Mr. Crab and Mr. Anemone
(A hermit crab has just realized that he can barely fit into his shell and the only other
creature in earshot to hear his cries is a sea anemone who lives on the hermit crab's shell and has been the hermit crab's close friend for many years.)
Lament dear shell! For we stayed in the sun too long and you have shrunk!
How shall I survive with out you to protect me and house me from the sea?
Shrunk!?! A sea-shell? How is it that a shell could shrink, I ask you Mr. Crab?
How could something hard grow small? Maybe something that is soft grew large?
Mr. Anemone, what exactly do you mean? Something that is soft???
My shell is hard and my claws are harder. I can crack coconuts and coquinas alike.
No doubt, Mr. Crab, your claws are hard indeed, as hard as the shell on your head.
But what about your tail? Could it be that your tail has grown too big for your house?
Mr. Anemone, don’t be foolish. I am as fit as a fish and sleek as a snake.
I highly doubt that my tail could be at fault, to be honest; I’m a bit insulted you would say so.
Dear Mr. Crab, my intent is not to insult but to illuminate OUR current predicament.
The shell on which I sit and in which you live is no longer big enough for YOUR tail -- are
you listening?
Oh, excuse me Mr. Anemone, this blue-green algae is wonderful today.
Would you care for a snack? It really is quite delicious and you are looking a bit thin.
Mr. Crab, case and point! You have already eaten breakfast twice today, this is your third.
I believe we have narrowed in on the reason your shell has “shrunk”. Are you paying
attention!?!
Mmmmm, delicious algae; its so sweet when its fresh. Oh yes, I heard you.
The sun has shrunk my shell and we must now say goodbye to our old home.
Mr. Crab, a moment ago you were crying about the lack of room and potential eviction
from our home,
Now you munch away, ever expanding your tail and threatening our protection and even
our lives!
(something floats down from the surface and comes to rest on the sand a few feet from Mr.
Crab and Mr. Anemone)
Hello, what’s this Mr. Anemone? Round opening, hard outer surface and very shiny,
And writing on the side, hmmm, “bud-weis-er”. Budweiser! Sounds like a great name for a
new home.
Yes indeed Mr. Crab. When all hope seems lost and the end seems near, Mother Sea
provides.
And it would seem she has provided something big enough even for YOUR tail.
Copyright © Slight Buckling | Year Posted 2010
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