EVERY CREEPING THING
M SCOTT MORRIS M.
There’s so mucH | wisH | coUlD rememBer aboUt yOu.
…but mosT of wHat sTicKs witH me is tHe uselesS sTufF.
| rememBer beInG bored pRetTy mucH alL tHe time.
Stop fidGitinG, carole. it’s disTracTinG.
yOu sHoUlD be paYinG atTenTiOn.
QuIt bugGinG me.
AnD | rememBer beInG overLy conCerNed aboUt leO’s warTs.
Our fatHer, wHo arT in heAven sTop mesSinG aroUnD. YoU ShOuLd BE PAyINg ATtENtIoN.
halLowed be tHy name.
he betTer not give tHem to me.
tHy kinGdom come…
…oUr daIly bReAd anD forGive us oUr tResPasSes as we forGive tHose wHo tResPasS agaInSt us…
…tHy wilL be done, on eArTh as it is in heAven. Give us tHis daY…
ranDom sTufF sTicKs. like how sHarP yOur litTle naIlS were, or how yOu woUlDn’t laUgH wHen | made faces at yOu…
…anD how sCary it was wHen yOu anD leO got sicK.
…but tHen, LeO got betTer afTer a litTle bit, so it didN’t seEm as seriOus.
…anD leAd us not inTo temPtatiOn, but deliver
tHe body of cHrisT.
| figured yOu’d come bacK, toO. SOoner or later.
amen.
tHe body of cHrisT.
amen.
| wisH | rememBered more aboUt yOu.
leO! it’s gReAt to seE yOu agaIn. yOu loOk welL.
yEs ma’am! |’m doInG pRetTy goOd.
okaY, he’s rigHt tHroUgH here.
but inSteAd, | can’t sHake tHe sMelL of tHe hosPital ANd tHe StRANgE, StEaDY SOuNdS tHe iron lunGs made…
…anD tHe terRibLe
feElinG of walKinG rigHt pasT tHem…
…KidS my age.
sTucK rememBerinG
tHat tHe lasT time | saw yOu…
alL | wanTed to do was go home.
SeE? What’d | telL yOu?
| dunNo… | don’t seE any.
AlRigHt. but don’t bLame me if | sCare tHem ofF.
WelL duh. yOu’re TOo far bacK. tHeY’re sMalL, so yOu gotTa get rigHt over tHem.
WELl DUH. YoU’RE TOo FAR BACk. YoU GOTtA GET RIGhT OVER tHem TO SEe PASt ThE SUN’S GlARE.
WaIt, wHy are yOu takinG yOur sHoEs ofF? …
yOu’re not gonNa get in, are yOu?? but tHis a sewage pipe! tHe water’s alL dirTy…
WoUlD yOu relax?
LoOk, if yOu go like tHis, yOur feEt don’t get wet!
…If yOu saY so…
SeE? it’s no bigGiE. now let’s seE if we can catCh some.
wHat?! |’m not gonNa sTicK my hanDs in tHere! it’s gRosS. it is not! Nobody lives anywHere neAr tHis sTretCh of tHe dRive. Plus, tadPoles woUlDn’t surVive in sewer water. it’s sCiEnCe. NO IT’S NOT! HOW COuLd IT BE SEWER WATER WhEN NOBODY LIVES ANYWhERE NEaR ThIS StRETcH OF ThE DrIVE? PlUS, TADpOLES WOuLdN’T BE ABlE TO SURvIVE IN ThAT StUFf.
| sTilL don’t seE any tadPoles.
Focus, LeO. sTarT fRom over tHere anD InCh in sLowLy. make sure not to let any sWim pasT yOu, anD tHen on my marK, we’lL sCoOp tHem up, o
PlEaSE DON’T CrY! | DIDn’T MEaN TO… | DIDn’T KnOW YoU’D…
…no, not a sinGle car has beEn by, heAven kNowS |’ve beEn watChinG. wHat elSe is tHere for me to do? if yOu-
GOSh! ARE YoU ALrIGhT?
LeO?
leO are yOu okaY? pLeAse don’t cRy, | didN’t meAn to… S- sewage…
…WaIt a seconD. Let me calL yOu bacK. someone’s cRyInG. ! .
WaIt a seconD… Let me calL yOu bacK. sometHinG’s wRonG.
Sob
CAROLE! Did yOu do tHis!?
