CHEF’S KISS

I was walking up our front steps, arms loaded down with bags of groceries when my husband Steven opened the front door.

“Are there more bags in the car?” He asked as he stepped aside to let me walk past him so I could get to the kitchen.

“There sure are!” I said as I struggled to place them on the counter-top. I began unloading the bags, getting the frozen foods into the freezer.

A few moments later Steven came back. “Wow!” He said as he placed the bags on the counter-top. “There’s still more out in the car.”

“It was a pretty big shopping day.” I agreed. “Got a lot of the Thanksgiving stuff.”

“Really?” Steven peeked in one of the bags. “But that’s not until next week.” He said as he headed back out to the car for more bags.

I just shook my head as I pulled some canned goods from the bags and put them in the pantry. “I don’t think he has any idea how much planning goes into Thanksgiving.” I said under my breath as Steven came back in with more bags.

“Did you say something?” He asked as he looked around the counter-top looking for someplace to put the bags.

I quickly cleared my voice as I shook my head. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Okay. Well, this is all of them.” When he didn’t see any room on the counter-top, he placed them on the floor. He bent down and pulled out the milk and cold cuts from one of the bags. “Did you get everything you need for Thanksgiving?” He asked as he headed to the refrigerator.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Nope. This is just the beginning.” I went back into a bag and pulled out bags of dried stuffing mix. “I don’t buy the sausage, apples, mushrooms or onions that go into my stuffing until a few days before Thanksgiving.” I tossed the stuffing bags into the pantry.

“I guess that’s a good idea.” Steven said as he put a box of crackers away.

“Thanks.” I couldn’t help but smile. “I know I’ve been making Thanksgiving dinner for years but I have to admit I’m always a little worried I’ll mess something up.”

“Really?” Steven looked surprised. “When have you ever messed up a Thanksgiving?”

I had to shutter. “Don’t you remember the year I pulled the turkey out of the oven too soon and it was still a little pink?”

Steven looked confused. “I don’t remember that at all.”

I sighed. “Well, that’s good. But it still happened.”

“You worry too much.” Steven said as he walked over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Thanksgiving is going to be amazing.”

“I hope so.” I folded up the empty bag and starting unloading the next one.

“Instead of thinking about a dinner that’s going to happen next week let’s talk about what we’re going to have for dinner tonight.”

“Oh no!” I peeked in the bag. “I was so busy thinking about the Thanksgiving list that I completely forgot about getting something for dinner tonight!”

“Really?” Steven looked concerned.

“No.” I looked over and smiled at him as I pulled a package of chicken from the bag. Placing it on the counter I walked over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But now who’s the one who worries too much?” I asked.

ALWAYS THE WRONG LINE

My son Alex and I had stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few things which of course turned into a half filled cart instead.

As we headed to the checkout lines I began scanning for potential problems. “Okay, not this one.” I whispered. “The check out person has an ‘in training’ badge on.” I shook my head. “I’m all for giving people time to learn their job but not today and not with me.”

We moved to the next lane.

“Nope, not this one either.” I decided.

“What’s wrong with this one?” Alex asked as he looked at the people in the line.

“Didn’t you see the senior bus out front?” I shook my head again. “Well, here’s four of them checking out together.” I pushed the cart further down. “This is a big outing for them. They’ll be visiting with the cashier like there’s not one waiting behind them.”

Alex was shaking his head and laughing. “Why don’t we do the self checkout then?”

I looked in the cart and quickly counted. “Too many items.” I stated.

“Well, what if I took half the cart and you took the other half? We split up and both go through the self check out.”

I thought about that for a moment but when I turned around and saw the line waiting for a self checkout machine to be available I shook my head. “Still not fast enough.” I decided.

I finally saw a lane where there were only two people waiting. Both of their carts were only half filled like ours. “This is the one!” I said with confidence as I got on line.

As the first cart was checking out the person right in front of us turned and looked at me. “Excuse me.” She said.

