The Mystery of Baby America
One day late last summer we bought three little hermit crabs. Each had a painted shell. The largest of the three was painted like Batman, so we called it “Bat Crab.” The middle-sized one was painted with the Superman “S” so we called it “Super Crab.” The smallest of the pack had an American-like flag painted upon its shell and we called it “Baby America.”
One day, my oldest son was checking out the habitat when he knocked over the table the little home sat upon. The table was narrow since it was meant to fit against a wall and expand when needed. It’s not all that stable in its closed configuration, so it’s no wonder my son tipped over the whole thing.
With a crash, everything spilled out. The crabs went flying, the rocks and fake trees when flying, and the kitchen was covered in crabs and crab accessories. Bat Crab and Super Crab were shocked and moving quickly in opposote directions. I swept them up to safety and looked for Baby America, but the little crab was nowhere to be found.
Afetr much stress and searching, we never found Baby America. Its whereabouts was a big mystery and something that made my wife and me very sad. We knew Baby America was going to starve to death.
Zoom forward to the present, 8 months after the incident, and Baby America was found. Inside was the dried out husk of the poor little crab. His painted shell serving as his tomb. My wife removed the crab’s former earthly form and threw it in the garbage. I would have buried it and held some kind of ceremony, but she was more concerned with not having the kids see Baby America in such a sorry form. We wept, but were relieved that the mystery was finally solved.
Know this, Baby America died free from the bondages of his habitat and that must be worth something. As they say in New Hampshire, Live Free or Die.
