worked in Manhattan. I would take the express bus everyday to, and from the city. I usually left very early in the morning, and tried to catch the first bus home at night, but that wasn't always the case. I usually fell asleep on the bus on the way home after working all day. Just a quick nap. Sometimes I would miss my stop, and had to get off at the closest one.

One hot, humid summer day I was wearing my high heels, and I caught the first bus out of the city. Because it was so hot, my feet were sweating all day, and I couldn't wait to just get my heel out of the back of the shoe leaving my toes inside. That usually helped relieve some of the tension from the day. I got a seat near the back of the bus against the window, and promptly fell  asleep.

I was sleeping well when suddenly I felt someone or something lightly tickling the bottom of my left foot. I woke up somewhat groggy, and looked around. No one was near me, so maybe I just imagined it. I went back to sleep. Sometime later, not sure how long, I felt it again. That's when I looked down, and saw what looked like something grey inside my left shoe. I didn’t want to get startled, but it looked like a tiny field mouse to me. He must have gotten on the bus at the depot, and decided to make a home for himself in my shoe, tucked under my arch wedged down near my toes.

I had no clue how long he had been there or what he planned to do. He was moving slightly, which caused the tickling sensation. I could feel his little nose sniffing the bottom of my foot, and maybe his little tongue licking at my sweat. I had no clue what to do. We were only about halfway home, so I was hoping he would get tired and leave. But no, he decided to stay right there. I thought that if I tried to move a little, it would scare him off, but he just nestled even further in my shoe towards my toes, continually sniffing and licking. I must admit, it was a very strange, nice feeling.

At this point I just stayed quiet, not wanting to make a scene, and frighten other commuters. To be honest, his little movements felt good. Then, as luck would have it, we got stuck in traffic, which meant my little friend would be with me longer. I felt him moving around, at times going from my toe area to the back of the shoe near my exposed heel. I thought he might have left, but he didn't. He would always end up nestled under my arch near my toes, continually sniffing and licking. His little ears were gently tickling the bottom of my foot. I usually enjoy it when someone lightly tickles my feet, so I really didn't mind. From what I could see, he was a cute little guy, and wasn't really doing any harm.

I tried moving my foot ever so slightly, but he just stayed there sniffing and licking away. This went on for most of the ride. His furry little body entrenched in my shoe tight against my bare foot. The traffic started to move again, and we were almost at my stop. I knew I had to do something to get him out. I finally decided to pull my foot out of my shoe. There he was still in my shoe, but then he climbed out and grabbed the underside of my foot at my toes. He was sniffing away, and poking his nose between my toes, occasionally licking between them. The sensation was amazing. I wanted to keep him, but I knew that wasn't possible. I gently wiggled my toes, and he scurried off towards the back of the bus.

It was a strange encounter. I wondered what it was about the smell of my foot that attracted him. My husband said he was after my toe cheese, very funny. I went to put my shoe back on, and realized what he had been doing when moving to the heel of my shoe during the ride. He left a little present of urine and feces that I felt once my heel touched the sole of the shoe. It was a reminder of the ride my little friend and I took that one hot summer day. Needless to say, I threw the shoes out, but I will always remember that cute little gray field mouse, and the unusual attraction he had with my feet.