For the last few weeks, the youngsters in the Catbirds preschool class were eagerly awaiting the birth of babies from their pet guinea pig, Popcorn, who was growing larger by the day. They’d even made a guessing game out of how many babies she would deliver.

Popcorn, a very sociable guinea pig, has been a Catbirds favorite for about four years. In November, another guinea pig, Knick Knack, was added to her cage in the mistaken notion that Knick Knack was female, too. Then Teacher Carol Wolf noticed that the two “seemed extra fond of each other” and soon realized that Knick Knack is a male. She accurately predicted that it was already too late to keep Popcorn and Knick Knack from starting a family.

But all the excitement over the last few weeks about of Popcorn’s pregnancy changed to sadness on Monday when Carol and Christina Wagner arrived at school, and saw that Popcorn had died sometime over the weekend. They covered the cage and, like the experienced teachers they are, collected their wits.

Carol said they told the children’s parents first about the death when the parents dropped their children off at school. Then, at morning meeting, she told the students, “something very sad had happened.” Then, they were allowed, in groups of twos and threes, to approach the cage and see their dear pet.

Carol said the students reacted with comments that ranged from the impossible — “if we feed her some food, she’ll come alive again” — to the practical — “if we go to the pet store and get another guinea pig just like Popcorn, we won’t miss Popcorn so much.”

The students made a memory book in tribute to Popcorn, with photos and sentiments recalling “the way she wiggled her nose” and “how she chewed carrots.”

A graveside service was planned for the next day. Popcorn was wrapped in a green and white material that reminded the children of the grass they liked to feed her. Her body was placed in a box, and Carol dug a grave in the garden right outside the Catbirds’ window. Kindergarten teacher Raji Malik played his guitar as the children stood at the grave and sang “This Little Light of Mine.” Then many of them took turns shoveling dirt atop the grave and decorating it with flowers.

 

 

Carol said no tears were shed, but at odd moments in the day, the children are quietly approaching her to talk about Popcorn, and the need to take special care of Knick Knack, who is looking quite lonesome in his cage.