We were having a party. Friends were drinking wine and talking, kids swimming in the lake. Peaceful and the best kind of high-summer Sunday afternoon.
A few of us walked down behind the garage where I’ve set up a shooting range for bow and arrow practice. We took turns shooting arrows at the target, talking about the days when people used bows and arrows to get food or protect themselves.
As we walked back past the garage, someone noticed a three foot long copperhead snake in the driveway. It slithered under Paul & Michelle’s car. He got in (gingerly) and drove away, leaving the snake in the open again. Our other friend Paul was carrying the bow and suggested he shoot the snake with an arrow. We all laughed. “Thwapp!” With just one shot the snake was pinned to the dirt through the middle of its body and couldn’t get away. It started writhing and seemed to be in a lot of pain. That’s when Jay said, “I’ll get the axe and chop its head off.” He did just that. A small group of small children watched, amazed.
Paul picked up the snake’s carcass with a hoe and flung it into the woods, and everyone pretty much went back to what they were doing. Though the adrenaline level was a little higher than before.
Afterwards, I felt bad for the snake. Wrong place at the wrong time. But you can’t have copperheads hanging around your garage.
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1 comment:
murderers.
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