Once upon a time there was a very evil mantis named Jude. He lived in the deep, dark forest among the trees, rocks, and flowers. With his triangle head and long neck, he mostly ate moths, crickets, and grasshoppers. But one summer night, a family of five pitched a tent by the river. The family was so excited to camp underneath the silver moon and golden stars.
Jude thought the mother and father would make an especially good meal, and the children could be preyed on for his appetizer and dessert. After Jude ate a few of his own family members, he lied in wait for his visitors. His three small eyes between his two large eyes stalked them everywhere for days. The scariest thing that the family did was hold hands and pray together every morning.
As Jude heard their requests, he wondered if a powerful Being protected them. He watched them float down the river and roast marshmallows by the campfire. They even liked to sing out-of-tune songs with a beat-up guitar and banjo. Jude’s green body helped him blend in with the forest, so the family never saw him.
Until one morning, he rose on his hind legs and pounced on the family. When they ran in escape, he retreated, considering his limited options. Later in the week, he tried to devour them again, lurking by the river after dark. Despite his vicious attack, he only captured the oldest son as ransom.
When the family came to rescue the son, the mantis nearly lost his own life. As the father pierced the mantis with his camping knives, the creature gave up. Unsure of his fate, Jude decided not to prey on them, bent his legs, and joined in prayer.
Copyright 2015 Jennifer Waters
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