Thursday, June 16, 2011

 

An Unexpected Adventure


Freddy and Frieda got along well together. For years they had been chewing side by side. Day and night they crunched through wood, which is what any well behaved termite is expected to do.

They had begun with the barns and then moved on to the stables. Now at last they were at the big house itself. Both were understandably proud of their address. After all, the Mount Vernon mansion was also the address of General Washington, who had only recently returned from his successful mission as leader of the continental armies.

The humans in the house were unfailingly cheerful as they busily went about their many chores. The General's return had begun a constant bustling among the family, the slaves and visitors who arrived all through the day, offering congratulations and well wishes to the General. Tomorrow he planned to ride to New York City and say farewell to his officers.

Freddy and Frieda were also busy. They had chewed their way up to the second floor and into the General's bedroom. They had found their way to a delicious oak bureau and by evening had reached its top. Where should they go next?

Happily they found a small maple object laying on the bureau surface and spent the night cosily burrowing into it. As morning came, they rested.

General Washington rose early, picked up the object from the dresser and popped it into his mouth. It was, of course, his wooden false teeth.

Thus it was that Frieda and Freddy accompanied the General to Fraunce's Tavern, and thus it was that these two unsung participants entered termite folklore. “Do you think he'll ever get tired of talking?” Frieda had asked. Freddy, bobbing and bouncing, hadn't answered. His mouth was full.

That night, back at the mansion, they left the General's teeth, indeed they left the big house itself. Their experience of the day had left them badly shaken.

They decided their next project would be more modest and quiet. Maybe they could find an old cherry tree.





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