“Dad? Mom? Why don’t people like us? Why don’t they trust us?” asked Beckie to her parents.
“It’s not that they don’t like us.” replied her father. “It’s just that we make people nervous sweetie . .” added her mother.
“Exactly honey,” he agreed. “Not many people feel comfortable around scorpions, let alone scorpions the size of humans.”
Beckie and her family were a race of humanoid scorpions known as “aqruabuamelu”, though they usually chose to use the word “girtabillu”, as it was shorter and easier to pronounce. In fact, Beckie would always have trouble pronouncing the former name. “Ock – Okra – Okra – boo – meloo? . .” she would always stammer. So her parents made it easier for her, and chose the less common, but easier alternative name.
Beckie looked at her parents discontentedly. “It’s not fair.” She said with a frown.
“Well don’t worry,” said her mother. “It’s mainly adults like your father and I who make people nervous. It’d be hard to believe that anyone would be scared of a cute li’l scorpion like you!”
Beckie smiled. And her parents smiled back. She was seven years old, and her parents loved her very much.
“Thanks momma! Thanks daddy!”
They both smiled. “You’re welcome stinger-bun!” remarked her father. “Dinner is cooking in the oven. Why don’t you take a look outside and see if there are any other kids out? There’s always a chance you could make a new friend! Just stay inside the yard alright honey?”
“Okay Daddy!” she replied before proceeding to exit the front door.
Her father was right. “What’s the worst that could happen?” thought Beckie. And her mother was right too. “How can anyone be scared of little old me?” thought Beckie once more.
The bright sunlight illuminated her vivid yellow skin, her topaz blue shirt, and her large, coral-colored ponytail. The breeze felt nice, as did the warm sunlight. She could hear many various birds chirping in the suburbs. As she stepped onto the lawn, the cool grass felt pleasant against her six legs. It felt so nice that she in fact decided to lay down on the grass and stretch out her arms, legs and pincers. “I’ll just lay here until someone comes by . . it feels so nice on the grass.” Beckie thought.
About ten minutes passed when a young human girl around the same age as Beckie walked past the white picket fence of the yard. When the little girl walked past the open gate, Beckie greeted her and invited her to spend some time together. “Hi! My name’s Beckie! What’s yours? Wanna hang out? The grass feels really nice!”
The girl nervously shook her head and made a keep away signal with her hands.
“Wh . . What’s wrong?” asked Beckie. In response, she shyly pointed to Beckie’s stinger.
Beckie came to a sorrowful realization. She may have been a little scorpion girl, but she was still many times larger than your typical scorpion. And her stinger could roughly cover the diameter of a basketball.
Feeling a bit crushed, Beckie did the one thing her parents taught her to do in these kinds of situations. She talked to God.
“God?” spoke Beckie. “Can you please send me a friend? A friend who doesn’t mind that I have a stinger? Who isn’t afraid of scorpions? Could you maybe send me an angel? I’d like that very much. An angel I could trust . . in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Turning back to the fellow child, Beckie assured her that she would never have to worry about getting stung, as her stinger is normally curled inward so that she does not accidentally sting herself, and furthermore – the venom is merely designed to sting for five to ten minutes, depending on the dosage.
“Um . . okay.” she replied. “Maybe tomorrow . . I have some things to do today.”
“Oh . . alright.” Beckie couldn’t help but feel as though the child was making excuses.
They bid farewell. Beckie sat and looked up at the sky longfully. The feeling of rejection really stung. “If only I could find a way to get people to stop being afraid of my tail . .” she thought. “Maybe if I cover the tip with something? Wait! That’s it! I’ll find something I can cover the end of my tail with!”
She got up and began thinking. “But what should I use? . . Duct tape? . . No, that’s too see-through . . A giant pencil eraser? . . No, I don’t think anyone sells those . . Ooh! I know! A roadcone! Yeah! That’ll work! A roadcone!”
Beckie went back inside the house and told her parents of the idea she had just come up with. Her parents pondered it. Ultimately, they agreed. Beckie had proven herself to be responsible and capable. “I have a spare traffic cone in the garage. You can use that . . but only remove it if you need to defend yourself, or any new friends you make.” stated her dad.
