Elevator don'ts

What does that funny little sign next to the elevator mean?  It was inconspicuous and normal to me, and I paid it no attention.
Until the woman in the elevator said to me, "I just don't know what that other thing beside the dog is.  A loofah?  Are we not supposed to bring loofahs on the elevator?"

"Oh, that means durian," I said to her.  "You can't bring durian into the hotel."

"What's durian?"

"The stinky fruit."

"What?  Stinky fruit? I haven't heard of that.  What does it smell like?"

"Uh...it's stinky and the smell carries a long way, so they don't want it in the hotel.  You'll have to look for it in the market.  Give it a try," I smiled.

She wasn't looking like she was feeling adventurous enough to try a fruit that is so stinky it's not allowed in hotel elevators.

I guess I don't blame her, though I know there are some durian connoisseurs out there.

Departed

This is what I found this afternoon.
The smell led me to it.

About a month ago, Daniel and his family visited me. With all of them in the house, things got stirred up and the mouse that had taken up residence in the library was disturbed. He began exploring other places in the house and Daniel and his brother would spot him in different locations throughout the day.
Eventually, I saw him, too. Running under the washing
machine. Sneaking out of the closet. Leaving evidence behind of where he had been.

"I know Robert has to die," Daniel told me (he had named the mouse Robert), "But don't tell me when he's dead."

Okay. So all of you reading this: don't tell Daniel.
Robert the mouse has departed.
Leaving his decomposing remains for me to dispose of.

I smelled something rotten in my closet and, yes, it was Robert. Dead among my socks and other unmentionables.
Oh does decomposition stink. Yelch.

I hope Robert has no relatives looking to move into his vacated place. It's not available.