That spider -
I still remember him.
I might have called him “Fred”.
I was single,
a solo parent,
my son with me most nights -
lucky me!
On rare ocassion,
he would go to his mum’s
and Fred would keep me company.
Living in the far corner of my bedroom,
just above the foot of my bed,
I would talk to Fred
before bed.
How are you, old-timer?
Anything interesting today?
Very comforting,
having Fred.
We had this relationship for some weeks,
it seemed.
Just two blokes -
a daddy long legs,
and a single dude,
talking about the meaning of life.
One morning,
I woke up -
Holy shit!
There was a spider the size of my
very large fist
in Fred’s corner!
Fred!
I scooped up this new resident,
depositing him kilometers away,
sleeping with one eye open
for days.
I still miss Fred.
Was it painful, mate?
I will have a toast for you,
at Friday night drinks -
We went through a lot together,
Rest,
valiant
arachnid!
Lee Sturgis