By Erika Kar
I first noticed him on the computer speaker. He thought he was camouflaged.
And this is how we met.
I laughed at him because I could see him.
The speaker is black, but he was just a shade browner than true black.
When I laughed at him, his funny little telescopic eyes looked my way. And as sure as I am sitting here typing right now, he cocked a non-existent eyebrow at me and said, “Oh yeah? Game on, human.”
Okay, I admit it. He did not speak.
I pointed him out to my husband. Who then flicked him off the speaker.
The spider saw this as a fair first strike.
And he then began plotting his retaliation.
He huddled in the shadows, waiting.
Waiting.
I did not see him for the rest of the day, and expected him to have died from the flick.
He was, after all, only a small spider, perhaps a centimeter long, and a bit delicate in appearance.
I underestimated him.
The next day, I noticed a smallish bite on my wrist.
The spider’s first attack.
He was a sporting little fellow, not to mention sneaky. The bite did not itch terribly or swell up like most spider bites do. My opponent was not looking to injure. Only play.
As I sat at my computer, moving my mouse, there he was.
Watching me. Studying my moves. Would I hurt him? Kill him? Or had I agreed to the rules of the game?
He ran sideways, quite crablike, toward my hand.
I wondered if he was going to run by and bite me.
I left my hand where it was, calling his bluff. And he stopped and just looked at me.
And this is how we became friends.
Throughout the day, whenever I sat down at my computer, he would come out from in between some files, or from behind a lamp. Then once he knew that it was me, he would run and sit next to my mousepad.
He seemed to understand English, and when I asked him if he wanted to play again, he scurried away. But then peeked out from his hiding spot to see what game I planned on playing. I drummed my fingers next to him, which he thought was quite a fun move. His joy over our game caused him to run back and forth and around my hand. I tell you, I heard him laugh.
I was very pleased with my little spider friend and wanted to share this with my son who is very interested in all things science. I called him over while he was getting ready for bed and asked him if he wanted to meet a special little spider. My son finished brushing his teeth and came over.
I should have seen it coming.
As soon as we went to my computer, my little friend sensed me and ran out.
I smiled and pointed him out to my son.
He took one look and…
SPLAT!
He smashed him with a book.
The End.
