We can't all be rattlesnakes

By Patrick Jennings

Subjects: Human-animal relationships, fiction, Juvenile fiction, Human-animal relationships, Pets, fiction, Fiction, Animals, fiction, Snakes, Snakes, fiction, Children's fiction, Captive amphibians, Humorous stories, Captive wild animals, Pets

Description: I am a snake. No, not a rattlesnake. I just look like one. I’m a gopher snake. One day an oily, filthy, fleshy human child crossed my path. As luck would have it, he knew the difference between a gopher snake and a rattlesnake. He has imprisoned me in a terrarium. His name is Gunnar. He calls me Crusher. He thinks I’m male. I’m not. He dropped in a dead mouse and hoped I’d eat it. I buried it. He then dropped in a live one, which he called “Breakfast.” I didn’t lay a coil on it. Gunnar thinks I’ll be his adoring pet. He’s wrong. In fact, I am planning my escape. I may take Breakfast with me.