Snake and Pain
6/1/1

The snake was very damaged. There was really nothing I could do. I should have killed him, but I didn�t.

I got out of work yesterday a little later than normal because Renaissance Man and I were discussing music. I borrowed a collection tape that he had made for himself and set out for the Movie Gallery to return the two DVDs we had checked out.

I was really pleased by the Stevie Wonder song Summer Soft, and also some of the Frank Sinatra.

When I pulled into the Movie Gallery closest to our house, Fight the Power was playing. I went in and asked the woman if I was at the right Movie Gallery, she said no, and told me the address was printed on the box.

I drove down Huff Road, which is still under construction, and headed west on US 72 to get to the Movie Gallery next to Space Station Bruno�s. I turned down the music when I got in the parking lot. Even though I had the windows up, I couldn�t have people hearing me cranking The Carpenters.

I returned the DVDs and headed back east. I got onto Slaughter Road and as I was approaching where they are making the new subdivision, Potter�s Field, I saw something that looked like road kill in the southbound lane. Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass were playing Casino Royale.

When a truck approached it, it reared up a foot tall. It was a big snake, about four and a half feet long.

It snapped at the tire of the truck.

I had to go a few blocks before I could turn around. I turned around at the street where the house with the unbelievably huge lot is. I went the distance back to Potter�s Field and pulled onto the gravel behind the snake.

The snake was only about a foot into the street and coiled around itself now. No cars had hit it since I first saw it.

He was damaged.

By the way, I can�t get across the vividness of the situation here. My writing skills are not enough. Think of the most clear you can imagine gravel on a cloudy day where it rained a few hours before. Add a road with ten years of age on it and a coiled snake with some damage.

The damage consisted of the last 4 inches of his tail being utterly destroyed. There was a small, grape-sized organ hanging out of what was still left of the tail. He may have been run over at another place in the road and the rest of his tail was there, or maybe it was just really smashed. He hadn�t bled much.

The damage that really caught my eye and made me realize that he was not going to survive these injuries was his skin. it didn�t seem to fit right anymore. There was a large rip in it about a foot from his tail. Through it you could see his pale pink muscles.

When he saw me, he opened his mouth, lopsided, and did a silent pain cry at me. I assume he was able to make contact with the truck he snapped at. Either that, or snakes just do the lopsided face when they are really hurt. Heck, I would.

I grabbed my straw hat I bought when Aisai and I were at Bush Gardens in Tampa as a shield. I had seen this snake in action. He may be injured, but he could still move. I looked at him, with both of us in the street so that cars wouldn�t hit him anymore.

I didn�t know what kind of snake he was. With no tail, and me not knowing snakes, I didn�t know if he was a rattlesnake.

I got out my camera and took two pictures. Then I looked around for something to help him with.

Four inch PVC pipe approximately five feet long about 100 feet away in the construction. I started walking toward it.

When I got to the pipe, I realized there was a four-foot long 2x4. I chose it.

When I got back, Mr. Snake was stretched out, moving, and headed straight at the open driver door of my Kronos.

I don�t know if in his pain-rage he was wanting to attack the car or if he was seeking shelter, but I didn�t want him under there.

He was spread out full length, moving by using the scales under his body. I had the 2x4. I should have killed him. But I didn�t.

I walked to the grass and threw the 2x4 into it. Then I walked back to the door of my car and got in.

The snake was still headed to the car. He was almost there.

I took extra care when backing to make sure I didn�t run him over. When I pulled back, he made the pain-cry looking lopsided face again.

I think he was headed to the car for shelter. He was out in the middle of nowhere. He would have had lots to hide in on the other side of the road, but I wasn�t brave enough to kill him, I�m sure not brave enough to carry him.

When there was a space, I pulled out onto the road. I had to go a half-mile to get to the next road to turn around.

When I passed Potter�s Field again, the snake had started to coil himself somewhat. He had his head hidden behind his body, but he was mostly linear.

I got home and started playing Gran Turismo 2.

When Aisai got home, I told her my snake story. She told me that she might have a pituitary tumor and might need brain surgery. We�ll know on Monday.