The Boy Who Cried Snake

Friday night, Maria and Nick were sopose to mop the floor and Nick was sopose to feed his snake. I was relaxed in my recliner, Maria was asleep on the couch with Claire, Paul was on the computer and Katelyn was coloring at the table.

From the otherside of the house I hear Nick screaming, Help!! Help!!. I didn't move or acknowdlege him as he and his brother are constinatly fighting and usually there is no blood or broken bones. He kept screaming. I yelled knock it off you two! Andrew yelled I'm in here mom. He was next to Paul. Everyone jumped at once now realizing that he must be hurt.

He comes running down the hall with our ball python wrapped around his arm and its fangs clamped on his finger. Droplets of blood were forming on his hand.

Relax I tell him. Great advice. It didn't work. Then again I don't really know if he relaxed. I tell everyone to stay calm that eventually the snake will realize he can't swallow Nick and will have to let go. Nick is turning a little red from holding his breath.

Here comes dad's advice. (Paul is terrified of snakes. Paul who barely ever cusses, who couldn't hurt a flea or any other animal except snakes is pumped.) I'll get a shovel and chop it's head off. Get the f'n santanic creature off his arm and I'm going to blow it's head off.

Come on we have to think, I say- relax.

Nick-- Mom, can I please say shit.

OK

SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul- I know let's shock him with ice.

Applied Ice- Snake tightens the grip and the fangs.

HUMMM ... hummm..... hummm...

Mom- I know let's put him in water. He'll have to come up for air.

Paul- ICE WATER!!!!

It worked the snake let go and boy was he mad. Andy armed with gloves, stick and a pillow sack and I wrestled the snake into the bag.

Paul and Andy went to return the snake to his cage and the snake wouldn't go in. Paul actually showed the snake his fist and said to it that he'd punch it if it didn't go in.

Now we are all laughing. Nick in tears- not wet ones. We called the doctor. Urgent Care $50, Antibodics $20 and 2 hours later all was calm.

Two morals to this story...

1. Don't cry snake because when you really need help no one will come.

2. Follow your mom's instructions, and feed your snake in the feeding tank do not stick your hand in with a mouse in it's regular cage or it might think you are a mouse.

P.S. Paul couldn't sleep knowing the snake was living in our house. The boys had to find him a new happy home. We still have 2 snakes though.