CAROLE! DID YoU DO ThIS!? YoU’RE SUPpOSED TO LOoK AFtER HIM!!
So wet..
LeO, cut it oUt alReAdy! |’lL catCh yOu a reAl tadPole… |’lL catCh as many as yOu wanT if yOu’d jusT pipe dowN a litTle!
LEo, CUT IT OuT! |’Ll CATcH YoU A REaL TADpOLE! |’Ll CATcH AS MANY AS YoU WANt IF YoU’D JUSt PIPE DOWn! OR ELsE MOM’Ll-
It’s not my faUlT! We were jusT-
leOnarD, honeY, telL me wHat hurTs. don’t be bRave. | neEd to kNow if sometHinG feElS ofF.
he felL over, so wHat? It’s not like he’s gonNa diE.
What on EaRtH is goInG on here!?
My God, he’s soAkinG! wHat were yOu tHinKinG, horSinG aroUnD wHen he’s sTilL weAk!?
That’s enoUgH fRom yOu, yOunG lady. Give him yOur jacKet.
Wha-at?? But it’s suEde! Can’t he use sometHinG fRom his suItCase?
|’m seriOus, CarolE. YoUr coAt. Now.
Get his cRutChes. We’re goInG bacK to tHe car.
… It’s not faIr.
The anTs… TheY’re eAtinG him.
…TheY’re eAtinG him. SorRy aboUt tHat. tHe kidS were figHtinG agaIn… yOu kNow how tHeY are. we’re StilL waItinG on a sPare.
tHanKs for waItinG. tHe kidS were figHtinG agaIn. yOu kNow how tHeY are.
so wHat were yOu saYinG aboUt doUgLas?
LisTen, | can’t have tHis conVerSatiOn rigHt now. When we get tHe tire, we’lL heAd bacK to tHe hosPital. Let tHem kNow we’re cominG afTer visitinG hoUrS..
...anD tHe docTorS... tHeY’re sure tHat’s not norMal?
... BUT he seEmed totalLy fine a few hoUrS ago...
welL of coUrSe tHat woUlD be betTer, but it’s not like | kNew we’d have a bLowoUt! don’t yOu tHinK | wanT to be tHere witH-
...do yOu tHinK we sHoUlD turN aroUnD anD heAd bacK onCe we get tHe sPare? if sometHinG’s ofF witH doUgLas |’dalRigHt.
oh, don’t sTarT tHat, paUl. it’s not safe to filL tires in tHose big citiEs, anD yOu kNow it! tHeY’RE saYiNg it’s tRanSmitTed tHroUgH tHe aIr. don’t go bLaMinG me wHen yOu’re tHe one wHo didN’t repLace The sPare lasT time.
No, wHen we get to geOrGiA, |’ll dRop tHem ofF at yOur office.
| can’t manage tHem anD be witH DoUglas at tHe same time. tHeY’re olD enoUgH to loOk afTer tHemSelVes, afTer all. clicK
C’mon, can | seE it?
WhatCha got tHere? not now, leO.
|’m tRyInG to lisTen PleAse ? be quIet!
That, anD it woUlDn’t be goOd for tHem to seE DoUglas like tHis. Carole alReAdy doEsN’t do well witH hosPitalS… so nosy all SO NOSY ALL
wHy do yOu have to be so noseY all tHe time?
…anD… sorRy yOur jacKet got ruIned, | reAlLy didN’t wanNa take it, but mom made me.
PleAse don’t be upSet. |’m sorRy for getTinG yOu in tRoUbLe. | dunNo wHy mom got so upSet.
YoU alWaYs acT like a litTle cRybaby anD tHen tRy to be alL budDy-budDy afTerWarDs. It’s anNoYinG.
Come on, tHat’s not faIr…
Cut it oUt. | kNow wHat yOu’re doInG.
YoU can be sucH a pesT sometimes, yOu kNow tHat? !!
reAlLy! Who cRiEs tHat mucH over a litTle water?? yOu’re jusT tRyInG to get atTenTiOn.
It’s not my faUlT yOu pusHed me in…
| was onLy mesSinG aroUnD! yOu were tHe one wHo fReAked oUt over a litTle sPlasH. Did not! Did toO!
yOu’re reAl meAn, yOu kNow tHat?
If yOu’re alWaYs fusSinG like tHis |’m not gonNa let yOu pLaY witH me any more!