“Okay papa! I will! I’d cherish any new friends I make, so you can bet I’d protect them! After all, we’re built to defend!”
“That’s my girl.” replied her papa with watered eyes. Her mama smiled. “Be sure to always be aware of your surroundings. And look both ways before crossing the street!” she added.
“Okay mama, I will!”
“And -” chimed in her papa, “If a stranger offers you candy, politely refuse. If they keep following you, you remove that cone, assume a defensive position, stretch out your pincers as wide as far out as they’ll go, and you raise that tail as high as it will go! Do you understand me?”
“I do, papa! I do!” she confirmed.
“Alright stinger-plum.” said her papa, smiling. “Now give your mama and I a hug.”
Beckie and her parents gave Beckie a big, heartfelt group hug, before each giving her a kiss on the forehead.
When the three were done with their moment of family bonding bliss, Beckie headed off towards the door. “Be sure to be back before it gets too dark!” cautioned her mother. “As soon as the last rays of sunlight fade away, come back home!”
“Alright mummy! I will!” she replied smiling as she exited the door.
Beckie began walking along the suburban sidewalk in the left direction from her house. “Hmm . . she went this way . . maybe that girl lives somewhere in this direction?” she thought.
Eventually she came near a house with a purple rooftop, where she could see two individuals standing in their yard. She recognized one of them to be the little girl that had passed by earlier. Sitting next to her must have been her mother.
“Hi!” called out Beckie. “Hello!” replied the mother. “You must be Beckie! My daughter told me all about you.”
“Yes. My tail made her nervous . . But – but, I had an idea!” Beckie pointed to her tail. “Look! See? I covered my stinger with a roadcone! Now no one has to feel nervous around my tail!” she exclaimed happily.
“Oh, ha ha ha!” exclaimed the mother heartily. “That’s a very ingenious idea you had! I don’t mind your tail, but my daughter appreciates it. Why don’t you two get acquainted with each other?”
“Okay!” concurred Beckie! “Thank you miss!”
Beckie walked into their yard and approached the daughter. She was dark-skinned with black pigtails, and wore a purple dress with purple slippers. “Hi!”
“Hi.” she replied. “I never told you my name. I’m sorry, that was rude of me huh?”
“No worries.” replied Beckie. It wasn’t your fault. It was my stinger’s fault.” She grabbed her cone-covered tail and scolded it. “Bad stinger! Bad, bad stinger!”
“Ha ha ha!” replied the girl. “You’re funny! My name’s Lila. I’m a human girl. I’m seven years old, and . . um, let’s see . . my favorite color is purple.”
Beckie grinned widely. “I’m seven too! My favorite color is blue topaz. And I’ve already told you my name, so no need to tell you again. Hee hee! My family and I are familiar with humans! I’m an aqrabuamelu. Also known as a girtabillu. We’re originally from Mesopotamia.”
“Neat!” replied Lila. “Um – aq . . aqra – aqraboo . .” she stammered.
“Yeah, I know . .it’s difficult to pronounce.” stated Beckie. “That’s why we usually say “girtabillu”, because it’s easier to get the hang of.”
“I see . .”
“By the way,” added Beckie. “Thank you so much for being willing to interact with me! You have no idea how much my family appreciates that. We know all too well, the sting of rejection . . no pun intended.”
“You’re welcome. Aw . . I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Thank you.”
“M-hm . . Well, I’d say that cone idea of yours is a pretty good idea.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah! It completely cures the being scared problem. I can’t see how anyone could still be scared when that cones’ covering your stinger.”
“Yay! I’m glad you think so! Hopefully many others do too.”
“Yeah, I hope so too.”
The two sat down at a small glass table in the yard and talked with each other for about an hour.
Lila’s mother couldn’t help but notice that they were getting along quite well. “Lila?”, she called. You two seem to be getting along quite well. Why don’t you ask Beckie if she’d like to have a sleepover? You should make some new friends sweetie!”
“Oh really mom!?” reacted Lila enthusiastically. I’d love to invite Beckie over! When should I invite her?”
“Why not invite her for tomorrow?” her mother suggested.
“Okay!” replied Lila. “How does that sound Beckie?”
“Great! I’d love to hang out with you! Yee!” replied Beckie enthusiastically.
