Really Great Mantis

"Osamu, grab that trash off the living room table and come with me." When I'm in "papa's in charge" mode we get things done.

He was kinda goin' slow so I grabbed it myself as I headed for the kitchen. It looked like a piece of leftover origami paper from something the boys had cut and crafted earlier in the morning.

I handed it to Osamu as he obediently followed me and said, "Hey buddy, put all this in the trash can."

He made it clear across the living room and mere steps from the trash can when he realized the "trash" that I gave him was actually some sort of thing that he had made. He started bawling like crazy and was inconsolable for a considerable amount of time. He's really good at that talk-crying thing where no one understands you through your tears and howling but somehow you still command everyone's complete attention.

I'm walking in the early evening. Our neighborhood association flower beds are looking amazing. The sunflowers grow so fast. When we get back from our summer trip I expect to see the full exquisiteness of the flower design and selection.

I was walking down the street and caught sight of a really great mantis just standing by the curb. He wasn't too big. He could fit in my hand. Not like those late summer gargantuan mantises.

So I scooped him up in my plastic bag and carried him home and deposited him into one of Kenzo's bug boxes on the front porch.

Later I was boasting about it and Kenzo was pretty excited even though he was tired and watching TV with Osamu. Eri was lamenting the fact that we don’t need any more bugs.

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