Oh yEah? WelL |’ve alReAdy decided |’m not gonNa pLaY witH yOu anymore eItHer!
YoU can’t jusT copy wHat |riIip
My cicada! Oh gosH! His winG…
OopS
sucH a jerK. Stupid bulLy.
disTracTed me.
carole! Put tHat nasTy tHinG dowN, it’lL bite yOu!
AnD wHere did LeO run ofF to?
That boY! LeAvinG his cRutChes behinD! He betTer not have gone far… it’s so bad for his hipS…
Mom, | acTuAlLy neEd yOur helP… | tHinK my cicada is hurT. What?? are tHeY sure??
Carole, take tHe baby anD go get yOur bRotHer. NOW.
no no no. We’re sTilL tWo hoUrS oUt. There’s no waY we’lL make it in time…
wHat’s goInG on?
hurRy.
PleAse! Can’t yOu take tHe pHone to him?? | neEd to be witH him-
Is tHat tHe hosPital?
Do as yOu’re tolD!
EverytHinG was fine eArLiEr todaY… wHat hapPened? EverytHinG was norMal… he was fine…
| tHinK he turNed here, rigHt?
There, There.
sHh
He wenT tHis waY
Oh woUlD yOu sHut up alReAdy!? What even is tHere for yOu to cRy aboUt!? LeO?
|’m tHis waY!
! is tHat yOu?
LOoKs LIKE YoU’RE ThE TAGALONg ThIS TIME! HAHA!
Carole
LisTen. Mom wanTs us bacK rigHt awaY.
Wha-at?? did sHe get a tire? No, bu
ANd | foUnD sometHinG yOu’ve got to seE! LET’S JUSt TELl HER IT ToOk a wHile for yOu to finD me! Or tHat we got losT or sometHinG!
No, LeO. It’s imPorTanT. DoUg is-
come on. We’re alWaYs doInG wHat yOu wanT. come over anD seE wHat | got, for onCe. ...
Then no waY am | goInG bacK! It’s barely beEn ten minutes!
tHeY’re reAlLy sometHinG, aren’t tHeY? baby birDs.
don’t yOu kNow not to mesS witH birDs’ nesTs? it makes everytHinG sMelL like human, anD tHe mom’lL abanDon it!
| foUnD tHe nesT at tHe base of tHe elecTric tower anD pulLed it dowN to get a betTer loOk.
So anywaY, wHat doEs Mom wanT if tHe car isN’t reAdy yEt?
!! RigHt… The pHone calL…
That’s not funNy, Carole.
Mom was reAlLy sCary…
|’ve never seEn Mom tHat upSet before. She wanTs us bacK becaUse
AlSo, it’s yOur turN to holD tHe baby.
No waY! | helD him tHe wHole car ride!
…caUse yOu wenT toO far witHoUt yOur cRutChes.
Mom saId to telL yOu it’s yOur turN now. We alL gotTa watCh him wHen we don’t wanT to.
are my cRutChes reAlLy wHat sHe’s upSet aboUt?
DidN’t yOu saY sometHinG aboUt DoUg?
What’s wRonG? What hapPened?
He’s fine. he’s jusT fusS-ah! a baby birD!
wHat’s wRonG witH it?
Why…are tHeY alL loOkinG at us like tHat?
we betTer get oUt of here… | tHinK tHeY’re mad at us…
won’t runNinG make it worSe?
Our onLy cHanCe is to make a bReAk for it. go on my marK…
| dunNo, TheY loOk more sad tHan anGry to me…
Plus, tHere’s no waY | coUlD oUtRun tHem witH my bRace. don’t tHinK aboUt tHat. we gotTa get oUt of here before tHeY sNap oUt of it! cRowS are reAl meAn.
waIt a seconD!!
WaIt up! yOu gotTa Take tHe baby! | can’t run witH him!!
one tWo tHreE GO! GO!
HurRy up, LeO! WAiT!
we can’t sTop now! hurRy!!
wRonGgoInGyOu’retHewaY!
tHe car’s bacK tHere- |’m not takinG tHe baby, LeO! She never ever listenS!!
We’re alMosT to tHe woOdS! let’StHat’s not wHat | saId!
Carole! The baby!
PicK up tHe pace, wilL yOu?
HolD on, LeO!
ThE BABY !!
