Charlie the Caterpillar

I was tired and didn't really want to be cleaning up the back yard. There wasn't much to do. I just didn't want to do it. As I collected the 20 tennis balls that had been flung into the backyard over the course of the day, I felt something unfamiliar on my hand. Glancing down, I saw a black and gold stripe wiggling. I didn't think. I screamed and flung the 10 balls I had in my hands. Before they hit the ground, I began laughing. In my fatigue, a little caterpillar that was probably on one of the balls I picked up managed to startle me into undoing all the work I had just done.

Stooping down to collect the balls again and watching that I didn't step on the little fellow I had shaken to the ground, I called for the kids. "Eva and Xander, come here."

"Why?" they moaned from their great heights on the swing.

"You don't have to. I just thought you might want to see the caterpillar that scared me so much." It's always thrilling to see what a mother reacts foolishly too. Before I had replaced the balls in the deck box, both children were off the swings and searching the ground around the slide. Walking back over, I cautioned them to be careful that they didn't step on him and then pointed him out before going to collect more tennis balls.

They were enamored instantly. When I returned, the caterpillar was crawling around Eva's hand and up her arm as she laughed and cried out that he was tickling her. Xander was begging for a turn. The caterpillar was passed back and forth for nearly an hour. He crawled places I would never recommend anyone go. (Like Xander's belly button.)

"Okay guys. It's getting late and you need baths. Put the caterpillar down and come inside."

"His name is Charlie the Caterpillar," they said in unison. I really hate it when they name wild animals, or even domesticated ones that wonder into our garage or yard. It rarely bodes well for the animal or the children. "Well, put Charlie down and come inside."

"It's Chalrie the Caterpillar, not just Charlie." Eva informed me. Good thing too, because it would have been confusing to have both a dog and a caterpillar with the same name.

Xander whispered to Eva who shook her head in agreement. "He wants to come in with us," Xander pleaded.

"I don't think he does. Caterpillar's like grass and dirt, not hard floors and dogs that might smoosh them. Let Charlie go and come inside please."

"But mom, we can make him a nice home. See? I already picked some grass for him." Their eyes looked so hopeful, but I was not going to allow Charlie to mooch off of us.

"That's very nice, but I bet Charlie has a family of his own and he would miss them a lot. Let him go so he can find his family." Reluctantly they said their good-byes and gently lowered Charlie the Caterpillar to the ground.

This afternoon, after school, he kids went outside to throw tennis balls for the dog when I heard them shouting happily. I looked out the window to find them surrounding one of the casks. "Mom! Mom! Charlie is back!"

Walking outside, I saw a small orange and black butterfly (much the colors Charlie the Caterpillar was) sitting on the cask. I knew it wasn't him, but why ruin a good thing. "See mom? He turned into a butterfly last night and came back to see us. I love him!"

I walked back into the house, smiling at the Gods who made this whole experience possible. Tomorrow, I will order one of the butterfly kits.