I had a message on my answering machine from my ex-roommates grandmother yesterday when I got home from work. Rather than call her back the nan0-second I walked in the door, I spent some quality time in the bathroom with my new comics. By the time I was done – and yes, I did wash my hands – her currently out of town daughter had called as well. Same topic – could you take grandma to bingo tonight?
Well, as it turns out, I could. So, I called her back and made arrangments. I picked her up from her house and dropped her off at the bingo location with a hearty “good luck”. The plan was that she would get a ride home from one of her friends – but she asked if I would be home that evening in case that fell through.
Now where, in all of this, is my ex-roommate? Apparently working, as was “that woman” as the grandmother refered to his girlfriend.
As predicted – she called again later that evening and would be needing a ride. So, I put my shoes back on and hopped in the car. Halfway to the bingo palace – terror struck.
Something huge flew past the front and side of my car before slamming into the open window frame on the driver’s side of the car. It was a preying mantis and it was huge. Huge, I tell you!
The impact broke at least a couple of legs and the force of wind kept him from getting back underway. So, he was essentially stuck on the ledge of my window.
Now, I like bugs – because in most cases I can do my thing and they do their thing and we’re all cool and stuff. Here, I was trying to do my thing and this particular bug was clearly up in my business.
I finally escorted him out of the car with a bit of scrap paper when I reached a red stoplight – no, I didn’t touch it directly. We’d both been through enough. And it was huge.
I rolled up my window a bit once he was gone and then completed my appointment with the lucky bingo lady – who had picked up 50 bucks and a stuffed dog.
Good deed complete.
Well, that’s it for now – time to get back to work…
Did I mention it was a huge bug? Huge!
