Pablo rolled up one side of the canvas that shielded his flowers from the sun. It was already hot.
Miguel slept, wrapped in his dreams, stretched out behind the flower cans. He could sleep anywhere, a blessing of youth.
Pablo watered his flowers and fiddled with his arrangements, enjoying the fragrance and beauty, until he was alerted by the hissing rattle that warned of danger. Glancing at his own feet, he saw nothing. Moving carefully around the truck, he finally spotted the snake coiled near his son’s head.
His clippers were his only weapon.
Just Writing! 
I hope the clippers were enough!
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Me too! He’ll have to be quick and accurate. For his child, I think he can do it 🙂
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WOW that would be a terrifying sight. Hope it all turns out okay.
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I’m going to assume that it did.
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I did not expect the ending lines, a story that brings home the dangers individual face
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Clippers do seem an inadequate weapon
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They do, indeed. I’ve seen some florists’s clippers, though, that have sharp points and blades. let’s hope Pablo has a good idea what to do next.
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Hopefully, long handles too. Keep some distance.
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Nah, you can stab AND cut 🙂
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Oh wow!! I did not expect that.
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Neither did I 🙂
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Joining others in hoping the clippers are enough. I think they will be; Dad sounds determined.
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I think so. I think it will turn out all right.
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Oh no!
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i could only hope that the snake isn’t venomous and harmless. otherwise, he has a big problem on his hands.
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Hard situation… A snake usually only strikes if threatened, but if Miguel wakes up… And a rattler can be quicker than a hand, so Pablo may be in more danger if he tries to nab it, but it must already be agitated if it is rattling – they do that to scare away whoever is threatening them, so… hmmm, hope he is quick!
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Me too! I’d be scared out of my mind!
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Wow! So well done! I could see this in my mind’s eye, feel the adrenaline quickening through his veins, the determination, the need for precise movement. Well done!
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Thanks so much. I had no idea where the story was going when started it–talk about a surprise ending!
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It was fun!
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Wow, great story! I can see it and feel the fear. Well done.
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Thanks, Trish. That’s a valued compliment.
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And the rest is hiss-tory! Nice one, Linda.
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What Trent sad. You expertly lead us to the tense moment, great writing.
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Tale with a definite twist — or coil! I suspect your own fear of snakes is behind this one. 🙂
Definitely prayer needed here!
Practically speaking, Pablo might be better off luring the snake away with a piece of meat on those clippers than trying to snip it.
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Great idea, Christine! Thanks for your comments. I think you’re right–much as I hate them, I do occasionally write about snakes. Weird.
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Oh, that gave me a chill right up my spine, even though I had a feeling that’s where it would be!
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Snakes are horrible. Don’t have any idea why I wrote about this one!
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It was a very believable scenario!
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Thanks, Dale 🙂
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That’s a tense moment. Maybe in their hood, he, unfortunately, has such a moocho practice?
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From the picture, it seems likely it’s a desert-type of place, so maybe he doesn’t have the deep-rooted fear that I do. He’d have a cooler head if he’s had to deal with rattlers before.
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Great last line!
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Thanks 🙂
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Dear Linda,
Now that certainly got my pulse racing. May Pablo be swift and accurate with those clippers. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks, Rochelle. This was one of those stories that kind of wrote itself, surprising me at the direction it took.
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A definite cliffhanger this week, Linda. Where are Zing and Zang when you need them!
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🙂 Not sure they’d have the first idea what to do about a rattler–maybe go invisible?
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Wow, that was a cliffhanger! I’m still new to snakes, I have lived in Australia for 7 years now, and have seen 3 Eastern Brown’s so far, but I find them both fascinating and terrifying.
This is a great story, it sets the scene, making the reader want more! Well done 🙂
If you are interested, I have a short story, it’s a quick read over a cuppa, about a snake… https://fleursfabulousfables.wordpress.com/2021/02/20/border-blues/
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I hope he got it! Snakes and kids not good!
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I hope so too, Laurie.
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