I’d just walked into the kitchen when something caught my eye through the glass on my back door. It was a praying mantis that was roughly six inches long clinging to the window.
“Hey, little man. What are you up to?” I asked as I got closer and bent down to see him.
“Who are you talking to?” my son Alex asked as he came into the kitchen.
I pointed to the praying mantis that was about knee height on the window. Alex inched closer and we both leaned down to get a closer view. When my face was just inches from the insect I watched as it slowly turned his triangle shaped head and looked at me.
“Eww.” I stood back up. “Did you see his little alien head turned and looked right at me!” I cried as I now watched the praying mantis slowly turn his head to look at Alex.
“Yup.” Alex stood back up. “Definately creepy.” He pointed to the insect. “Did you notice he’s only on the glass?”
Not wanting to get closer I scrunched my eyes thinking that might help me see. “How’s he on the glass and not slipping down?”
Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Beats me. Maybe he has little suction cups on his legs?”
We watched as the praying mantis began climbing up the door and was soon eye level to us. He stopped and began slowly swaying side to side. “Okay, now he’s dancing,” I looked over at Alex. “He’s dancing and turning his creepy little alien head back and forth looking at us.”
I picked up my phone to ask Google why he was dancing. Once I found the site I began reading it out loud to Alex. “Okay, it says they like to sway while they walk because it helps them blend in.” I looked at Alex and pointed to our climbing swaying insect. “Which one of us is going to be the one to break it to him that he’s not blending in very well right now?”
Alex laugh. “Not me.”
I reached for the door knob.
“What are you doing?” Alex asked.
“I was going to sit on the porch.”
“What if he falls off the glass and into the house?”
“I’d be more worried that he jumps off the window and onto me!” I was slowly opening the door. My little insect friend watching my every move. He stayed on the window as I stepped out onto the porch and I slowly closed the door. His body was facing the house but his head was completely turned around looking at me.
“Holy smokes! I’m flashing back to the Exorcist!” I cried as I slowly backed away from him.
Alex waved to me through the window. “Coming back in anytime soon?” he called.
I shook my head no. “I think I live out here now.” I turned my rocking chair around so it was facing the house. Not wanting to have my back to him.
“I’ll come back to check on you in a little while to see if you want me to let you in the front door.” Alex called. He picked up his phone and began typing away. A few moments later I could hear Tubular Bells, the theme music from the Exorcist playing on his phone.
“Very funny!” I called. Alex waved to me before he walked out of the kitchen.
Which left me alone with my alien head spinning buddy to enjoy a beautiful fall morning. I took a deep breath and began humming Tubular Bells to myself.
Slice of Life 