“Alright! Let’s do it!” agreed Lila. “Yes, let’s! I’ll ask my parents if it’s okay.” said Beckie.
Lila’s mother smiled as the two interacted.
Suddenly, they heard a low bark. “Arf!”
The three turned around to see a white dog sitting at the entrance of the yard.
“Is that a lost dog?” questioned Lila. “Well, let’s take a closer look,” said her mother. Beckie came to a realization. “The dog might not be friendly, so I’ll go first – that way I can defend us if it’s not.” she cautioned. They all agreed, and Beckie removed and set aside her cone, in case it were necessary to defend herself and her familiars. She hoped she would only have to intimidate, rather than have to strike.
“Hi there little dog. Well, I guess you’re not really little, more medium-sized . . . are you lost?” preferring not to risk her hand getting bitten, she instead extended her right pincer towards the dog, to see how it would react – being that her pincers were covered in hardened exoskeleton, unlike the soft skin of her hands.
“Aw!” she remarked. “Are you a boy or a girl? One bark for boy, two barks for girl.”
“Arf!” replied the dog.
“I see.” replied Beckie. “Good boy! Are you lost? One bark – yes, two barks – no.”
“Arf arf!” replied the dog.
“Oh okay, so you’re a stray. How independent!”
Lila’s mother took a closer look at the stray dog. “He has no tag or collar, so it seems he’s telling the truth. He looks to be a bull terrier. They’re very energetic and protective of their loved ones.”
Beckie thought about that. “Hmm . . well, I don’t know how energetic I am, but I too am protective of my loved ones. Would you like to spend some time with us, dear loyal dog?”
The dog turned into a circle twice, before giving a bark and wagging his tail excitedly. In response, Beckie giggled and in turn, began wagging her tail playfully as well.
Lila nervously took a step back. “Um – Beckie? Whenever you wag your tail like that, can you first put the roadcone back on please? Thank you.” she said in a mildly concerned tone.
“Oh – um, hee hee . . sorry!” Beckie replied with a slightly nervous smile.
After spending a blissful afternoon together, it was beginning to get dark. “I have to go now,” said Beckie. “I can’t wait to tell my parents all about you!’ she remarked cheerfully. “And the nice stray doggy!”
“Alright!” replied Lila. “I hope your parents say yes! Kind dog, you’re welcome to go visit Beckie’s parents if you’d like!”
The dog looked at Lila before laying down on the grass. “Oh? Would you like to stay here with me? That’s fine too . . we’re gonna have to think of a name for you.”
“I think he likes you!” remarked Beckie smiling.
“Yeah. May-be!” considered Lila. The three said their goodbyes before Beckie started to head back home.
The next day, Lila eagerly prepared for her potential sleepover with Beckie. “This is so exciting!” she said to herself. “This is gonna be so much fun!”
She headed out the front door of her house, with the stray dog following right behind. She stood for a moment, taking in the vibrant sunlight, the cheerful cries of the birds, and the soft cool breeze . . . when suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her left leg. “Huh!?” she remarked in a startled manner. Upon glancing down at her left leg, she could see a large dart lodged into it. Upon realizing what had just unfolded, she began feeling drowsy. She tried to shake her head to stay awake, but to no avail. In a mere three seconds, she lay on the grass unoconscious.
Beckie made her way to Lila’s house, humming happily with her eyes closed, carrying a backpack. She was about midway there, when she suddenly heard a dog barking frantically. She opened her eyes wide in concerned surprise and saw the stray dog making its way towards her at high speed. “Oh hi boy! What is it buddy? Guess what? My parents said I could sleep over!” It wasn’t long before she noticed a small laceration across the dog’s chest. “How-how did you get that on your chest? What happened? Is something wrong boy!? Is Lila okay?” she asked worriedly. In response, the dog spun around and yiped loudly, wagging his tail frantically. “OH NO . . no no NO!! . . Can you track her scent!? Lead the way boy!” Beckie dropped her backpack right where she was on the sidewalk. It would only slow her down, and none of its contents was vital, important, or helpful at this moment.