QuIcK! In here!
wHy doEs tHere have to be s0 many…
Carole! did yOu make it in okaY?
RusTle
RusTle
Why’d yOu have to cHoOse a pRicKle busH!?
…it definitely isN’t.
boY, he’s movinG. musT be pRetTy sHaken up… LEo!!
we had to hide somewHere, didN’t we?!
This is tHe worSt!!
leO! tHe baby! Grab his leg or sometHinG! YeAh, yEah.
|’m seriOus! The farTher he goEs, tHe more we’lL have to cRawL-
|’m tRyInG, alRigHt? it’s jusT reAlLy denSe…
…anD he’s reAlLy quIcK.
DId yOu get him?
uh… | tHinK we migHt’ve reAcHed tHe enD of tHe busH…
welL wHere is he tHen??
…| dunNo… | don’t seE him anymore. …it loOkS difFerenT tHan before… but carole, tHe foresT…
it’s so emPty…
tHe cRowS got him, didN’t tHeY?
don’t saY tHat!! he’s pRobabLy jusT cRawLinG aroUnD somewHere!
besides, don’t yOu tHinK we woUlDa heArD tHem?
eItHer waY, we gotTa go finD him now.
go in tHere? are we even alLowed? it loOkS like it’s someOne’s pRoperTy.
yOu wanNa get oUr bRotHer or not?
JusT sTaY here wHile | finD him. tHat’lL be quIcKer anywaY.
yOu’re not beInG faIr, |-
of coUrSe! | jusT-
forGet it.
WaIt Carole! The bab…Huh?
|’m goInG in. sTaY put.
tHat felT weIrD… my legS wenT numB for a seconD…
What were yOu saYinG? SometHinG aboUt tHe baby?
…C’mon, cut tHat oUt. leO…?
What’s igNorinG me goInG to do? yOu’re beInG so imMature-
His eYes… …tHeY’re sTucK mid bLinK. …leO…?
But his hanD…
…tHen Why is tHe resT of him fRozen?
How are yOu doInG tHat?
sTop… it’s not funNy anymore!
wHat’s witH tHem? so loUd-
YoU BlEeD.
LIStEN, |’M GONnA PULl YoU IN, OKAy?
| HAVEN’T SmELlED BlOoD IN SO LONg. BlEeDINg ThINgS DON’T USUaLlY MAKE IT IN…
Ew! Why is it so big??
It’s not tHat |’m parTicularLy big or anytHinG. yOu’re jusT sMalL.
That’s not tHe poInT.
WaIt, IS ThAT yOu TALkINg? How are yOu doInG tHat!?
YoU’D BETtER LEaVE. IF YoU DON’T, HE’Ll MAKE YoU.
ThIS IS No pLace for someOne like YoU.
| meAn, jusT
loOk at tHOSE hanDs!
perHapS | coUlD polisH ofF wHat’s alReAdy sPilT? before it coAgulates…
alL tHose sCrapes… sucH a sHame…
ThAT’S WhAT YoU GET FOR CrAWlINg AROuNd AT YoUr AGE, | SUPpOSE.
What?! No waY!!
But yOu’re not doInG anytHinG witH it…
AM NOT! NO!
UnBeliEvabLe. bLOod sHe’s not even usinG anD sHe sTilL won't sHare a dRop…
… Where are yOu goInG?
| don’t have to anSwer anytHinG. yOur quEsTiOnS are poInTlesS, anywaYs. wHa-
| don’t care aboUt tHem, yOu don’t care aboUt tHem… asK betTer oneS, AT LEaSt!
StinGy.
a perFecT wasTe, reAlLy
HEy! | asKed WhERE YoU’RE GOiNg!
…A betTer quEsTiOn?
Are yOu… goOd?
YoU won’t hurT me, rigHt?
ThatS a reAlLy sTupid quEsTiOn.
AlRigHt tHen… wHere am |? no.
how come LeO’s sTucK like tHat?
So |’lL be on my waY if yOu don’t minD.
haAa, More of tHe same…
LisTen, | can telL we’re not gonNa get anywHere anD | don’t have tHe patiEnCe for tHis rigHt now…
yOu’re sTupid.
…tHat’s not even… waIt!
| have one lasT quEsTiOn It betTer be goOd.
|’m jusT saYinG, yOu don’t kNow tHe anSwerS to anytHinG so…
| tolD yOu! It’s not tHat | don’t have tHe anSwerS, yOur quEsTiOnS don’t matTer.
