The Praying Mantis
The clock said 5.36 and the chilly morning breeze embraced her body as she stepped out to the back porch with rosary at hand. She began conversing with her consideration of Divinity keeping a gaze on her mother’s cactuses with tiny leaves peeping out of each thorn towering over their own personal confinement. She loved them, growing up to her ankles, some to her waist. The two in the front yard actually reached her height. Out of her slight ignorance for the flora kingdom, she never witnessed cactuses which possessed the ability to grow leaves. When she thought of cactuses, she pictured the desert where the growth of leaves would only increase evaporation rate, whereas the plant itself needed to store as much water as possible to defy the scorching nature.
You’re a dumb idiot, she said to herself.
But she wasn’t in some cruel mass of heat. She was at her mother’s back yard where the weather most times gave her the chills. The thirsts of the cactuses have been more than obeyed.
The beads of the rosary danced with her fingers as soft drops of rain blanketed the soil. Countless nestled on the surface of the wide leaves of the papaya trees. Showered small pink roses and chrysanthemum waved back at her. The banana trees gave in to the gentle wind as the small lemon trees shivered in ecstasy.
She brought her nose to a few flowers and inhaled. Crouching down she smelled the wet soil too. Perhaps if anyone was watching, they would think she’s on rehab from a shrink. Yet on the contrary, she was in such bliss – an emotion she had been eternally hungry for. Still gripping to the rosary, allowing the beads to empower her thoughts, she rested on one of the marble stools.
On the round table next to the stools, the praying mantis stared straight at her exposing its light green oval eyes and set of jaws.
“Hello to you too.” She said flatly half disbelieving at her spontaneous willingness for a measly bug. The six legged creature raised its front legs ready for an attack. She grinned.
“Put your hands down. Relax…” She giggled wishing that the little insect could understand her human language. “I wouldn’t kill you even if someone pays me to.”
The insect crawled closer raising its head as if getting a better glimpse of its new companion.
“You’re cute but a bit feisty for my taste.” The girl went on dropping on her knees and bringing her nose 2 inches away from the inferior animal. She knew that male praying mantis can only mate once in their lifetime as the female would consume it right after their mating moment. “I bet you’re a female…”
“Let me see…” Her dad, a former entomologist professor entered the porch, took the green creature on his finger and gazed its lower body. “This is a female which means…” He looked at his daughter.
“It’s a born killer, sir.”
“Very good.” He approved as she felt a gush of relief. The last thing that she could allow to happen was appear brainless in front of her father. Lack of knowledge of his expertise never produced memorable moments. “The female mantis receives satisfaction by consuming its male friend after mating. Never forget your insects.” He left as abruptly as he arrived.
No sir, she thought. Never forget insects. Never forget proficiencies of your parents. Those limited topics might just be the ammunition to maintain little threads of conversation.
Little threads of conversation between her father and her held such timeless value to their relationship. Fixing her eyes on the creature, she allowed it to dwindle on her lap.
“So you’re a born killer ay? God was trying to be funny when He invested time in you I guess…”
The insect crawled leisurely, its front legs digging delicately on the surface of her skin.
“If I had killed all of my former mating companions…” She stopped.
The insect had reached her left hand while her right still clutched to the rosary. It raised its two front legs again, ready to defend itself from the most subtle movement of her hand.
“Relax…You look really stupid like that. If only you can see from my eyes…”
The insect stood frozen, both front legs up and stiff.
“You really think you can take me…I bet you don’t realize how small you are compared to other animals that you don’t even know…” She moved her hand to the table hoping the creature would land on its surface. But it froze on her fingers.
“I won’t kill you. I’m not like you. That’s your problem. You think everyone is like you…”
Finally the insect stirred and hopped on the table taking a few steps back, eyes still on her human friend.
The girl continued chanting for the Divine, the beads of the rosary moving faster amongst her fingers. She opened her eyes as her mother’s screaming voice from upstairs broke her precious silence. Her dad’s voice, just as loud, killed whatever left of that silence. Her mother began sobbing.
She clenched her teeth as she squeezed the beads.
“You have to learn to trust me. You have to be comfortable around me and know that I won’t kill you. If you behave, I’ll even give you a lifetime supply of fresh leaves and male companions!” She looked at the 3 inch insect which stared back at her, this time with all six legs sprawled comfortably on the marble surface.
“If you can’t open up then you’ll always be scared of me, which is pretty meaningless, you know…since I can give you everything you need…”
She stopped and felt her beads. She turned to the praying mantis moving its jaws.
She was the six legged creature all along, in fear of the Divine who had only love for her. There was not much left between the walls she was breathing in, but there was an endless ocean of love from her Divinity. God would never sob and break a silence she most enjoyed. God would never scream or grab away her sense of security. God would never ever make her cry in search of comfort. He would assure her that she had nothing in this world to worry about. God would take her fears away.
“You’re lucky to be in my back yard. I would never in a million years kill you.” She spoke to the praying mantis which she allowed to embrace her fingers. She wondered what God back yard could possibly looks like.
