The Creepie Crawlie Twitch

Isn't it interesting how God has a sense of humor?! You all know of my spider encounter last night . . . Well . . . hang on to your hats . . . and let the twitching begin. You know the twitch I'm talking about, right?! You know, the one that happens when a hair brushes your skin and you think it's the GIANT SPIDER back from its watery grave for revenge . . . picture this . . .

It's a lovely fall day in Miss Miller's classroom. The children are gathering on the carpets for an enthusiastic reading of Pippi Longstocking (chapter 3) by the bug-shy Miss Miller. She's already shared her spider adventure with the children (much to their amusement and empathy!) . . . The scene is now set . . . Miss Miller reaches down to pick up some books that have fallen over . . . She kind of shuffles them on her lap to straighten them out . . . and a student shrieks-- "There's a gecko on your skirt!" In approximately 1/8th of a second, Miss Miller shrieks--leaps from her chair, and watches the teeny-tiny gecko (about 2 inches long--nose to tail) sail through the air into the corner.
Suddenly, a swarm of 10 third grade boys are smashing themselves into the corner for a closer look, and there is shoving and shouts of "Don't kill it!" Miss Miller, although shaken and startled, stands and proclaims, "Please don't kill it--it's just a little gecko!" Awwwww . . . Miss Miller is so brave:) So, the gecko remained in the corner for the rest of Chapter 3 and disappeared within the classroom . . . perhaps to be seen another day.

Picture this . . .
It's an hour later, and the class is studying poetry. Miss Miller has just been reading a lovely poem by Langston Hughes, and the class has been creating "pictures in their mind" like true poetry-appreciators. Rain drops turned into missiles and morphed into gentle kisses . . . it was peaceful and lovely . . .
until . . .
"COCKROACH!!!!!" In one swift motion and amid shrieks from 21 children and a slightly discombobulated (I have NO idea how to spell this) teacher, a third grade beetle lover wrapped up the offending roach in a kleenex and headed for the popular burying grounds for insects--the toilet. Upon returning from his quest, he announced "Cockroaches can swim."


Yes, just another chapter in the adventures of third grade . . .
. . . Are you twitching yet?!