I’d been busy looking through the bin of books next to me when Alex nudged me.

I looked up.

“I’m sorry but I forgot something. Do you mind watching my cart while I run and grab it?”

Now in my head I was saying ‘Nope. Take your cart and finish your shopping just like all the rest of us did.’ But instead I smiled and said, “Sure.”

“Thanks.” She said scurrying away.

I looked over at Alex. “How does this always happen to me? I always seem to pick the wrong line!”

Alex laughed as he shrugged his shoulders. “Hey, I thought you were going to tell her no.”

“I actually thought about it for a second.” I admitted.

He patted me on the shoulder. “Well then I’m very proud of you holding back your real thoughts.”

“I’m trying.” I said with a sigh as I looked over to where she’d headed seeing if she’d be returning soon.

I could see the woman in the front of our line was almost done filling her bags and was ready to pay.

I looked at the abandoned cart in front of me and looked at Alex.

“No.” He said as he shook his head. “You can’t move her cart and get in front of her.”

“But…” I looked around and still couldn’t see her coming.

“Nope.” He was still shaking his head.

I sighed as I leaned against the cart. “Why is it I always pick the wrong line?” I complained.

Alex patted me on the shoulder again and laughed. “It seems to be your super power.”

HOMEMADE BIRD FEEDER

I was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher while my son Alex was standing next to me spreading peanut butter on some crackers.

“We literally just finished dinner.” I said as I opened the cabinet to put the clean glasses away. “I can’t believe you’re still hungry!”

“I’m not hungry for more pot roast. I’m hungry for some peanut butter crackers now.” He laughed as he licked the knife before tossing it in the sink. He stopped for a moment. “This peanut butter tastes burnt.” He said as he looked down at the crackers sitting on a paper towel.

“Didn’t you just open the jar?” I looked over at the jar of natural peanut butter that was sitting on the counter-top.

Alex nodded as he balled up the paper towel, with the crackers in the middle, and headed for the garbage. “It happens sometimes with the natural peanut butter.” He sighed as he tossed the paper towel in the trash. “Well, that was a waste.”

“Don’t throw it away!” I grabbed the lid and screwed it back on the jar before putting it aside. “I’ll feed it to the birds.”

Alex looked confused. “How are you going to do that?”

“Easy.” I said as I grabbed a handful of silverware and headed for the drawer. “I’ll spread it on a pine cone and hang it up in a tree.”

“They’ll eat burnt peanut butter?” He asked as he went over to the cabinet to find another snack.

“They’ll love it!” I said with complete confidence.

When I was finished with the dishes I found a pine cone and began spreading it with the peanut butter. Tying a string around the top I took it outside and hung it from a tree branch. Standing back, hands on my hips I watched it swaying in the breeze. “Well, you look terrible but they’re going to love it.”

A week later I was looking out the window at our back yard when Alex came up beside me.

“What are you looking at?” He asked.

“The birds haven’t touched the peanut butter bird feeder.” I looked over at him. “I was absolutely positive they would love it.”

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe they would have if it had regular peanut butter and not that burnt stuff.”

“It wasn’t that burnt.” I argued.

“Really?” Alex pointed out in the yard. “You weren’t the one who tasted it.”

“Well, I’m not tasting it now!” I laughed. “It’s been swinging from a tree for a week!”

Alex shrugged his shoulders again. “Maybe you’ll trust me the next time I say somethings bad.”

“You always think something tastes bad.” I reminded him.

He pointed out to the back yard again. “Looks like I was right about the peanut butter.”

I went to the drawer and took out a pair of scissors. “I guess it’s time to cut it down.” I sighed as I headed to the back door.

“Why don’t you leave it on the ground to see if the chipmunks won’t eat it either?” Alex suggested.

“Nope.” I held up the scissors. “It’s going in the garbage now.”

“Exactly where it should have gone a week ago!” Alex laughed.

