Mickey, the young mantis, poked his head out of the bougainvillea bush. There she was, the lovely Marula, sunning herself on the trellis by the stoep. He watched her in admiration as she stretched out her plump olive-skinned limbs. His ardour was rising. She was a gorgeous creature. If only he could get her to notice him.
He crawled down to the windowsill where Gerald the Gecko was snapping at flies. Gerald followed Mickey’s gaze. ‘That mantis-lady’s a tough cookie, Mickey. You should steer clear of her.’
‘But she’s…’
‘She’s too old for you, Mickey.’
Charlie the Chameleon slowly made his way up the lavender bush, his colour changing from a dusty grey to jade green. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing you two,’ Charlie said, rolling his eyes so that one fell on Marula and the other fixed on Mickey. ‘Don’t grow up too fast, Mickey, she’ll eat you for breakfast.’
Written in response to a prompt from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #31
The challenge this week was cookie.
Photo credit: Laurette van der Merwe
Author’s note: the female praying mantis doesn’t always eat her mate, although if he irritates her or she’s a bit peckish, she often will.
That’s one female I’d wouldn’t want to get angry. The Hall and Oats song completed this gem.
Nice one Chris.
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So pleased you enjoyed this Darnell 🙂
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I did 😊
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Good story. A female mantis is a dangerous thing. ❌😛
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🙂 sisterhood taken a little too far?
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Maybe! 😱
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Love it, Chris! So easy to visualize, and so fun to read. Thanks for joining in with your great take on the prompt!
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🙂 a little slice of life in my garden!
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Cute, Chris. And Mickey gets to live another day.
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Let’s hope he stays away from Marula!
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Was a fun read. Enjoyed it.
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Thanks for saying so 🙂
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🙂
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Very cleverly done. Loved. it.
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Thanks, Violet!
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… watch out boy she’ll chew you up …
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Still playing in my head 🙂
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What a fascinating account Chris. I loved it. 🌺 🌸 💐
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I’m pleased you enjoyed my little story Kavitha 🙂
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I like this one 😀
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, Debra 🙂
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Desire is hard to beat, even when death is threatening. Another good story.
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Thank you! We seem to be thinking along similar lines of late 🙂
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Ah, those mantises–they can be sweetly vicious! 🙂
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I love their little faces. Not sure I’d feel the same if I wasn’t so much bigger than them 😉
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Uff, I doubt it! 🙂 Whenever we watch Monster Bug Wars, those mantis things just about always win. There was this giant worm thing that bettered a mantis once, but that was about it!
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Monster Bug Wars? I’ll have to look that up!
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It was a pretty goofy YouTube series–imagine watching bugs while a boxing commentator speaks with a movie trailer dramatic voice 🙂
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Got it! Eish… had to turn it off 😉
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HA! I don’t blame you. It’s right up the kids’ alley, though 🙂
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