Thursday 18 January 2018

Death Wish


Dear friends,

I have some sad news to relate as well as being in need of some advice.

An acquaintance of mine has recently died. To call him a friend would be a bit of an exaggeration. He was in his late eighties and lived a few houses down the road. We used to be nodding acquaintances. That is, whenever we met in the street, we nodded at each other and said, "Good morning, Good evening, Hello, Good bye," and such like nonsense more out of politeness, on my part, rather than really wishing him or anyone else a good anything.

You see, normally I am a shy person and I do not partake in pointless conversation with complete strangers, even though they might live a few metres away from my house. If they see fit to nod and greet me in the street, I reciprocate and hope it never happens again.

Anyway, this fellow of whom I speak, died a few weeks ago and I did not know anything about it. I'll admit I had not seen him for some time and had assumed that he moved to another town where he was nodding greetings to someone else.

The first I heard of his demise was when I received a letter from a local firm of solicitors.  

I went to their offices as invited and sat there solemnly whilst an elderly dust covered lawyer read this deceased acquaintance's last will and testament.

To get straight to the point, this deceased octogenarian, with no doubt a pickled brain, did not have much to his name whilst alive, but what he had, he left it all to me.

Namely: His prized collection of Madagascar hissing cockroaches.

At first, I did not know what a Madagascar hissing cockroach was. The aged solicitor explained and said that the collection consisted of some thirty or so wonderful specimens.

In my naivety, I thought that I could take possession of these carcasses and then donate them to the local science museum, or some other entomological association. But when they arrived in their glass tank I became the proud owner of thirty-seven live hissing revolting creatures all running around their glass enclosure wondering who I am.

I will not describe the scene in our household when these uninvited guests arrived. Suffice it to say that relationships have been strained to breaking point. The delivery man was not interested in my dilemma. All he wanted was my signature and then he fled never to be seen again.

The tank was deposited in our entrance hall, on a table, where it still rests to this day. With their arrival was a note on how and when to feed them. Apparently, they eat fresh vegetables and dry dog food pellets.

And that's where I need your advice my friends. How can I get rid of thirty-seven live, uninvited, unwanted, unwelcome, bequeathed Madagascar hissing cockroaches?

Do you want any?

12 comments:

  1. A touching tribute, in a way - - - and a conundrum. There's word-play involving cockroaches lurking in there somewhere, hiding quite effectively.

    Thank you for this - day brightener? Inspiring message??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Brian,

      What would make that man, whom I hardly knew apart from the occasional nodding greeting, we never spoke, decide to bequeath me a collection of live cockroaches? Do I look like a person who would value such a gift of creepy crawlies? I know there's a hymn, "All creatures great and small" - but did it include such insects?

      And what does one do with such pets? Do I take them out for a walk in the park? Do I throw a ball and they fetch it back? Or do I teach them to talk like a parrot?

      God bless.

      Delete
  2. Did this fellow really bequeath hissing cockroaches to you, or are you just pulling our leg here? :) And no, I'll have none of it, thank you.
    Blessings, Victor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually Martha, a cockroach has more than one leg. They are really beautiful, the cockroaches, not the legs. Are you sure you do not want any of them? The cockroaches, not the legs.

      God bless you, and thank you for smiling.

      Delete
  3. I don't know what to say. . .Have a grand weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Cathy,

      It really is so nice to see you visiting me here again. I hope and pray you are well.

      God bless you my friend.

      Delete
  4. I must admit, this is the most unique . . . item I've ever heard of in a will. If it's not already too late, don't go getting the idea that nodding at people will always result in such, um, creative bequeathals.

    Might a zoo accept such a donation? I hope you can find a good home for them. And no, I most certainly do not need to add that sort of pet to our household. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jeanne,

      Years ago an old relative left me his false teeth collection in his will - all 235 of them. False teeth through the ages. I gave them to a dental museum.

      Thank you for your visit here. God bless you.

      Delete
  5. Wow, Victor, you must leave quite an impression on people. ;) You do receive unique items. Have a great Saturday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are probably right, Jeanne. Wherever I am people seem to stop and talk to me; when walking the dog, or the cat, when on the bus with my parrot on my shoulder, when on the train taking my goldfish for a swim at the seaside. Almost everywhere people stop and talk to me; or smile silently and nod a greeting.

      God bless. Wishing you a splendid weekend.

      Delete
  6. I’ll take them. I can take them to City Hall and let them free. They’ll feel perfectly at home with our mayor.

    ReplyDelete

I PRAY FOR ALL WHO COMMENT HERE.

God bless you.