A Temporary Pet
It was raining. I had taken my son out to a local cafe. We were making our way home and spotted a snal traversing on the footpath. My son has never seen a snail up-front in this fashion, with it’s antanae sticking out.
“Look Aidan! A snail! Touch it’s eyes and see what happens!”
My son poked it, the snail retracted - it made him laugh. Then i did the unimaginable - decided to bring him home as a “pet”, but snails give me the creeps. It was really ewie to pull him off the foothpath and pop him into the shopping bag. To make matters worse, the snail starts pooing in the shopping bag on our way home too.
It felt really terrible to rip him away from his usual environs. It was as though i was ripping an endagered speicies out of an amazon forrest (how bizzare, it’s a snail for crying out loud!). My son had a great time with “George”. He was released back into the wild after spending two nights in our home.
Janice (5 Minutes for Mom) said,
December 13, 2006 @ 6:44 pm
GROOOOSSSSSSSS! You deserve a mom of the millennium award for that! I am sorry. I ADORE my son. I would give him any of y major organs - but I COULD NOT bring home a snail in my shopping bag and put him on the table keep him for two days!!!
R’acquel said: It was super gross! You should’ve seen the way i was carrying my shopping bag at a marginal arm’s distance, praying that the snail would not touch the packaging of food products coz he was sliming his way towards them. EEEEEEEK! I think my husband found the acquisition of such a pet just as perturbing when he came home to discover “George” on the table too. We have a “no pet” policy, so it seemed like it was worth the punt of allowing my son to briefly own a pet without needing to commit to long-term maintenance costs. My son’s laughter, that magic fire-light in his eyes as he laughs…how could i say no???? One of those “it was meant to be” things that was put in front of our path to pick up, but i don’t think i’ll ever be picking up another snail in quite the same fashion ever again!
Like, Ewe - I’m glad it’s over! {{{shudders}}}Â