His movements were slow and deliberate, feeling his way with his front leg and one by one moving his other legs to propel himself.
It was almost as slow as watching paint dry …
I figured he must have gotten in between the screen and window through the tears torn in the screen by squirrels.
I watched as it looked like he might make it to the largest tear and escape … as he neared the hole I felt myself hoping he would step on through but … ever so slowly he stepped around and started back towards the spot where I first noticed him.
In order to raise my window, I would have to take down all my plants and shelves. I thought about it … but at the time, I didn’t have the time.
Every now and then I checked his progress .. he was still plodding slowly .. going in circles … bypassing the torn areas of the screen each time …
I wondered how much longer he could survive without food or water in his quest for freedom.
As I went about my routine, I forgot about him … until the next day when I looked for him.
He wasn’t there …at first I thought he would be lying dead there between the window and screen or still plodding back and forth but there was no sign of him at all.
He must have accidentally found the hole and freedom and I don’t have to strip the window to set him free.
©2010 Joyce E Coley
There are several praying mantis' on this novelty "bugs" quilt.
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