Two for one ...

I experienced an act of nature while feeding Zeta's and M's cats. It vaguely involved a double murder, of sorts. There is a big picture window in the kitchen at their house. I was sitting at the table in front of it and looking out while drinking from the travel mug of Starbucks I had brought along.

A movement caught my attention. When I determined it was not a floater in my eye, I focused on a housefly which had come inside with me. it was bumping the window glass in an effort to go back outside. I sat watching and thinking how they are always on the wrong side of the window: either always wanting out or always wanting in. This one had definitely decided out was better.

From the top of the window another character entered. It was one of those little jumping spiders we have down here. Not deadly, but definitely something you do not want landing on your arm while you are drinking hot coffee. It slowly descended the window glass, moving toward the angry fly. It did not come down a web but walked toward its intended prey in short bursts of steps, pausing between. It was more than an inch away when it let go of the glass and fell on the fly. The buzzing continued for a bit and then the fly was still.

I watched for a bit longer and then came to the realization that this was not my house, not my fly, and definitely not my spider. Doubling up a paper towel, I interfered with nature.

A double murder, the spider's and then mine ...