DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

I had just gotten back from running errands when my son Alex met me at the door.

“Oh, no.” Alex said as he pointed at the Dunkin Donuts cup in my hand. “That’s never a good sign.”

“Come on.” I laughed. “It’s a small Chi tea. I felt like I deserved a treat today.” I dropped my pocketbook on the couch and began looking around the living room. “Did you happen to see a damselfly in here?”

Alex looked confused. “A damselfly?”

“Yeah, they look kind of like a dragonfly only smaller.” I was searching the room looking for any signs of it.

Alex pointed at my Chi tea again. “Did you see this damselfly before or after you drank that?”

I put the cup on the coffee table and started to laugh. “The tea might make me a little jittery but it certainly doesn’t make me hallucinate!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “If you say so.”

“No, really! I actually saw it fly past me before I went out for my errands.” I was still looking around the room. “But I was running late so I didn’t have time to catch it before I left.”

“Okay, well good luck with finding it.” Alex patted me on the shoulder as he headed back to his room.

I picked up my tea and took another sip. “So, if I were a damselfly where would I be hiding?” I asked myself as I scanned the room again. I put my cup down and moved the blanket from the back of the couch. “Here you are!” I cried as it flew toward the picture window.

“I found it!” I called to Alex.

“Really?” Alex came out of his room to see the damselfly bouncing into the front window.

“I told you it was in here.” I was kneeling on the couch reaching out to scoop the insect into my hands.

Once it was safely in my cupped hands I stood up and began walking to the kitchen door. “Can you open the back door for me?”

Alex went ahead and held the door open for me.

“Come on little fella.” I whispered into my closed hands. “I’m going to bring you to a safe place.”

“Are you sure you’re not squishing him?” Alex asked as I walked past him and out to the back porch.

“I sure hope not.” I placed my cupped hands on the railing and slowly began to open them. The damselfly began walking around on the palms of my hands. “Aren’t you beautiful.” I said with awe.

Alex looked closer. “They are kind of interesting looking.”

“Okay, little fella it’s time for you to be free!” I reached my hands out past the railing and gently tossed it back in the air.

It was at that moment that a gust of wind came up and blew the damsel fly away. “Whoops!” I looked over at Alex my eyebrows going up. “Did you see where it went?”

Alex shook his head. “Nope.” He began to laugh. “So much for bringing it to safety.”

“He’s fine.” I reassured myself. I turned my head to call over my shoulder. “By the way, you’re welcome little fella!”