Spiderella

Poor Nora's nights have been plagued with insects lately, she moans and shrieks in her sleep, wakes and complains about bees and spiders. What should I do? She drew a picture recently of a pack of bats and a pack of cats so I taped them to the wall by her bed with the suggestion that they'd help keep the creepy crawlies out of her dreams.

Yesterday Russell told me that he's playing the role of the Cicada Prince in his class production of "Spiderella," and must kiss the spider princess. And I notice I no longer have as much fear of the Silverfish that seem to thrive around here, although I'm not kissing them. They've simply become a slightly creepy glyph suggesting the nervous system we all share. I'm much more frightened of the poisons you kill them with. I wouldn't mind if a non-toxic predator could lend a hand or beak, though, and perhaps gobble up a few of Nora's nightmares.

Meanwhile my Roman cocklebur pal councils one to "Willingly give thyself up to Clotho (one of the fates,) allowing her to spin they thread into whatever things she pleases." (Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, IV, 34.) I really do want to know what she'll come up with. I'm all eyes.