Snake!

Claire found a snake in our house this morning. Yes, it was a baby, no bigger than a long worm, but babies have mothers. J trapped it under a glass, and I went to get the neighborhood guard, because the instructions we received were to call the fire department anytime you find a snake in your house (I'm assuming so they can identify whether or not it is poisonous). The guard came and took a look and said he'd be back with a tool. He returned a few minutes later with a pair of disposable chopsticks and an empty cup, presumably from his breakfast. The snake was so skinny (and MAD) that he had trouble catching it, but once he trapped it under the edge of the glass, he was able to squeeze its head with chopsticks until it died. Of course, the whole time, Claire was saying "Don't kill it.  Don't kill it." Some of you may remember that Claire caught a snake earlier this year when we were camping in Virginia. She really wants a pet--of any kind.  But, we've already had several serious talks with the kids about poisonous snakes here.  In fact, one morning Paul told me, "Dad told us about dangerous animals."  I said, "What kind?"  He said, "Um, snakes...and dogs...and dinosaurs."