Why are yOu tHe one wHo decides wHat matTerS anD wHat doEsN’t?
That’s not tHe poInT at alL.
LoOk, | can’t take tHis anymore. | gotTa go.
waIt a seconD! Have…
Have yOu seEn a baby aroUnD here?
PleAse.
This one reAlLy matTerS.
It’s beEn forever sinCe | lasT saw a human. …A human baby? Yes.
goOd lucK.
GoOdNesS, sHe sure can be rude! YoU’lL have to forGive her!
sHe meAnS welL, tHe hunGer jusT getS to her, sometimes.
goOdNesS me! What’s wRonG?
Why do yOu alL have to be so big?
WelL, | guEsS it’s becaUse we’ve beEn alive for a lonG time anD keEp gRowinG.
YoU… YoU’lL anSwer my quEsTiOnS?
Sure.
ReAlLy?
Why woUlDn’t |?
YoU guYs don’t eAt peOpLe, do yOu?
To be honesT, |’ve never met a perSon, so | don’t kNow
How come yOu anD tHe mosQuIto can talK?
we’ve alWaYs beEn abLe to.
…So… That meAnS… | won’t eAt yOu. ThanK yOu.
But how? It’s beEn a wHile, but | imagine my motHer taUgHt me?
So doEs tHat meAn yOu have vocal corDs anD a tonGuE anD alL tHat?
…|’m not reAlLy sure.
|’lL bet yOu do. It’s tHe onLy waY to talK.
AlSo, aren’t yOu a bit toO big? JusT how lonG have yOu beEn here?
| don’t kNow, for as lonG as | can rememBer, | guEsS.
AnD tHat’s how many yEarS?
A wHole lot.
That DOeSn’T… Oh, forGet it.
Any more quEsTiOnS?
Do yOu tHinK yOu coUlD helP me loOk for my baby bRotHer? He wanDered in here a few minutes ago.
Sure! What sTage is he in?
Stage?
YeAh, yOu kNow: larVa, nymPh, adulT…
UmM, |’m not sure aboUt tHat, but he’s aboUt tHis big:
| seE. So larVal, tHen.
No: he’s jusT a baby. He loOkS like a reAlLy sMalL perSon.
A sMalL human. Got it. LetS sTarT loOkinG!
YoU’re sure yOu’lL be abLe to finD tHe waY bacK, rigHt? We won’t get losT or anytHinG? of coUrSe!
What is it?
WelL, | was jusT wonDerinG if | coUlD…
|’m not toO heAvy, rigHt? not at alL…
This pLace sure is sometHinG!
IsN’t it?
Why are tHe tReEs so perFecT? TheY gRow so sTraIgHt, it’s weIrD!
tHanKs!
huh… tHat’s pRobabLy becaUse-
GosH, tHe winD sure is picKinG up alL of tHe sudDen!
…Oh no…
Get dowN.
It’s fine we’lL be fine. jusT hop on dowN anD we’lL be jusT fine…
wHat’s goInG on?
We neEd to get yOu of sigHt for a wHile. wHy?
tHere’s no time! get inSide, quIcK! , , , ,
JusT to be safe. Safe fRom wHat? is sometHinG wRonG?
YoU’re sure tHere’s sPace for me? | won’t be sQuIsHed?
YoU’lL be fine! HurRy!
wHat is sHe saYinG?
KeEp quIet for me.
tHose noIses… | can’t quIte make tHem oUt, | CAN’T SEe A ThINg…
but tHeY’re familiAr, somehow.
umM… how mucH lonGer wilL | have to husH!!
yOu can come on oUt.
alRigHt, we’re here.
tHis sHoUlD be safe enoUgH, for tHe time beInG.
YoU kNow tHe waY bacK to LeO, rigHt?
gosH, wHat is tHis pLace?
wHat was witH tHat ligHt bacK tHere?
cHhRrK kHrrKk cHitHicH? cHhR cHr?
jusT a minute, sWeEtiE.
kKkRkChrR
cHrRkcHrr
AlRigHty, |’m goInG to pop oUt, but my fRiEnD wilL keEp yOu comPany. sTaY hidDen wHile | asK aroUnD TO SEe if anyone’s seEn yOur bRotHer.
wHat doEs tHat even meAn? before lonG?
yOu’re leAvinG me here?!
