From The Past: April 11, 2005

We had only put Ashley to bed ten minutes before she returned to our room practically in tears. “There’s something in my corner!” She was terrified.

“Well, let’s go listen.” I responded.

So, she and I walked into her room while Kevin stood outside the door just in case something had gotten in. (Many years ago, a vole found its way into our house. It was a nightmare trying to catch that thing!)

I sat down on her bed and said, “Let’s just listen.” We were very quiet and then we all heard the light scratching sound. I truly thought something was in her corner behind her Barbie’s when she exclaimed, “My worm!”

We all looked over at the shoebox which had been in her room, on her side table since mid-October. “Could it really be that?” I thought to myself.

“Grab the box! Quick!” I told her.

She grabbed the box and I put an ear up to it. Yes, that was where the sound was coming from. We all quickly went to the backyard in our nightclothes and slowly, carefully opened the lid to the shoebox.

This is what we saw:

It’s hard to believe it lived in this box, wrapped in the cocoon in the corner since October. Kevin and I honestly thought it was dead. I cannot tell you how happy I am it survived.

We have laid the shoebox outside and slightly ajar. He’s on his own now.