Morning Drama

Once again I was the victim of early morning terror. Held hostage in my own bathroom by my worst enemy, a spider. And boy could this one jump. I was in the bathroom doing my own thing and minding my own business when I saw him, black with white things moving in the front. I suspect they were detachable fangs used for shooting poor victims such as myself. I held my breath so as not to create awareness of my presence and close proximity. Then without warning he jumped three times and made it clear across the little bathroom after which he staked out his territory right smack in the middle of the shower. I did what anyone in my situation would; I gave him some privacy to do whatever he wanted in the shower. I came back a few minutes later and there he was, still holding his position, a smug look on his face that said “you wouldn’t dare!” And actually I didn’t. But then I realized I cannot be a victim forever. I suddenly felt like the little engine that could. I snuck around and turned on the water. And the itsy bitsy spider was washed down the drain.

Even after watching him go down the drain, I was still a little shaken. I scrubbed and scrubbed to get that feeling of being watched, stalked even, off my skin. I washed twice with Lifebuoy soap just in case there had been any airborne bacteria, or worse, venom. I live in India, why can’t I just have normal problems like a cobra under the bed or monkeys stealing the clothes off the terrace as they dry?