“Well, I Would!”
“You have a bug on you!” exclaimed a stranger standing behind me in an outdoor public space.
“”Where?” I said.
“On your shoulder,” she said. “Look!”
Pointing begins.
It’s spring in New England. Bugs reappear after a lonely, cold, long winter. The return of bugs—or as my science teacher friend corrects me “insects”—are a natural occurrence during spring. They are as familiar as the return of Robins grousing around my lawn for big juicy worms.
I like insects.
“KILL IT!” she snapped.
What?
“The Bug.” “Kill it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s gross.”
“What’s gross?”
“That BUG ON YOUR SHOULDER!”
“It is?” “How so?”
This woman lectured me.
“If I had a bug on my shoulder, I would kill it.
My reply: “You DON’T have a bug on your shoulder; I do.”
Disgust turned to anger on her part.
The conversation continues. My turn.
“It deserves to live” I delivered this sentence like a cunning chess move.
A strange hue of red swept across her face.
“I cannot kill it. This insect has a mother! There is no reason to kill it. I’ll just move it to that branch over there (pointing) where it can crawl and do things insects like to do–like land on people’s shoulders.”
Disgust turns to fuming. Fuming is not a pretty sight– especially coming from a person whom I never met in my life before.
The last words were hurled my way…………
“I would have KILLED IT.”
Heavy emphasis were placed on the words “I” and “KILLED.”
No reply from me.
I purposely let her words reverberate as our exchange terminated like a balloon bursting; that shocked look before tears roll.
Spring in New England.
Insects abound.
An insect’s life is spared.
All is well in my world.
Brendan Ben Feeney
April 4th, 2011 at 12:09 am
Hi there. im a really big fan of your site. You can say I am addicted, because I also read normal fashion magazines. But your site make sure I have extra to read, hihi. Thanks alot , Maria Gunnestrup , Norway
BBF’s editor notes BBF will be in Norway, Iceland, and Sweeden in 2012. We will update you as to his travel schedule. Many thanks for being a fan. Here is a message from BBF:
“I will cross country ski into town! Or do you suggest I speedskate? Hehehe. Greetings from the USA. Thank you for your readership.” Brendan Ben Feeney
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