6 have been writing as Remy the Rat (from Ratatouille) to try to persuade humans to allow rats to cook. Remy wants to follow his dreams and the motto, ‘Anyone can cook,’ of Monsieur Gusteau (his mentor and famous chef, now deceased). We tried to imagine how Remy would defend himself to prejudiced humans who are rejecting him purely because of their beliefs about rats and despite the fact that he is a brilliant chef. We had some interesting discussions about being true to yourself and your talents and being resilient in the face of challenges… Go Remy!!

Anyone can cook

For centuries humans have detested rats: you think we only bring disease and death. Why is it that we are enemies? It is not our fault that ticks and fleas choose us to carry them. If you give us a chance to be ourselves (we do not like being given scraps and rubbish), we could help you. I know there are chances out there because I had one. I became a cook at Gusteau’s, the restaurant in Paris.

Most humans say that rats are foul vermin; others (Linguini and Collette) say that we are clever and very hygienic. We are hygienic because we walk on our hind legs when cooking so we do not handle food with messy paws. Also, we debug and thoroughly wash ourselves before cooking and we constantly wash our paws. If I believe my fellow rats are not clean enough, they certainly are not allowed to come in the kitchen.

Furthermore, the only reason that humans do not like rodents cooking is because they are prejudiced. I know humans prejudiced because I had been cooking for nearly two weeks and the restaurant and people admired my outstanding food. Then, once customers knew who had cooked their food, they all called my magnificent dishes vile.

Also, before I was a cook, Gusteau’s was only a two-star restaurant. Then people wanted it to be a four-star. But now the public want the restaurant to be closed because a cook is a rat. The public only wanted the restaurant to be four- or five-star because my meals were delicious, innovative, unique and spectacular. By the time I was found out by Anton Ego, my cooking was being talked about on the other side of the planet! All three of my human friends believe that, ‘Anyone can cook.’ like the once great man said.

I am an enthusiastic, creative cook yet many say I am disgusting and vile. If I am to be gassed and killed then many great recipes will be lost and that will be a loss to Paris. You humans entrust your lives to dogs for the blind and viruses for the ill so why so we can’t you trust a clever, clean rat?

Ocelot12