The Dark Side...Walk
Categories: Writing Challenge,Humor,Writing,death,surreal,Blogging
You might be surprised at the number of things that won’t operate in the absence of electricity. In the midst of commenting on another blog yesterday my power went out, and immediately I thought, “What would Edison do?”
TV was out of the question. The computer was, obviously, a no-go. The coffeemaker, blender, stove, toaster and new phones weren’t functioning. Even the cat seemed sluggish, but that may have been the lack of air conditioning.
As I sat, quietly, on the front step enjoying a small breeze, waiting for my power to be restored, an ant wandered by in the dirt beside the sidewalk. Just a typical ant going about its ant business doing typical ant things; and it dawned on me that the ant’s power hadn’t gone out. This ant was enjoying the same luxuries it had been experiencing all day. I was this close (holds right thumb and forefinger about ½ inch apart) to a profound analogy when, suddenly, a 2nd ant appeared.
It approached the 1st ant and over the course of a few seconds there was some sort of exchange. The 2nd ant nodded in my direction as the 1st ant glanced up, and both of their little shoulders seemed to start shaking. It was clear that the 2nd ant had informed the 1st ant of my electrical problems. Not only that, they were both finding it terribly amusing!
This morning as I left the house a procession of ants, hauling what looked like 2 little ant caskets, paraded across the sidewalk; several of them flashing wicked stares in my direction.
I don’t care what Al Gore says; tonight I’m sleeping with the light on.
(This is in response to the writing challenge, "What I learned from...A Sidewalk" over at MiddleZoneMusings. Not qualified for the prize, however, because I think I had posted something very similar on a, now defunct, site a few years ago.)
This should win regardless...
ant caskets, indeed. You write the most adorable stories.
Cheers,
Mitch
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Thanks, Mitch. How much do I owe you?
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Beware of those ants. They can be a scary breed.
But you really need to worry when a line of aunts is crawling about outside your door.
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Now THAT'S scary!
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I'm personally convinced ants are evil little scouts for the BIG boys back in the hive...
Hey, tip o' the hat for the contribution to WILF, Bubba!
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How big?
My pleasure, Robert. And thanks for the visit.
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Looks like the ants have you saying "uncle" without firing a shot!
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Manipulative little beggars, aren't they?
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Very
conciseclever entry.p.s. But I think Al Gore got that from Motel 6.
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Thanks, Terry. And I hope you know I meant "concise" in the most flattering sense. As in "clear, professional and well-written".
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I must say, I was shocked when I read this. Shocked, and a little disturbed.
You let Gwendolyn go without air conditioning?
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Not for long...she wouldn't stand for such a thing.
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Ants aren't powered by electricity? My teachers lied!
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Oh, no, they're powered by electricity alright. It seems they carry their own personal generators. Now, apologize to your teachers.
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Hilarious! I totally did not see that coming. I guess the ants did not either. But, now that you made me laugh at you (or your story at least), are you going to step on me too?
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Not a chance. Thanks for stopping by, reading and commenting. It's nice to make your acquaintance and I'll run by and read your entry first chance I get.
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Caskets, eh? They must be carpenter ants. Maybe you could be a little more threatening and get them to build that add-on you've been wanting?
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Yeah, you'd think I'd get a new deck out of it, at least.
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This made me laugh! Now, I'm wondering which ants will fix my toilet and which ones will terminate their employment when they botch the job?!
Cheers,
Mitch
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This made me laugh, too!
I am in the midst of an ant war. They have decided to hang out in my kitchen - no food, no trails, but a random scattering of hundreds of aimless ants every evening.
I would leave the light on, too.
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Sorry about your ant troubles, but thanks for visiting! And commenting!
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Were they banging the drum slowly for the funeral? Perhaps, they got the drum from the same place that carries the teeny little caskets.Note that your ads are all about lilling the little buggers. This is indeed dark. Count Sneaky
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I forget the pace of the drums.
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This is double-dark material. Note that your ads are all about killing the little buggers. Don't ask for whom the drum bangs slowly. It may bang for thee!
Count Sneaky
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