Gone

Joy. Joy. The snake is gone. Shane found it under his bed, and Victor held it down with a mop while Shane came upstairs for reinforcements. Hiromi donned gloves and gallantly carried it outside.

"Take it far away," I begged as I saw it on its way out.

"Kill it," Shane said.

"Far away is OK."

"No. Kill it."

Hiromi killed it.

I can't believe I came that close to begging for its life.