Dear Reader,
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The quality of writing in this year's Write a DearReader Contest was outstanding. Today's Honorable Mention piece was written by Michele Acker. Thank you so much Michele for sharing this story with us.
The Snake at the Library
Several years ago, I volunteered every Saturday morning at my local library. One Saturday when I arrived, a number of the library staff were outside looking in the bushes that surrounded the back of the building. When I inquired what they were doing, I was told that they were looking for a missing "therapy snake" named Fred who disappeared the night before. Fred belonged to Joe, one of the library patrons who claimed Fred provided him emotional support. Since by law therapy animals could not be refused entry at a public library, Fred was allowed to enter. Fred was an 18-inch-long, non-venomous ball python. He spent his days curled around Joe's neck. Understandably, he tended to attract lots of attention!
Unfortunately for Fred, many of the other library patrons weren't too pleased to have him in the library. Joe received many dirty looks and under the breath comments about Fred. These looks and comments got Joe agitated and eventually, he and Fred were asked to leave the library. While Joe was gathering up his things to leave, he decided to put Fred out on the bench right outside the library. When Joe returned 2 minutes later, Fred was gone! Joe panicked and he searched everywhere for Fred. All the library staff looked as well but Fred was nowhere to be found. Joe left that Friday evening heartbroken. He left his contact info with the librarian asking her to call immediately if Fred turned up.
The next morning, the library staff resumed their search. I helped them look but again Fred was nowhere to be found. Several hours later as I prepared to leave, I had a funny feeling about Fred. I told the librarian that I was going to look outside again and I would knock on the door for her to come running if I found him. As I exited the building and looked in the bushes, there was Fred stretched out sunning himself on top of a bush. I ran and frantically pounded on the door. The astonished librarian came running outside. Fred was unaware of our commotion and the librarian was easily able to catch him. Fortunately, neither of us were afraid of snakes. We quickly placed Fred in a large box, making him comfortable by adding some leaves and a stick from the outside. When the librarian called Joe to tell him Fred had been found, he sobbed with relief. He came several hours later to pick him up, expressed his thanks, and Joe and Fred never returned to the library again.
Speculation was varied about what Fred did outside on that Friday night. I like to think that he enjoyed being on the run, briefly relieved of his therapy duties. Hopefully he found a stray mouse in the bushes and he was able to enjoy a take-out meal. I have retold this story many times over the years. Reactions have been mixed from horror by those who are afraid of snakes, disbelief that a snake could be considered a therapy animal, and amazement that Fred was found. I like to think that Fred was ready to be found and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time!
Michele Acker
Honorable Mention, 2020 Write a DearReader Contest
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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