BURST OF COLOR

“Isn’t it beautiful out?” I said to my husband Steven as he and I were driving down the road. The reds, oranges and yellow colors of the leaves were even more intense against the crystal blue cloudless sky. “I don’t think I’ve seen a prettier fall in a long time!”

“Yeah, it’s pretty.” Steven agreed with little enthusiasm in his voice.

I looked over at him. “You don’t seem very thrilled.” I said. “What’s wrong?”

“In order to get this beautiful fall you have to have a cool, wet spring and summer.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Okay. Maybe it was a little wet but look…” I pointed out my window. “Ta-da!”

“I wasn’t saying ta-da when I was fighting root rot and our garden wasn’t giving us many tomatoes this summer.” He grumbled.

“True.” I nodded my head. “We did have a freezer full of sauce the year before. In fact, we had so much that it almost got us through the whole winter.”

“That sure didn’t happen this year.” He reminded me.

“Yeah.” I sighed. “I think I only got a half dozen containers of sauce this year. The way we go through it that’s not even going to be enough for two months.”

“Exactly.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I can still make a good sauce with canned tomatoes.” I was trying to make him feel better when we were about to pass a tree that was so orange it almost didn’t look real. I was just about ready to point it out to him when he continued.

“I also wasn’t saying ta-da when we only got a handful of potatoes, either.”

“But the few we got were delicious!” I tried to be upbeat.

“You weren’t the one fighting root rot and fungus all summer long.”

“Okay, you’re right.” I finally agreed. “It was a terrible year for our garden.”

“On the other hand, we did get a lot of green peppers.” He reminded me. “So that was good.”

“I’ve already got them sauteed with onions and in the freezer ready for whatever we want to put them in!” I added.

He looked over at me. “Did I tell you I picked another basket full yesterday?”

“Really?” I looked confused. “I didn’t see them on the counter. Where’d you put them?”

Steven thought for a moment. “Either I left them on the table in the garden or I might have left them on the back porch.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll check when we get home.”

I looked over at him and smiled. “See? The garden wasn’t a complete bust this year. So can we get back to enjoying this beautiful fall weather and these gorgeous trees?”

“Sure.” He said as we continued down the highway.

Several minutes later… “You know a few rainstorms and all these…”

“STOP!” I cried looking over at him. “Are you kidding me?”

Steven started to laugh. “You’re so easy to tease.”

“How have we stayed married for so long?” I was shaking my head.

“Because I make you laugh.” He reached over and squeezed my hand. “That’s why.”

THAT’S A GOOD BOX

Our doorbell rang and Steven went to answer it. “Thank you!” I heard him call as he came back inside holding a package.

“Who’s it for?” I asked.

“Me.” He said as he put the box on the counter top and reached in the drawer to get a knife and slit open the top.

“That’s a good size box.” I remarked as I came over to see what he’d purchased.

“I guess.” He took out a spool of wire.

“What’s that for?” I watched him inspect it before putting it back in the box and closing the lid.

“It’s for a client.” He picked up the box and went over to the dining room table.

“Are you going to keep that box?”

Steven shrugged his shoulders. “I’m keeping it long enough to bring it over to my client’s house tomorrow. Why?”

“Well, when you give it to them can you bring the box back?” I asked as I went over to inspect the box making sure there weren’t any tears or ding’s in the cardboard.

“Why do you want this box?” He looked confused.

“Not just that box but all different size boxes.” I said. “I never know what size I’ll need when it comes time to wrap all the Christmas presents.”

“Christmas!” Steven shook his head and laughed. “It’s still October! Why are we talking about Christmas already?”

“I think about Christmas year round!” I explained. “But it’s around this time of year that I start thinking about wrapping and that means it’s time to start collecting boxes.”

“Well, I’m not sure I’ll be bringing this one back.” Steven said as he started to laugh. “I can’t bring it to my client’s house and then ask them if I can keep the box.”