Lila groaned and winced, before slowly opening her eyes. Realizing she was now tied to a chair with a fabric covering her mouth, in a worn, abandoned shed, her eyes grew wide with fear as they quickly began darting to and fro. “Well, well . . look who’s awake now.” spoke a sly, devilish voice from behind. A tall figure wearing black, long-sleeved clothes with a black baseball cap walked in front of Lila and knelt down to her level. “Did you have a nice nap?” Lila’s eyebrows furrowed into a worried expression, as her body trembled with trepidation, and tears began to well up in her eyes. Her poor little heart was pounding so hard and quickly – it left no room for subtlety. “Your mama has a very good job as a nurse. She gets a lotta money . . and she’s gonna give me that money. That is, if she ever wants to see her little girl again. Well, alive again . . Hmm-hmm.” Lila frantically nodded, causing some sweat and tears to stream down her face.
Tracker, still following the scent with Beckie in hot pursuit, traced Lila and the robber’s scent to the dilapidated shed.
Being that the walls of the shed were so worn, Beckie and the stray heard it all as they silently watched from the window. Beckie was filled with a mixture of anxiety, dread, and anger. But her anger was the strongest . . in fact, if it weren’t for her stinger, you might have confused her for a red lobster. “Okay brave dog, here’s the plan. The floorboards of the shed are pretty worn out, so here’s what we’re gonna do. You distract the kidnapper with your barking to draw him out. After that, I’ll throw my roadcone at him – and duck behind the corner of the shed. I’ll burrow under the sand so he finds nothing when he comes to investigate. While he’s occupied, you bolt away and hide somewhere a little far away. When he faces back towards your direction – I’ll begin digging my way underneath the shed, until I can emerge through the floor, and cling to the wall – where he’d least expect anybody to be. Then when he comes back inside – I’ll sting him as hard as I can! My mama and papa told me the best places to land a sting are the chest, neck and back . . . and like my mama and papa say, this should work, Lord-willing . . Okay, ready?” The pumped up bull terrier looked toward the shed and growled in anticipation. “One . . two . .three . . go!!!”
The brave dog ran to the entrance of the shed and began barking and clawing at the door. “What!? Remarked the kidnapper in surprise. “Is that that flat-faced, ugly excuse for a dog again!? You’ve gotta be kidding me!! . . No matter . . last time I only had a knife to deal with you, but this time,” he pulled out a gun from his pocket, “I have something that is sure to do the job right.” he sneered insidiously. The following movements of the three all happened quickly and simultaneously, exactly as Beckie had hoped they would turn out. The kidnapper burst through the door, nearly knocking the terrier over. Before he could aim his weapon at the dog, Beckie threw the roadcone at him, causing minute pain, but prompting him to look to his right. “HEY!” he screamed. “WHO THE DEVIL THREW THAT!?” Upon hearing this, Beckie immediately burrowed into the sand. “Thank God this is sand and not grass . .” thought Beckie. “It would be much more obvious with a mound of dirt dug up on grass – as opposed to a barely noticeable mound of sand on sand.” He swung around the shed to find nothing but sand as far as he could tell. “What the!?” he remarked, flabbergasted. Meanwhile the stray dog had run quite a ways away by now. The evil man turned back towards the direction the dog had been. Taking this opportunity, Beckie continued digging underground until she reached the shed, and dug straight upwards – until she reached the floorboard, proceeding to punch an opening out with her pincers. Lila’s eyes widened with hope and joy upon seeing her new friend arrive to her aid. Beckie put a finger to her own lips, motioning for her to be quiet. Lila quickly nodded understandingly.
Beckie then climbed up onto the wall and waited above the doorframe. The doorframe creaked open . . but the man didn’t walk inside. From above the doorframe Beckie could see his shadow casting inside the shed. “Did you do this Lila?” he asked sternly. “Did you somehow send a distress call by any chance? You little sneak?” Lila shook her head no so frantically that her chair almost fell over. “Not buying it. You strike me as a fibber. I don’t like fibbers . .” The ill-intentioned man finally began walking slowly into the shed in an intimidating stance. “So, ya better tell me the truth, because if not, then . . you strike me as d-GAH!!!” . . . He never finished his sentence. He stood still for a few seconds with his hands in an awkward position, before crashing to the floor, slightly twitching here and there. A visible mediocre puncture at the base of his neck.
