Bath toy

The other day Bill woke up early and found our new bath toy waiting for us.  First thing he did was take a picture (always the journalist) and then came in to tell me not to freak out (DO I do that???), but there was a scorpion in the bath tub. At first I shivered, but then I got curious and wanted to see it, figuring it was a small thing and it would be good to know what they are like, since we've heard they are around. But no small thing! It was about 4 inches long and rather evil looking, twitching its venomous tail and scurrying around the tub, looking for a way out.

We have some Raid spray, something we would never use at home, though we weren't sure it would work on such a large, hard-shelled thing. But it did, and soon he was scoop-able. Into the toilet he went. Bill said maybe he would eat the frogs, but I doubt it works that way.

I guess they do occur here, but why us? And why so big? None of our neighbors have had them, including our friend Hannan who lived here for two years in the same compound. Well, we called the Most Important Person again, and he agreed it was probably coming up the pipes, probably from the big hole with the bare pipes sticking out in it. (Oh, that hole we pointed out a month ago???) He apologized and said they had just "forgotten." But this time, something happened. The hole is covered - with cement, not cardboard! And Bill, again my hero, has taped up the holes around the bathtub where there would usually be sealant. And, oddly enough, yesterday they delivered a bigger (used) refrigerator. We have no idea about why the fridge. It is probably the one thing we haven't complained about, but a bunch of guys brought it, also had no idea why, and here it is. We have taken to saying, "Every day is an adventure" and not asking questions like "why?"

I have been running writing workshops at a couple of libraries that are part of the Osu Children's Library Fund. I took a photo of the scorpion to the library and showed the kids. "Ewww," they said as they backed away. (They didn't quite respond like Sarah when I emailed her the photo -- "Holy Mother of scary!" -- but almost.) Then one girl asked, "Do you have only one?" Uh, do they come in clumps? Should I expect an entire family of these freaky things? I hope not!


Now we are wondering what will be next. A green mamba snake perhaps???