“Okay, maybe not this one then but just remember from now until Christmas I’m going to need to see any of the boxes brought into the house before you start breaking them down for recycling.”

“Hey,” Our son Alex said as he came into the room. “What are you two up to?” He asked as he opened the cabinet and took out a box of crackers.

“We’re discussing boxes.” I said.

Alex laughed as he reached in the cracker box and pulled out a cracker. “That sounds like an interesting discussion.” He took a bite.

“Mom wants us to save all the boxes that come into the house from now until Christmas.” Steven said as he pushed the box with the wire in it further down the dining room table.

“Why?” Alex asked as he leaned against the counter and reached in for another cracker.

“Because I’ll need them to wrap all the Christmas presents in.” I explained.

“So you want us to save all the boxes from now until Christmas?” Alex asked.

“Exactly.”

Alex took the empty waxed paper liner from the cracker box went over to the trash can and threw it away and handed me the empty cracker box. “Here you go.” He said.

“I didn’t mean old food boxes.” I said with a laugh as I took the box and started to break it down for the recycling bin. “I’m not wrapping anyone’s Christmas present in an old cracker box.”

“Hey,” Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I was just trying to help.” He went back to the cabinet and took out a new box of crackers and held it up. “I was thinking that in about a week or so I’d have another one ready for you.”

“You know there’s a good chance you’ll be getting a present wrapped in a cracker box now.” I said with a laugh.

“I’d be okay with that.” He said as he popped another cracker in his mouth.

CHARLIE BROWN PUMPKINS

“What’s wrong with all the pumpkins on the front steps?” My husband Steven asked as he walked in the front door.

“What do you mean, ‘What’s wrong with them’?” I asked.

“They look like they’re melting.” He laughed.

“They’re a little misshapen.” I agreed. “But that’s what makes them so beautiful.” I smiled as I walked into the kitchen to start dinner.

“Misshapen is a good word for them.” He called as he hung his coat in the front closet then came into the kitchen. “Didn’t they have any good ones?”

“See? That’s exactly what everyone at the grocery store was thinking as they were digging through the pumpkin bin.” I pulled out a pot and started filling it with water. “Everyone was looking for the perfectly round, unblemished one.” I put the pot on the stove and turned on the burner. “But not me! I like rooting for the underdog.”

“In pumpkins?” Steven said with a laugh as he got a glass out and went to the sink to get some water.

“Exactly!” I said as I went to the refrigerator and pulled out the sauce I’d made from our garden tomatoes. “Everything deserves to be loved.”

“Are we still talking about pumpkins?” Steven leaned against the counter taking a sip from his glass as I poured the sauce into a pot.

“Yes, we’re still talking about pumpkins.” I went back to the refrigerator to pull out the fixings for a salad. “Those pumpkins worked just as hard as the perfect pumpkins to grow into the best they could be when they were out in the field.” I put the lettuce, carrots and celery along with a red pepper on the counter and grabbed a cutting board from the shelf. “They deserve a home where they can be displayed and feel appreciated this season.”

“So we’re going to be the house with the ‘Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree’ pumpkins?”

“Absolutely.” I began cutting up the lettuce. “I think they’re beautiful just the way they are.”

Our son Alex came into the kitchen.

“Did you go to the grocery store with Mom today?” Steven asked him.

“Yeah. I was there.” Alex opened up the refrigerator and looked inside. “I needed to pick up a few things.”

“So you helped pick out those pumpkins?” He asked.

Alex looked over at me as I was slowly shaking my head no.

“What’s going on with you two?” Steven asked.

“Mom didn’t tell you?” Alex closed the refrigerator door.

“Tell me what?”

“Those were the last three pumpkins on the shelf.” Alex looked over at me and laughed. “She said she didn’t feel like stopping at another store to find better ones so she took those.”