Can’t | sTaY witH yOu? | can go in yOur sHelL. like before!
WelCome to botH of yOu!
if yOu sTaY here, yOu’lL be safe. yOu jusT neEd to keEp hidDen a bit lonGer, okaY? be goOd, now.
no. we alReAdy had a cLose sHave witH tHe GrOuNdSkEePER, anD if he CATcHES yOu, yOu’lL have no cHanCe of finDinG yOur bRotHer. don’t worRy, |’lL be bacK before lonG.
it meAnS soOn!
but we have to sTicK togetHer or elSe | won’t kNow HOW TO GET BACk TO LeO!
YoU can’t jusT-
Relax! yOu’lL like it here!
it’s nice to meEt yOu! yOu are…?
| can’t beliEve her
…YoU are…?
…tHat’s nice. carole.
| don’t tHinK |’lL be abLe to pRonoUnCe tHat… |…
tHat’s okaY.
UM… What’s yOurS?
So…yOu’re loOkinG for someOne, huh?
rigHt! |’m kHhRechitH|c h cVkit
WE WERE HIDINg IN A BUSh ANd MY BrOThER LET HIM CrAWl OFf.
how’d yOu guYs winD up here? |’ve never heArD of peOpLe makinG it in.
yEah, my baby bRotHer.
He’s jusT a baby tHoUgH, so he coUlDn’t have wanDered far. we’lL finD him soOn.
wHat is it?
it’s pRobabLy notHinG, anD | don’t wanT to fRigHten yOu, but tHe gRoUnDsKeEper… he’s pRetTy goOd at keEpinG peOpLe oUt of here.
so wHat? |’m tRyInG to get oUt of here toO, yOu kNow.
yEs, but if he was in here before yOu… tHe gRoUnDsKeEper migHt’ve alReAdy foUnD him.
tHe seconD | get my bRotHer, we’lL get gone.
…wHat hapPenS if HE getS somebody?
| donT reAlLy kNow… notHinG toO bad, |’m sure. he’s jusT doInG his job, afTer alL. he’s a goOd felLow.
yOu’re sure-?
wHat is it?
sorRy. It sTarTled me, tHat’s alL.
it’s kinD of sTranGe, to seE a norMal-sized one.
| didN’t reAlize tHere’d be sMalL ones here, toO.
harD to saY. if he doEsN’t wanDer oUtSide tHe hedGe, tHen pRobabLy.
wHat’s witH tHat?
wilL he get as big as yOu somedaY?
welL, of coUrSe. we alL sTarT oUt litTle.
witH wHat?
…a Bug.
wHat’s tHe deAl witH tHis pLace?
YoU ALl ARE pRetenDinG like everytHinG’s norMal! it’s not!
tHe rules here are weIrD. unNatural.
| don’t folLow…
welL… bugS don’t sPeAk, for a sTarT.
anD tHeY’re usuAlLy sMalL, toO! wHy not here?
wHat do yOu meAn, “unNatural?”
…hMm… my parenTs tolD me sometHinG onCe…
| rememBer, it was rigHt afTer | was borN. tHe onLy time | ever saw tHem.
tHeY helPed me oUt of my egG anD tolD me my name anD to sTaY witH tHe hosT,
cLose to itS roOtS, becaUse if | wanDered toO far, | migHt be losT to tHem forever.
tHen tHeY let me go, anD | felL,
anD |’ve beEn livinG dowN here, feEdinG on tHe roOtS ever sinCe…
tHeY dRopPed yOu fRom alL tHe waY up tHere?? didN’t it hurT??
| guEsS? it’s tHe sorT of tHinG yOu forGet eAsy enoUgH. but tHat’s not tHe poInT:
wHat |’m tRyInG to saY is tHat maYbe tHis pLace isN’t as unNatural as yOu tHinK. maYbe it’s jusT seEmS tHat waY ‘caUse yOu gRew up far fRom tHe tReE.
| dunNo… | like how | was raIsed, betTer.
it was waY lesS paInFul, anD |’d pRobabLy go cRazy if | had to live in a roOt my wHole life.
soOn, |’lL be reAdy to go up anD seE my parenTs agaIn.
| can feEl it: it’s alMosT time. host?
but It’s jusT for a wHile, not for my wHole life.
my sKin is getTinG tigHt aroUnD me. it’s aboUt time to cHanGe. ANd | have a feElinG tHat tHis’lL be tHe lasT time.
are yOu talKinG aboUt metamorPhosis, maYbe?
lasT yEar my cLasS kepT some monarCh butTerfliEs anD watChed tHem cHanGe. but yOu’re not a… ah! Are yOu a cicada? yOu’re a cicadaE, aren’t yOu?
cHanGe?
yOu kNow, wHen yOur body repLaces itSelF? do yOu not have tHat, wHere yOu’re fRom?
waIt a seconD… …wHat?
