“What?!?! There’s actually a National Save A Spider Day?” Mom screamed and pointed at the painted window on Kirby’s Grocery Store. The window was festooned with cobwebs and spiders. Spiders of every color and shape danced across the glass. The mural gave the time and date of the “National Save A Spider Day Dance,” March 14th.
Mom looked pale as she grabbed a cart and pulled me past the mural. She scratched her arms, and pulled her coat around her tighter.
“Promise me, Jill…promise you won’t do anything foolish like go to that dance.” she said.
Mom’s spider phobia was legendary in our town. Last month she had called 911 because a harmless golden garden spider was crawling through her begonias. And then there was the spider incident of 2006, which got us banned from the gym.
“Mom, don’t get all freaky. It’s not like they’ll be giving out door prizes like tarantulas or black widows. Besides,” I said as I reached past her and grabbed three bags of chips, “I have something more important planned for that day and it doesn’t include spiders. We need plenty of dip, mom, National Potato Chip Day is also on March 14th!”
Pat Kennelly is a freelance writer who occasionally contributes to her blog, www.countessarugula.blogspot.com
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