Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Oct. 13, 2004

Snakes just kind of creep up on you

A creepy story was reported from Houston, TX recently. At a movie theater there the maintenance crew was cleaning the auditorium following the final film of the evening. As he picked up trash left behind by patrons one of the men saw a movement on the wall. He called a warning and the small crew evacuated the theater quickly.

Later the man described what he saw as a big snake, about 8-feet long and thick as a man's arm. Wildlife control people as well as animal control staff for the city arrived on the scene to begin a search for the serpent. The theater will remain closed until the mystery is solved because as one of the experts said, "Just because we haven't found it doesn't mean it is not there."

Our family lived through a similar happening but, since it was in our house, we couldn't move out. In that house, the unexpected became commonplace because of the curiosity of our three pre-teen sons. They shared an interest in studying nature and wild life. It was not enough to read about the subject in books; they preferred the hands-on experience. They became pals with the biology teacher and visited his room after school. There they could observe the many small animals he kept in cages and get answers to their questions.

One day I was working in the kitchen when I heard the back door open, followed by much whispering as three pairs of feet proceeded down the stairs to the cellar. I changed quickly from mother to my Sherlock Holmes mode and descended the stairs.

I was startled to see a cage on the shelf beside the washing machine and inside was a snake. The three boys assured me it was just a nonpoisonous garden variety snake. The teacher had allowed the boys to care for the creature during spring break which was just starting. Reluctantly, I agreed to allow the educational project.

All went well for a few days but then came the day I was loading the washer and glanced toward the cage. It was empty! So began a frantic search, but, just as in the theater, nothing was found. The weather was cool and each night I searched beds to be sure there wasn't a snake hiding in the warmth of the bed covers.

Life went on and seldom did anyone mention our invisible house guest. One cool June morning after school had ended for the year, the three boys were sitting on the floor playing cards. The gas log had been lit in the fireplace to take the chill off. I was busy with morning chores but when I looked in to see how the game was going, my eyes went to the fireplace. There, cuddled up to the warm gas pipe, was our gone but not forgotten serpent.

Too shocked to speak I just pointed and the son sitting with his back to the fire turned and carefully grasped the wanderer. My voice returned and in my firmest parent tones I ordered, "To the car. We are taking him to the country."

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.