Kid's Story -- Simon Snake

 Kid's Story -- Simon  Snake

Simon snake lived in a hole in the ground,at the edge of a wood next to a farmers field. He lived alone,being a bachelor. He also didn't have very many friends. The problem was that everyone seemed to smell too delicious. Those he could not swallow were at least sure to get a nasty bite. Just call it a drawback of being a snake.No one would dare to approach him unless his midsection was rather large and round. And luckily for a snake, a meal can last for a week.Thus affording him the opportunity for socializing. Indeed, it was at these times that everyone agreed, he seemed most amiable, and rather a half-likable chap.

One day, after just having eaten a breakfast of field mouse.
He lie sunning his beautiful green scales upon his favorite rock down by the farms front gate.The Sun felt sooo,warm and relaxing as he hazily watched the clouds pass by.
When to his surprise, who should attempt to approach him? His old nemesis. The farmers fat white cat, Tinkers!
Long fur flapping in the breeze,and collar bell slightly tinkling with each step he took. They've had their run-ins before, with Simon always the  worse for it. Leaving defeated Simon to wish that he were poisonous.
"Hey, Simon." shouted Tinkers from a short distance away.
"Buzz off, Cat!" Replied Simon. "I am in no mood for a  fight today."
"Cheer up then." said Tinkers, Closing the gap between them. "I haven't come to play,I have a deal for you."He said with an amused grin on his face.That Simon wanted to wipe off.
"Lucky me." said Simon sarcastically.
But he listened none the less, as Tinkers told him of his problem. Turns out that Tinkers was in an awful bind.
The farmhouse had become over run with mice. Tinkers was having difficulties keeping up his duty to remove them, due to their large number this year.
He had overheard the farmer say :  "If that darn cat can't get rid of them. Then maybe I should get rid of him, and get another cat." The farmers wife tried to calm him,because she at least loved Tinkers. But he sounded pretty serious this time.
"And thisss, hasss  what to do with me?" Asked Simon, uncoiling lazily.
"If you were to enter the mouse tunnels . Those mice would leave quickly, and not come back for a while. You would get a nice meal, and I would get to stay."  Tinkers said.
"Also, I'd even throw in immunity from our usual playtime." He added.
 It sounded like a fine deal to Simon. So it was agreed that this would be done.
The following week, Simon appeared at the back screen porch after the humans had left for the day, to let himself in through a tear in one of the screens. Slipping through a chink at the bottom of  the back door, he found himself in the rather large kitchen. It took him a minute to find Tinkers, asleep on the dining table.

"Wakey wakey, Sssleeping Beauty, your princcce hasss arrived!!" yelled Simon in a humorous voice.
"Can we just do this thing or what??" Snarled Tinkers. (embarrassed to have been caught napping when he was supposed to have been waiting for Simon.)
"Yes please. I am rather hungry." Beamed Simon, stifling his amusement.
Tinkers showed him one of the mouse holes,located beneath a kitchen cupboard. Through which Simon slithered in easily and began to hunt the tunnels. He rounded several bends before spying prey. The chase was on. A few times he bounced off the far wall as he tried to take a corner too quickly. But it didn't stop him from gaining on the mouse. A few quick jabs with his fangs seemed to slow the mouse down. Unhinging his jaw in preparation, and catching the mouse by the head, he made as quick a meal out of him as he could.
Then He resumed the hunt, the bulge in his belly slowing him down somewhat.
The second mouse was easy to sneak up on. As he was too busy nibbling on something just round a corner to hear Simons approach.
The third mouse was no challenge at all,as he ran head first into a pipe in  his haste to escape Simon.
Now Simon was extremely full, and feeling rather sluggish. He was in bad need of a nap to aide his digestion. But he was satisfied that all survivors had fled in terror. Victorious, he exited the mouse-hole into the kitchen.
The bulges in Simons midsection prevented him from fitting through the chink in the back door. Tinkers had to help him back to his home. He Carried him up the stairs,and through an open bedroom window. Down the tree outside, and safely back to his hole in the ground.
The farmer was satisfied that Tinkers was taking care of the mouse problem. Though he did wonder how, since he never sees him do anything, but sleep.
Now,  every spring Simon gets a good meal after his winter hibernation, and a new mouse family moves into the farmhouse every Autumn.
Tinkers and Simon still "play" together sometimes, but not as often. And when they do, Tinkers  takes it easier on Simon than he used to.
Other times they just lie in the sun together, warming their fur and scales. Everyone was happy, except of course for the mice.

 THE END
------ June 2,2009