Steven looked over at me shaking his head. “That seems more like it.” He said with a laugh as he put his glass on the counter. “You almost had me believing you were rooting for the underdog of pumpkins.”

I gave Alex a stern look. “You know what they say about snitches?” I reminded him.

“That they get ugly pumpkins on their front steps?” Alex laughed.

I shrugged my shoulders and nodded my head. “That’s true, too!”

WEB OF STEEL

My son Alex and I were taking a walk through the woods in single file on a narrow path with me in the lead.

“STOP! STOP!” I screamed my arms pinwheeling around my head.

“What’s wrong?” Alex asked taking a step back and looking around to see what had me so upset.

“Spider web!” I was trying to take the sticky threads off my sweatshirt. “I’m covered in a spider web!”

“Did you see a spider on the web when you walked through it?” Alex asked his eyes wide as he looked at me.

I froze. “If I saw the web I wouldn’t have walked through it.” I began to shudder. “Oh, my gosh. Do I have a spider on me?” I started shaking the front of my sweatshirt hoping to get rid of any potential spiders.

Alex looked in my hair. “I don’t see anything.”

I brushed the web off my hands. “Now I feel like one is crawling on me!”

“I’m telling you I don’t see anything.” Alex tried to reassure me.

Once I felt like the web was off of my sweatshirt I looked back at Alex. “I hate this time of year.”

Alex laughed. “Are you kidding me. A minute ago you were talking about how much you love the fall.”

“Sure. I love when the leaves are turning colors and when the air feels crisp.” I was still wiping parts of the web off my face. “But this!” I found more of the sticky mess in my hair. “I just can’t.”

“You know a spiders web is stronger than steel?”

I stopped and looked at him.

“I mean for its weight and what it can hold.” He explained.

“No. I didn’t know that.” I’m sure from the sound of my voice he could tell I wasn’t impressed with that fact.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I thought everyone knew that.”

“Oh, I believe it now!” I laughed as I found more to wipe off of me.

“Are you ready to finish our walk?” Alex asked when he saw I’d calmed down.

“Sure. I’m ready.” I stood to the side of the path and held out my arm. “After you.”

Alex sighed. “Yeah. I guess it’s only fair I take the lead now.” He walked in front of me.

“Maybe you can show me how you see the spider web before you walk through it.” I said with a laugh.

Alex started walking looking for any more spider webs.

We had only gone a few feet when Alex stopped and pointed to a web going across the path.

I looked over Alex’s shoulder. “How did you see that?”

Alex shrugged his shoulder as he picked up a stick and used it to move the web.

“You want to go first now?” He asked ready to hand me the spider-be-gone stick.

I patted him on the shoulder. “No. You go ahead. You’re doing a great job.”

FALL HARVEST

It was a beautiful fall morning and my son Alex and I were taking advantage of the gorgeous day by sitting on the deck and eating our breakfast.

“What are your plans for today?” I asked as I took a bite of my egg sandwich.

“Well, even though it’s Saturday, I want to finish up a project I’ve been working on all week.” Alex squirted some ketchup on his plate and dipped his sandwich in it.

“Sounds good.” I said as I watched a squirrel digging a small hole in the center of the yard. Once he was finished digging he looked around before placing an acorn in the hole and quickly covering it up, even giving it a few extra pats to make sure it was sealed in tight. “What do you think the odds are that he can remember where he’s buried that?” I asked Alex as I pointed to the squirrel as he trotted to the tree line of our woods.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea.” He said before taking another bite.

“Well, let’s see.” I picked up my phone and began typing. As I was reading the first article I couldn’t help but laugh. “Oh, come on! I find this hard to believe!”

“What?” He took a sip of his coffee.

“It says that they can find anywhere from 75 to 95 percent of their buried nuts.” I looked over to watch two squirrels chase each other around a tree. “They just don’t seem that bright.”

Alex laughed. “That’s because you like chipmunks better than squirrels.”