That coUlD be it! oUr solutiOn! wHat if yOu cHanGed witH me? |’ve done it a bunCh of times before, anD it’s tHe eAsiEsT tHinG in tHe worLd! YoU’lL figure it oUt in no time.
a coUpLe of minutes anD yOu’d be a bigGer bug! yOu’d bLenD rigHt in! ,
|’lL bet yOu’re aboUt to molT! | alWaYs seE tHose sHelLs on tHe tReEs.
uh… humanS don’t cHanGe like tHat. it’s jusT cicadaEs. anD butTerLiEs anD sTufF.
have yOu tRiEd yEt?
no, but-
EVEN WhEN ShE COMES BACk, YoU’lL have to go oUt tHere evenTuAlLy. anD WITh ThE WAy YoU ARE NOW, yOu’lL get caUgHt in NO TIME AT ALl..
even… even if it were posSibLe to become a bug--wHicH it’s not-- | woUlDn’t wanT to! |’m a girL!
no! | wanT to leAve tHis pLace alReAdy!
wHere are yOu goInG?
tHen how do yOu kNow? let’s jusT tRy, anD if yOu manage to do it, yOu’lL be fReE to loOk for yOur bRotHer witHoUt havinG to hide!
yOu’re beInG toO dRasTic! |’m…
| meAn, can’t we jusT waIt for tHe ladybug here?
yOu’re sTilL tHinKinG aboUt wHere yOu came fRom, aren’t yOu? |’m telLinG yOu: tHe waY tHinGs are here is nice! jusT tRusT me for a seconD, yOu sHoUlD at leAsT tRy…
to tHe gRoUnDsKeEpER! yOu saId he’s nice, rigHt? anD if tHere’s a cHanCe he migHt’ve foUnD my bRotHer…
|’m telLinG yOu, it’s a bad ideA to go oUt! if he finDs-
| don’t care. | wanNa go home.
alL wRonG. tHeY don’t unDerStanD tHis pLace like | do. it’s bigGer tHan a tReE, yOu kNow?
sNeAkinG aroUnD, cHanGinG yOurSelF… tHeIr ideAs won’t do anytHinG to get yOu to yOur bRotHer…
yOu’lL be fine if yOu jusT come witH me. The soIl wilL keEp yOu safe.
yOu have a pLace here, yOu kNow? | can sHow yOu. it wilL keEp yOu safe.
n-no… |’m goInG to loOk for him up here, if yOu don’t minD…
no! tHeY were wRonG aboUt it alL, yEs! but tHeY were rigHt aboUt tHe gRoUnDsKeEper…
yOu’re not safe witH him. he’lL get yOu. if yOu go up tHere wHere yOu don’t belonG, he’lL get yOu.
yOu have a pLace dowN here. it’s a betTer pLace. let me sHow yOu…
|… | tHinK
|’m okaY…
|’lL jusT… ! here!
gotTa get oUt of here
wHere is he wHere is he!?
aren’t yOu tired? tHe soIl wilL keEp yOu safe…
wHy woUlD yOu not come? | tolD yOu to folLow me…
|’m not goInG dowN tHere! no waY!
yEah rigHt! |’d sufFocate dowN tHere! pLus, it’s waY toO darK!
wHy not? it’s warM, it’s home.
but it is yOur home.
|’lL teAcH yOu to bReAtH witH yOur sKin. it’s eAsy enoUgH-
no it is not! wHy doEs everyOne keEp saYinG tHat? humanS are difFerenT! we can’t do wHat yOu do!
it’s warM dowN tHere. home. yOu’d belonG.
but tHe cicada saId tHat he was nice… a goOd guY… he won’t hurT me, wilL he?
yOu’re wRonG aboUt tHe gRoUnD beInG bad. tHe gRoUnDsKeEper is mucH worSe.
tHat winD… it cHilLs.
he had it alLlLl wRonG. cHanGinG. pah! tHe soIl wilL take yOu as yOu are, no need to cHanGe...
yOu’lL be betTer ofF if yOu come witH me. it’s warM.
| can’t.
|’lL.. let him kNow | don’t wanT to sTaY. it’s not like | meAnT to tResPasS… he’lL unDerStanD.
um… exCuse me…
| kNow |’m not supPosed to be here, but |’m loOkinG for a baby. have yOu seEn-
-It’s bLinDinG-!
