Metamorphosis

One day David and I were down in Park Woods at lunchtime. I saw a movement of something long and striped yellowish green and black. “David”, I called. “I see a Garter Snake!” I spotted its head, with its forked tongue going in and out testing the air for odors. Quickly, I reached my hand down and caught it just behind the head so that it couldn't bite me. I held it up for David to see. It was a small one, only about eight or ten inches long. “Great,” David said. “What are you going to do with it?” I reckoned that he would have been glad to take it home. But I had caught it and I decided that I would keep it. “What if I just put it in my pocket?” I asked. “That would probably work,” David replied. “Snakes are usually quiet in a dark place,” he said.

Just then the school bell rang and we had to hurry back to our classes. So I just put the snake in my pants pocket, and walked into the classroom and sat down at my desk. Miss Martin soon began our afternoon class, and I forgot all about the snake in my pocket. That is, until a girl raised her hand and said excitedly, “Miss Martin, there's a snake over at the wall.” She pointed toward it. Everyone looked and some of the girls lifted their feet off the floor. I immediately saw that it was my little Garter Snake. The classroom turned into a chaos of chatter. Miss Martin said in an authoritative voice, “Is anyone responsible for that snake?” I sheepishly raised my hand. “John, catch it and take it outside immediately!” Miss Martin barked. By then the snake was slithering behind the piano. David helped me move the piano, and I caught the snake. I took it right outside, and let it get away. I wouldn't have a pet snake after all, and I was a little worried what punishment might follow when I returned to the classroom, so I went back into my classroom rather slowly. Miss Martin said to me, “John, stay after school and I will talk with you.” Then she called the class to order and proceeded with the lesson.