(If you haven't seen a land crab before click here for a charming picture.)
This is the true story of an adventurous land crab. It happened at our guest house at Lille Maho.
The Valiant Land Crab
Once upon a time there was a land crab. If he had a name, he didn't tell me, but I'm thinking it may have been something like Lancelot or Percival or Galahad. I think for this story I shall call him Percival, because it sounds like perseverance which he certainly had.
Once upon a time there was a land crab named Percival. He was a curious land crab who left his nice wet home, a hole in the ground in the mangrove swamp, to go exploring. His travels took him many places and he saw many things.
But eventually he grew tired of wandering and headed back home.
That's when he got lost and stumbled upon human habitation.
Percival had been warned by his family and friends to stay away from humans.
"If they catch you they will eat you," was the exact phrase they used.
Now Percival could smell and feel and taste the swamp with his gills. He knew if he could somehow get around or past these human dwellings he'd be able to find his way home by scent alone.
But there was no way around these human dwellings. He realized he was going to have to go through them. Percival thought long and hard about what he was going to do. He thought so long and hard that day turned into night. That's when he saw it, a light.
Percival crept towards the light and lo and behold he discovered an opening into the human dwelling!
He thought, "If I climb through this opening maybe I'll find a way through." He thought this because he had been told by his family and friends that human dwellings have many ways to enter and exit.
"A veritable and terrible maze of in-ways and out-ways," they said. "Not at all proper, like us, with a single door into each of our homes. If you enter, you will never get out. And if they catch you they will eat you."
But Percival had no choice. The only way to go was to go by way of this mysteriously lit in-way.
(Stay tuned for Part Two)
Oh Bish, this is such an MG story, you need to write this book!
ReplyDelete"If they catch you they will eat you" I mean really, what third grader wouldn't love that suspense.
LOVE the crab story!! (we had two pet crabs but alas, it is far too cold here for them.)
ReplyDelete"A veritable and terrible maze of in-ways and out-ways," they said. "Not at all proper, like us, with a single door into each of our homes. If you enter, you will never get out. And if they catch you they will eat you."
ReplyDeleteLove it!! I can picture this little crab.
Love it!
ReplyDeletelol how neat! I am looking forward to part2 :o)
ReplyDeleteThis is so great!!! I love it! I can hardly wait for part 2. Go Percival!
ReplyDeleteFinally, the land crab! Yay!
ReplyDeletePoor poor Percival. Can't wait to read the rest!
I think you should turn this story into a picture book. Land crabs aren't common animals and I bet kids would love to read about them.
ReplyDeletePlus Percival is pretty loveable. (Just don't let him get eaten!)
Love Percival. How cool is this story? IF YOU WRITE IT, THEY WILL COME. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know if you had the big peoples attention, (what with our short attention spans) you will keep the middle schoolers attention.
Can't wait for part two. :)