A few weeks ago I saw a cricket in our kitchen. Brian wanted to kill it. In the time it took me to convince Brian that we should try to catch and release the cricket, it smartly hid behind our refrigerator. So, we've been treated to the cricket's song time and again. Having been raised around a lot of crickets I wasn't bothered by it's noise. In fact, ususally I didn't even notice it. This was not the case with Brian. There was a night when we had just settled to go to sleep, and the cricket began it's song. Brian went into the kitchen, shook the fridge a little and said, "You'd better be quiet if you know what's good for you."
--
A few days later we saw the cricket again. This time it had a friend. Brian wasn't quick enough to kill both of them, but one went to meet his maker. The surviving cricket's days were numbered. Last night we were enjoying an episode of "The Office" when I noticed a cricket sitting on the carpet just in front of the t.v. stand. I pointed it out to Brian. He jumped to attention, running to the bathroom for some tissue while singing, "Kill the cricket! Kill the cricket!" in the same vein as Elmer Fud singing about killing Bugs Bunny. I just had to laugh. Brian was determined. Alas, the cricket evaded capture again. After his failed attempt Brian quizzed me on the composer of the song he was singing. I had no idea. It turns out that the piece was written by Wagner and adapted by the Looney Tunes people.
--
Later last night we were getting settled for bed when Brian spotted the cricket in our bedroom. This was one brave cricket! Again, Brian ran for the tissue. He got down on all fours and tried to catch the cricket. Boy, those things can really jump! It took him a few tries, but eventually he prevailed. With the cricket bound on a tissue Brian held up his trophy... and squished it. Yuck! The remains of the cricket were flushed to a watery grave. Rest in peace little friend. You put up a good fight.
--
We'll have to wait and see if there are any more crickets who dare enter our apartment and risk Brian's wrath.
