Beetle

thwated kill

Yesterday, as is my habit after eating, I found myself aimlessly strolling in the house, trying to walk off the roast chicken I’d had for lunch and checking the rooms for intruders. I may sound paranoid but, to me, security of the home is paramount. 

Prudence was sleeping upstairs and you could tell the kids were at school from the blissful peace and quiet that permeated the whole place. The only noise I could hear was the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall and the regular hum of the fridge in the kitchen. I’d just finished my tour and was about to go take a shuteye when I saw this huge beetle lurking by the entrance door. Hairs stood on my nape. Now, I know I’m not squeamish or anything but I simply cannot abide those creepy crawlies with their multiple legs and black carapaces. Makes you wonder why God, in his infinite wisdom, created those abhorrent creatures. Without a second thought, I pounced on the stupid critter, intending to crush it to a pulp when, all of a sudden, little Jude's yellow submarine toy hit me on the back of my head and Mother Mary (Prudence’s mother) yelled from the kitchen door:

“Let it be!”

I never got on well with the woman and I, for one, am sick and tired of her tirades about how all life is sacred on this earth. She then strode into the hall, bent down and wagged her finger at me and said in that irritating voice of hers that she uses when talking to little children:

“Bad boy! I told you once if I told you a thousand times not to mess up the place with dead insects. Go out now, shoo!”

I didn’t say a word. What’s the use? I tucked my tail between my hind legs and, head low, slunk out to the garden. 

Author's Note

try to find the references to five known songs. no swearing if you can't, please.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

Well, okay then . . . BEATLES' songs: YESTERDAY, DEAR PRUDENCE, HEY JUDE, & YELLOW SUBMARINE. Then there's LET IT BE (featuring Mother Mary) . . . whew! I actually got this puzzle and I haven't even had my 2nd cup of coffee yet! (It's still quite dark outside for another hour at least!)

The beetle crushing idea reminds me of my experience volunteering in animal shelters for 6 years. I felt like a fraud as an animal lover, becuz these rabid staff members would carry live insects & rodents outside to release them live!!! Not me. My big dilemma is that I hate the sensation of crushing as much as I hate seeing the creatures crawling around.

Thank you for the brain tease . . . I'm almost awake now.

[Woody]

spot on, clever girl! :)
I think we are alike in that I'm quite squeamish when it comes to killing those horrible creatures. BRRR! see the goosebumps? but I can't abide them.
thanks a bunch, B.
dark outside? you're an early riser!

[barleygirl]

Restless dogs wiggling in bed make it impossible to sleep any longer . . . I must get up, let them out to do their morning constitutional, then feed them . . . I'm wide awake, yet they go back to bed for another four hours, while I shiver here in front of the computer . . . *sigh!*

[Woody]

yes I forget you have to tend to the business of your animals. the downside to living on a farm, I suppose.

[Bright Ocean Star]

I must be slow...I began reading thinking you were a mother with a child upstairs, and much to my surprise you ended up being a dog with four legs and a tail! I love surprises like that.
Very good! Thanks for sharing your work. :)

[Woody]

thanks heaps, Anne. And, no, you're not slow. I, of course intended to surprise the reader. What you may have missed, though, are references to the Beatles as they are way before your time. You belong to the "Bieber generation", am I right? haha

[Bright Ocean Star]

No, I am beyond the Bieber Generation. I'm more of the Styx, Boston, Queen, and Meatloaf generation, but I didn't listen to the Beatles. I did catch the references (at least the yellow submarine one). Very clever!

[Woody]

you didn't listen to the Beatles??? oooooh! Blasphemy.
:)

[Marie]

Very good,. Nice twist at the end.

Chloe caught the "Let it be" phrase, but I saw the "yellow submarine" too.

[Woody]

your comments are music to my ears, Marie. thank you. incidentally, there are three more references to the beatles. Have you missed them by any chance? (beetle, yesterday and Prudence)

[Chloe]

I like how you made "Mother Mary" say, "Let it be!" That, to me, is quite brilliant. This is an astoundingly well-written piece with beautiful language and perfectly executed grammar. Kudos to you!