Did you ever have an encounter with a creature that left you wondering if he or she was smarter than you? Well meet me, Willard, I did. Having turned 88 recently I decided that I had earned the right to indulge myself in an afternoon nap.
I had just closed my eyes and got myself into a relaxed position when a lone fly landed on my right arm. There hadn’t been a fly in my house since “Hector was a pup.’’ I guarantee there won’t be a fly in here for long. I later found out that was as foolish a statement I made.
This was no ordinary run of the mill house fly. I soon found out he was the Einstein of the fly kingdom. He or she soon knew that I wasn’t very adept with my left arm. Like a former boxer he decided that my attempts with my left hand would be ineffective. So his forays were to my right side and face. He knew I wouldn’t slap myself. As a matter of fact he knew what my moves would be before I did.
The first half hour was simply a swat by me and a zooming escape by Cedric. I swear I could hear a derisive chuckle as he flew away. The chuckle became a loud laugh as the afternoon wore on. My right side began to show signs of bruises. I didn’t have a fly swatter. (Do you?)
So I folded a newspaper. Now we’ll see who triumphs. With this paper I can even swat my face. Cedric was more than up to the task. He was way ahead of me in this game. With his acrobatic maneuvers he must have taken lessons (in an earlier life) from the red baron of World War 1. With loops and swoops and barrel rolls and stalls Cedric had ‘em all.
After an hour or so I decided enough is enough. Cedric just had no respect for an old man’s afternoon nap. I might as well give up and proceed with my days work of doing nothing. After my supper a walk around Dohme park a little TV, then to bed. I hadn’t seen any more of Cedric. Do you reckon he had read Ben Franklin? You know, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise.’’ I sure hope it worked better for him than it did for me. No doubt he had tired of the game since I offered no real competition.
The next morning after breakfast and an enjoyable cup of coffee with a friend then my morning walk around Dohme Park I decided to finish reading yesterdays paper before lighting in to my days work of doing nothing. I had just settled into a comfortable position when guess what? Yep, you got it, Cedric is back. I definitly heard him ask, “Want to play?’’ What could I say? I had no choice. I told him in a loud voice (that was another mistake) we’re not going to do this all day. I know Cedric answered, “We’ll see.” For the next 30 minutes or so we played as Cedric said and directed. Let me correct that statement, Cedric played and I, with blood in my eye and mounting anger and frustration, was working hard trying to swat him. I finally just gave up and decided to start my days work. But wait I must record this on paper for posterity. A genius only comes along once every hundred years and future generations must be made aware of and learn from them.
Cedric in addition to his brain power had the speed of a cheetah, the agility of a long tailed house cat in a room full of rockers, and the endurance of a Nigerian marathon runner. He lacked nothing, he had it all. I was in the presence of a true genius. Never again will I wish that Noah had denied Cedric’s ancestors entrance to the ark.
This afternoon when I climbed into my recliner for my afternoon nap Cedric was a no show. I missed him, really I did, but of course it was like you miss a sore toe.
If Cedric had died I hoped it was a natural death. To be truthful I hoped he had just tired of my feeble attempts and moved on to a more capable foe. I was no match for the fly genius named Cedric.