"Are you out of your ever-loving mind? There's no way we're having a snake in this house!" I shrieked. But, that didn't stop Truett from giving in to Clay's wants. He and Clay caught a red rat snake and put it in a terrarium in Clay's bedroom. They put branches and rocks in the terrarium for the snake to slither on, a piece of plexiglass for the top cover, and a large rock on top of that to keep the snake in.
"Well, I'll tell you now, Clay. I will NEVER go in your bedroom again. That means YOU have to clean it . . . and you keep your door closed!" I yelled. My family plainly understood my fear of snakes, but that didn't seem to bother Clay or Truett. "Oh, your mother is just being silly about this," Truett told Clay. I didn't feel silly. I felt afraid.
Several months later I drove home from school and found my whole family waiting on me in the front yard. Truett, Clay, Merry Jennifer, the yard cats, the dogs, and Dixie chicken. "Hmmmm!" I thought as I headed to the front steps. I took a couple of steps up when Truett said, "I wouldn't go in just yet. We've got something to tell you."
I paused and glanced back at Truett. "Okay," I answered. "What?"
"Clay's snake has escaped . . . but we'll find it."
"I knew it! I knew it! I can't trust anybody around here!" Then I opened the front door, ran to the big comfortable chair, sat down and pulled my feet underneath me and stated, "I'm Not moving until you find that snake!"
The hours ticked by while Truett and Clay looked for the snake . . . but they never found it . . .ever. I suppose my biggest fear from that point on was finding a snake skin. You do know what that means, don't you?
I still loved you though, Truett. Always did. Always will.
Saw your title and the story was going to be about Truett getting the snake from our window. I still see him holding that snake and walking through with that proud grin.
Posted by: Sam | June 15, 2014 at 07:53 AM