Features
6 The Voyager
March 2022
Unraveling unconventional pet curiosities Meet Noodles: Mrs. Beluch’s unique and interesting pet snake
By SHREYA KOMAR ‘22 Staff Reporter
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lightly perplexed and somewhat terrified, I squinted at the smartboard in front of me. The classroom was nearly empty, students slowly trickling in reluctantly to their classes after a satisfying lunch. After fishing out my iPad and opening up the AP Calculus AB notes that we would be going over in class, I quickly stole a glance at the board in front of me. Usually, if the ‘fun fact’ involved cockroaches, spiders, or anything unsettling for that matter, I would be quick to avert my gaze. But that day, a picture of a snake, weirdly juxtaposed within the inside of a home, sat in place of the fun fact document. Oddly enough, I continued to stare. When the class began, Mrs. Beluch formally introduced the reptile on the board as Noodles, her family’s pet snake. As the room erupted with endless questions, I sat there bewildered. It had never once occurred to me that a snake could be kept as a pet. Maybe that’s because my mom is terrified of snakes (she once screeched hysterically when I threw a folded strip of paper at her and yelled, “snake!”). So, out of sheer curiosity and in an attempt to answer my lingering questions, I sat down with Mrs. Beluch
to ask her some questions about Noodles. When asked if she calls herself an animal person Mrs. Beluch confessed, “I don’t think I was when I was growing up, but I am becoming more of one now.” When inquired about why she chose a snake, she affectionately replied, “My son has wanted one for a really long time, and I finally gave in and got him one as a birthday present.” Upon finding out that she also owns two dogs, I wondered how Noodles was different from her other pets. “She’s not cuddly, obviously.” Mrs. Beluch chuckled. “You can’t sit under a blanket with her but she does like to be held.” Adding on paradoxically, “She’s not as much of a people’s pet, but she does still like attention.” When I blatantly asked her how she is not terrified of snakes, she reasoned, “We chose this snake because she is a constrictor as opposed to a venomous snake.” This means that Noodles cannot poison anything, instead, she suffocates her prey for food. It’s no secret that snakes are more on the dangerous side when it comes to pets. “Are there extra precautions you need to take?” I asked. “Right now, no, but eventually as she gets larger, we need to make sure that she doesn’t get out of her cage,” Mrs. Beluch replies. Following up with that, I asked what
It had never once occurred to me that a snake could be kept as a pet. Maybe that’s because my mom is terrified of snakes.
You can take a little risk and get an uncoventional pet, but make sure to do your research! Picture supplied by Mrs. Beluch she planned to do in the future when Noodles potentially got too big to keep at home. “We haven’t gotten that far.” She admitted as she raised her palm to the top of her head. “ She’s going to be as big as me and live for about 20 years.” I paused, picturing a snake as tall as Mrs. Beluch and a chill ran down my spine. “We’re taking it as time goes. We haven’t figured out what we’re going to do when she gets too long,” She adds. When asked if she thinks it’s possible to form emotional connections to animals like snakes, she thoughtfully answered, “I think so. It’s not going to be as much as a dog just because there is less physical connection, but we can see that with her
(Noodles) already, that she understands because we put her in a different cage to feed her and when we put her in that separate cage, I do believe she knows it’s dinner time.” Talking to Mrs. Beluch has taught me that snakes can, in fact, make cool pets. So, unless you have a snake-o-phobic family member like I do, maybe consider a snake as a possible future companion. So, for all of you out there on the fence about getting an unconventional pet, I urge you to think carefully and do your research, but also not be afraid to take a little risk. In the words of Mrs. Beluch, “Just have fun. Go for it.” In the very least, “it’s something to talk about.”
Eastern’s marching band struts with confidence about work or life single-handedly. So far this season, they have reigned in their victory streak. The musicians’ social media photos astern will never have renowned display true victory, both an external and sporting events and concerts internal sentimental feeling. without their brilliant, yet unrecSuch inspired me to ask a purposeful ognized sidekick. question. “Why do you march?” Marching band is a staple in the majorAccording to freshman, Angelina Lubo, ity of American high schools. A usual auher decision to proceed with Eastern’s tumn outdoor season marches on football color guard is a matter of unity in friendfields during and outside of school hours. ships. The pit, the wind, the brass, the drumline, “Honestly the thing I like most about and the guard make for an attention-worcolor guard is the friends I’ve made and thy football halftime show with state-wide feeling like you’re a part of something” competitions the next morning. This year she said. “The friends I have made in saw the water-motivated “Ripple Effect.” band have helped me through very hard The narration played through speaktimes and I felt like I was useless at times ers during an instrumental break moved but guard felt like it gave meaning to me bleachers through the motivations of and it made me feel like I was a part of water. One drop causes a domino effect, something big.” bending the rest of the events to come. Tricks, dance moves, rotations, and The color guard section works with a lengthy marches with a flag in hand seems yoga ball in order to display this change, to have its sense of unity. the ball bouncing as the musicians move Trumpet player Laura Ebersole, a juaround the field. The season saw them senior, would agree with Lubo’s statement curing high placements at every competiin terms of the number of hands willing to tion. help her push the keys. What is often paid the least amount of “Definitely all the friendships I’ve claps and symbol-hits, however, is the inmade,” she said. “They made transitioning door marching band season. A marching into freshman year band alongside its so much easier and I instruments and flags packs into a gymna- Tricks, dance moves, can always count on them whether we’re sium full of bleachers. They do exactly rotations, and lengthy on the field or not.” Johann Arnold, what a marching marches with a flag in another junior, with band does: march hand seems to have experience in mawith purpose. This nipulating both the year, they march to its sense of unity. xylophone and the a show called “We vibraphone, feels Build Together.” great pride in his Eastern marching. This show not only features a pit, a “We started learning the show in music drumline, and a color guard, but a car in January, and I loved the way it soundbuilt in the process. Multiple hands are ed. Band always gives me something to crafted together, providing the theme that do during the week, instead of doing nothwork is better done with multiple forces ing at home,” Arnold said. “As of now, we and that it is oftentimes unrealistic to go By MOLLY SMITH ‘25 Staff Reporter
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Students forge ahead with purpose in the realms of friendship to belonging. Photo by Molly Smith/Canva.com have had two competitions, and we placed a football field or a super loud gym with first in both of them. It’s safe to say that hundreds of people watching makes it the season is going great.” worth it without question.” He then went into a more personal reaThe different sections that make up son as to why he feels purposeful to play Eastern’s marching band sure have their in the pit. reasons behind stepping onto the field or “I may not be the best musician, but just gymnasium with feathered hats and dress seeing my friends, and knowing that I’m shoes. It is quite safe to say that friendship loved, is enough for me.” and belonging are the reasons why they As far as the drumline goes, Jake Cunmarch with purpose. It is also satisfactory ningham ‘24 had quite the words on his to see their names on the lips of a crowd. experience. May Eastern always have the comfort “You have your good runs and you have of wonderful music alongside its accomyour bad runs but the energy of being on panied pals.