Beckie dropped to the floor with a thump. “You strike me this, you strike me that . . It’s time that I strike you!!” she remarked. “And YOU, strike me – as intoxicated! You big mean baddie!! Leave my friend ALONE!!!” It was unclear if the bad man could hear Beckie, not that anyone cared. The Bull Terrier promptly returned to chomp and nip at the legs of the kidnapper to ensure he stayed immobilized. Beckie worked at Lila’s ropes, cutting and tearing at them with her pincers.
When she cut away the cloth covering her mouth, Lila erupted with joy and gratefulness. “Beckie! I can’t begin to express how thankful I am to see you and the dog! If it wasn’t for you guys, I don’t know what might have happened to me!!” she reveled with tears of joy. “Thank Mr. brave doggy! Without his help, I would have never been able to find you! Or at least it would have taken much longer! Or at least it would have taken far too long. My pectines may not be as powerful as his nose, and my metasoma and telson would not have been enough to save you alone. Oh, uh – that’s scorpion apparatus. Wait a second! He helped me track you! Maybe that’s what we should name him! “Tracker!” . . What do you think, boy?”
“Arf!” replied the dog happily. “He likes it!” “I guess so!” concurred Lila breathing heavily, still recovering from the terrifying ordeal. She glanced at the kidnapper’s lifeless form. “So . . is he . .is he gonna . .?”
“I don’t know.” responded Beckie understandingly. “I’m not well accustomed to the adequate amount of venom necessary to subdue . . I injected him with as much venom as I possibly could. In fact, I might actually be empty.”
“Is it wrong to hope that he won’t get back up again?” asked Lila.
“I don’t see why it would be wrong.” replied Beckie slowly shaking her head with furrowed brows. ‘He was threatening your life!”
“Yeah . .” Lila reasonably agreed. She broke down in tears, and Beckie hugged her using both her arms and pincers.
The police arrived shortly after along with Lila’s mother. “You’re one brave little aq – aqua – aqraboo . . eh, you’re one brave little scorpion girl said one of the police officers smiling. “You put a stop to a crook we’ve been trying to catch for weeks!”
“Thank you!” said Beckie smiling with closed eyes. “My parents are gonna be so proud!”
“Oh I’m sure!” chimed in another officer.
“Oh, my poor baby girl!” said Lila’s mother sobbing as she embraced her daughter. “Beckie, I’m indebted to you!!” How can I ever repay you!?”
“Well,” thought Beckie. “I never did get to have that sleepover with Lila . . now that I think of it.” she replied, grinning.
“Oh Beckie . .You are PRECIOUS!” Lila’s mother leaned in and gave Beckie a kiss on the forehead. “Aw, it was my pleasure! Thank you Mrs., um, . . I guess I never got your name!”
“Lillian!”
“Thank you Mrs. Lillian! But be sure to thank Tracker too! I would have never been able to find Lila if it weren’t for him! And above all, Thank Jesus!” she remarked gleefully.
“Of course! THANK YOU Jesus! And thank you Tracker!” Lillian gave Tracker some belly rubs as he barked affectionately.
Lila turned to Beckie. “Beckie? You really don’t need to wear that cone anymore.”
“I don’t?”
“Mmm-mm! No!” Lila walked over and took the cone off Beckie’s tail, and proceeded to hug her tail. “I don’t care what people say, don’t you ever cover this stinger, ever again! Do you hear me? Never again!” She gave Beckie’s tail an even bigger squeeze. “Ha ha! You’re funny!” remarked Beckie smiling. “My stinger thanks you! Good stinger! Good, good stinger!” remarked Beckie elatedly.
Everyone laughed.
“Boy, it sure is glad to beat the sting of rejection!” remarked Beckie with peaceful relief strewn on her face.
“Yeah! I don’t think anyone will have a problem with your stinger ever again!”
“You think so?”
“I do! Why, this might even go down in history!! A major breakthrough that changed the course of mankind, and its future!!”
“Oh, ho ho! Maybe! Aw . . I’m truly flattered Lila. You never know! Only God knows for sure. But time will tell! But regardless, all goes according to plan.” concluded Beckie as she smiled at the clouds.
“And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.” – Ezekiel 2:6