“Only because they’re cuter and smarter!” I countered as I put my phone down and picked up my tea cup.

“Okay, I’ll give you cuter.” Alex said. “But how do you know they’re smarter?”

“Well, for one they don’t bury their food all over the yard hoping they’ll be able to figure out where they put it when they’re hungry.” I pointed over to the chipmunk sitting on the wall of our fire-pit, it’s cheeks puffed out with all the nuts he’d collected. “He’s going to go down into his burrow and store those nuts in his food chamber where he’ll have no problem finding them when he wants to eat.”

Alex had finished his sandwich, tossed his napkin on the plate, and leaned back in his chair. “Okay, maybe that’s a smarter way to store food.” He agreed. “But that still doesn’t mean squirrels are dumb.”

“Really?” I looked over at the two squirrels chasing each other around the woods. “Have you ever seen a chipmunk chew through the lid of a garbage can because they can’t find the food they stored away in the fall?”

Alex shrugged his shoulders as he nodded his head. “I guess you have a point there.”

“Exactly!” I pointed to the squirrels that were now yelling at each other, puffed up and twitching. “There’s no way those two idiots are remembering where they hid their nuts 95 percent of the time.”

The chipmunk had jumped off the fire-pit and was now slowly climbing up the steps of our deck.

Alex and I both stopped talking and sat perfectly still as the chipmunk was now just a few feet away from us. He stopped and looked at us before he scampered across the deck and dropped over the side near where he’d dug his burrow.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about.” I said once he was out of sight.

“What?” Alex looked confused as he picked up his coffee cup.

“There’s no way I’d be sitting quietly if a squirrel was coming up on our deck.” I looked over at the feuding squirrels still yelling at one another, tails flicking. “I’d be stomping my feet and chasing them off.”

Alex started to laugh. “That’s not because you think chipmunks are smarter.”

“Nope. It’s definitely because chipmunks are cuter!”

LOCAL SUMMER

“It’s here.” I sighed as I stood on the boardwalk leaning against the railing looking out at the ocean. I could hear the waves hitting the sandy shoreline and that sound was exactly what I needed. I looked over at my husband Steven who was standing next to me. “Local summer.” I sighed again. “My favorite time to go to the beach.”

Steven laughed as he patted me on the back then sat down on the bench and put his feet up on the railing. “It is nice.” He agreed.

Our son Alex came over to us holding three paper plates stacked on top of each other. Each with a slice of pizza on it. “Here you go.” He said as he handed each of us a plate and then pulled some napkins out of his pocket and passed them around.

“This was a great idea!” I said to him as I sat down next to Steven, picked up my slice and began blowing on it to cool it off.

“Thanks!” Alex said as he sat down next to me.

“You know,” I looked over my shoulder to a few people who were walking the boardwalk. “For such a beautiful day there’s hardly anyone here.”

Alex looked over his shoulder. “Well, it could be that it’s a Tuesday and everyone is still at work.” He took a bite of his pizza.

“Hey, I was at work, too!” I cried before I finally thought my pizza was cool enough to take a bite.

“Yeah, but you got out of work at three-thirty.” Steven reminded me.

I smiled and nodded. “That’s true and that’s a wonderful thing for me at this time of year! It gives me time to do this!” I took another bite.

Seagulls were flying over our heads with several standing around our feet hoping one of us would lower our guard enough so they could snatch some of our dinner from us. “Not today, my friends.” I said to them as I took another bite.

“It’s pretty slim pickings for them right now.” Steven reminded me.

“They’re still not getting any of mine.” I put the slice back on my plate and covered it with a napkin. Leaning back and putting my feet up on the railing I took a deep breath. “It smells so good out here.”

“Your pizza?” Alex asked as a seagull hopped closer to him.

“Well, sure.” I turned to him. “But it’s also the salty smell of the ocean.” I inhaled. “Can’t you smell it?”

Alex nodded his head and laughed. “I think I’m smelling more garlic than ocean.”

