I killed a snake last April. It was an accident, of course. A garden snake got caught up in my lawn mower. My wife hates the sight of blood so she threw a real fuss about the whole thing, locking herself in the bathroom while I cleaned it. As I was rinsing the blade with the hose out front my father-in-law came up the drive. I explained the situation and he laughed it off. 

“That reminds me of a story.” He said. 

I started cleaning the motor, letting him talk as he wished.

“When I was your age I traveled to Egypt for my archaeology degree. I got a job at a workshop to pay for my hotel, repairing carts and making shelves, that kind of thing. There was this boy across the street, an orphan or something. He had a tent he would run around, begging for food. Real heart wrenching thing you know? I only stayed for about a month, but I decided to give the hungry little fella my lunch on my last day.

“I walked over and gave him a bit of apple or something. Guy snatched it right up, ran to his tent, and pulled out a stiletto snake! He gave the morsel to the snake and smiled at me. Weird kid.” He looked at his watch and back at me. “How much longer do you think? I just came for dinner but I have to see Joe about my radiator.” 

“Judy’s lost her appetite, I’m not cooking tonight.” 

The old man frowned and turned on his heels. 

“Well nevermind then, tell them I dropped by, and be more careful next time. Those critters aren’t as quick as you’d think. You can get right up to an ornery one and next thing your afternoon is ruined. Lord knows how that kid had one as a pet, stiletto’s are some of the most ornery around…” He patted my shoulder and pulled his keys from his pocket. 

“Maybe they were symbiotic?” I said, not really giving it too much thought as I finished wiping down the underskirt. He stopped about halfway down the drive, seemed to think for a moment, and laughed, turning to me. 

“Suppose that means we’re not then?” He went to his car and drove off with a smile. 

As I finished up with the mower I spotted the red head of the snake in the grass. I grabbed it and buried it with the flowers out back. Patting down the soil, I took a deep breath, and laughed.

 I should probably be more careful, I thought. Then again, it seemed so impossible to begin with. I was silly and cruel, all in one package.

“I guess I’ll get us pizza then…”