-It’s bLinDinG-!
uhG--my eYes…
it’s alL wHite sTilL.
pLeAse sir! | neEd to finD my bRotHer…
he’s barely a yEar olD, anD umM,
| have to asK him…
anD he’s weArinG a…
tHe sHadowS…
…| gotTa get oUt of here.
did | lose him?
not tHe worM agaIn-!
parDon me-
oh!
it’s yOu! wHo-?
aren’t yOu tHe cicada? GosH, | forGet tHe name… sHhRvRrT?
oh, sorRy…. yOu kinDa loOked like him.
yOu musT be misTaken, |’m cHacHacHarRk
lisTen… do yOu tHinK tHere’s any waY yOu coUlD hide me for a bit?
maYbe he’s my bRotHer? | have a bunCh. everyOne saYs we have eAcHotHer’s noses.
tHe gRoUnDskeEper is afTer me, anD |… | tRiEd but…
tHe ligHt was alL weIrD aroUnD him anD tHe sHadowS were… wRonG.
|’m sCared…
yOu’re welCome to cLimB dowN tHere yOurSelF, tHoUgH.
anD | sTilL can’t seE very welL… my eYe’s aren’t adJusTinG like norMal!
coUlD yOu helP me pLeAse?
no can do. tHe cHanGe is cominG. It’s not sometHinG | can put ofF.
maYbe yOu’lL finD someOne elSe wHo can helP yOu?
tHe otHer cicada…
by myselF?
he saId tHat he coUlD sHow me how to do tHe metamorPhosis… umM,
wHat’s tHat?
it’s wHat yOu’re aboUt to do witH yOur sHelL…
coUlD… sHow yOu how to mesTaporSis?
… yEah.
alRigHt, so yOu sTarT by holDinG tigHt to yOur hosT.
…tHe tReE?
do yOu tHinK maYbe yOu coUlD?
hMm…. | supPose so… it’s eAsy enoUgH, anyhow.
rigHt, tHen yOu sTarT…
sTarT wHat?
quIt beInG so pusHy! |’m tRyInG to telL yOu!
so yOu sorT of sTarT…hFf
…pusH bacK some more. paY atTenTiOn to yOur… arMs anD hFf legS anD…. hNf… tHen….
…….leAninG bacK.. anD tHen yOu
tHen…. yOu..
yOu sorT of…
tHen yOu wHat??!
erF …yOu…
yOu jusT sPlit, yOu kNow? ehR sLowLy… how??
can’t yOu hurRy?? tHe winD’s picKinG up!
jusT… yOu gotTa jusT…..ehF
pLeAsE?? | don’t unDerStanD!
holD tigHt, he saId…
y… yOu’lL get it wHen yOu sTarT.
tHen… sPlit?
how, tHoUgH??
yOu …hRg
| don’t…
…fHh… sHoUlDn’t rusH tHese tHinGs…
|… don’t wanT to seE tHose sHadowS agaIn…
| don’t wanNa go bacK…
worK yOur waY…enGh bacK anD wuh…
hFf…watCh oUt for yOur… limBs…
| tHinK | got it…
carefulLy, now…
| did it! |-
wasN’t | supPosed to become a… …it didN’t worK…
my hanDs loOk tHe same…?
tHere’s not mucH time lefT….
…| sHoUlD run, agaIn.
c’mon… c’mon! wHy won’t it come oUt!!
he’s alMosT here…
woUlD yOu let go alReAdy!!
| neEd to get oUt of-
…neeEd t-uh get.
…wH.. wHere’s tHe..
have yOuh eEn him…
Get away fRom…
…| nnH- eEed
|’m bacK! anD goOd newS! tHe anTs haven’t seEn yOur-
…oh no.
There’s more. | can sMelL more…