I shook my head. “Honestly, just the sound of those waves has a calming effect on me.” I uncovered my pizza slice and took another bite.

Steven leaned forward looking past me to catch Alex’s eye. “Did you hear that?” He asked with a laugh.

Alex looked confused. “Hear what?”

“Your Mom said if we get a sound machine and play the sound of waves she won’t get upset when we leave dirty dishes in the sink and forget to put them in the dishwasher.”

I looked over at Steven and laughed. “Nice try.”

“What can I say?” Steven shrugged his shoulders as he leaned back against the bench. “It was worth a shot.”

WHO’S KNOCKING AT MY DOOR?

It was first thing in the morning and I was rushing around the house trying to get ready for work. I grabbed my bags and water bottle off the chair and headed to the front door calling out “Good-by!” to whoever was in earshot when my son Alex came around the corner.

“Be careful! There’s a praying mantis at the front door.”

I stopped and looked at him. “Are you kidding me?”

Alex shook his head and opened the front door for me, pointing down at the doorstep where a praying mantis was peeking up at me, one of his arms reaching out towards the door. “I saw him when I was moving my car this morning so you could get your car out.”

“Well, hello there!” I said as I stepped over our new little friend and onto the front porch. I turned to face him again. “You’re a pretty big fella.” I said with admiration as I bent down to get a closer look.

He was almost six inches long with a mixture of green and brown coloring. “He’s either getting ready to blend in with the fall colors or he’s getting ready to mate and lay the egg sack.” I said as I looked up at Alex.

“Which one do you think it is?” Alex was still standing in the house looking down at the praying mantis that was trying to pull itself up the step to get into our house.

I shrugged my shoulders. “I’m not sure.”

“Should we just leave him here?” Alex said pointing to the doorstep.

I looked around and sighed. My husband Steven truck was already gone but who knows if anyone else was coming to the front door and might not see our new little friend and accidentally step on him.

“I think we should move him.” I dropped my bags on the porch and looked around for a stick or twig.

“I thought you were running late for work?” Alex said as he stepped over the praying mantis and stood on the porch with me.

“I am. But I can’t go to work knowing this little guy might get hurt.” I was going down the steps and into our shrubs looking for anything that I could get him to climb onto.

“I can do it.” Alex said as he came up behind me. “You go to work.”

“It’s okay.” I saw a twig sturdy enough to do the job. “Let’s try this.” I said holding it up as we both went back to the porch.

I held the twig in front of where he or she wanted to walk, hoping they’d climb on and it could be on their way to safety. “Oh, come on!” I cried after several attempts only to have it sidestep the twig.

“I think he really wants to come in the house.” Alex laughed.

I looked at my watch and started to feel frustrated that the twig wasn’t working.

“Why don’t you let me try?” Alex asked as he reached for the twig.

“Fine!” I sighed handing it to him. I began gathering up my bags and water bottle. “But I don’t think it’s going to work.”

Alex opened the front door.

“What are you doing?” I cried.

“He seems to want to come inside.” He said as he laid the twig on the doorstep.

“But it can’t!” I cried again as I saw the praying mantis slowly walk onto the twig.

“See.” Alex held up the twig with the praying mantis clinging to it. “Where should I put him?”

I reached over and closed the front door. “Well, certainly not inside the house.” I said with a laugh.

“How about over here in the bushes?” Alex walked down the front steps with me following.

He gently laid the stick on the bush and backed away looking at me.

I looked at my watch again. “Well, if I don’t get any red lights and everyone goes the speed limit I should still be at work on time.” I headed for my car. “Good luck to you.” I called over my shoulder.

“Who are you saying that to?” Alex asked with a laugh as he headed for the front door.

“I guess all of us!” I called back. “Me, getting to work on time. You, for a good day at work and our little friend…” I tossed my bags in the back seat. “Just a great day doing praying mantis stuff.”