The Sparrow, the Frog, and the Spider by Elias P. Stergakos

Author:Elias P. Stergakos [Stergakos, Elias P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781499066265
Publisher: Xlibris US
Published: 2014-09-30T04:00:00+00:00

Everything was going fine for the spider, and about a quarter of the way from the creek’s bank, she recovered completely from her fear. That emboldened her, and she started thinking in her usual manner. Get as much as you can with as little effort as possible. Below my feet, I have an easy prey that can provide me with a lot of food for several weeks, if not for months. Also, his skin can serve as my house for the autumn and coming winter months, and I won’t have to go through the trouble and effort of building one myself. How lucky am I! But when do I strike? the spider asked herself. If I let him carry me all the way across, he could, within a few inches or so from the bank, decide to jump from the water onto the ground. I may then fall off his back, and I’ll miss the opportunity to make him my prey. I know—I’ll strike him when we are only a foot or so from the bank, and thus his forward momentum will carry us all the way to the bank.

About two feet away from the bank, the spider executed her plan. Just when the little frog pushed with his webbed feet against the water and was propelled forward, the spider stung him on top of his head. She emptied part of her poison into that critical part of his body. Immediately, the diminutive frog felt an excruciating pain, and his body started shaking. Then his legs froze in place. His lungs collapsed, and his body shrunk. He could not float. He started sinking, and simultaneously, the water started carrying him downstream.

The spider immediately realized what was going on. She thought that she had to do something. First, she started cajoling the little frog. However, seeing no reaction, she started threatening him that if he did not try hard to reach the bank, she would empty her remaining poison into his head.

The little frog tried extremely hard but could not move a muscle. He could not save himself, much less respond to the spider’s threats. All he could do, after mastering all of his remaining strength, was to utter, “If only …”

And before he was able to finish his sentence, he and the big black spider went under the water of the fast-moving stream.

The spider’s internals filled with water, and tiny bubbles came up on the stream’s surface. She lost consciousness forever.

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