rasher99

I had a pet ant named Sidney, who was the most magnificent ant anyone could ever ask for as a pet. He would struggle tirelessly for hours, bringing me tiny pieces of leaves or perhaps crumbs of food. He made an incredible intricate nest besides my monitor, and sometimes, when I played a game, he would often amuse himself chasing around the cursor on the screen. Oh how we would laugh together for hours on end.

It was on Sidney’s birthday that I decided to get him a special treat. He was particularly fond of the game “Lemmings” and I noticed they had just released a new version, and I just knew how much he would love chasing those funny little lemmings around my screen.

So off I went to the game store in town arcade, it was around 10.30am on a beautiful summers day, you just knew it was gonna be a scorcher. The store wasn’t too busy and I was relieved to find that they had the game in stock. Despite the fact that 29.95 was more than I usually spend on him, it would be worth it just to see his little face light up when he crawled into the bag to discover his gift.

I paid the clerk and got my loyalty card stamped, only three more games to go and I was eligible for a free game (*of equal or lesser value naturally). I casually glanced over the game guides to see if there was one for the new game, so that Sidney could browse it while I installed it. alas they had none.

I thanked the clerk, took my change, receipt and newly stamped loyalty card and put them in my pocket, and proceeded towards the store exit. I passed a couple of young kids eagerly playing a new playstation demo on the store diplay, and swung the door open to leave the store.

As I stepped out from the store’s air conditioning the warm air enveloped me like a velvet curtain, I smiled and looked at my watch, I still had plenty of time before the bus. As I turned to my left, and made off towards the bus station, I thought I heard a barely perceptable cry. I looked around but I saw nothing.

I hurried home desperate to see my best friend and companion, and to wish him happy birthday. I ran into my room, threw my baseball cap on the chair and kicked off my shoes.

It was then that I saw Sidney, or at least what was left of him, his mulched remains plastered to the bottom of my left shoe. In his birthday excitement he must have followed me to the store and waited for me outside. It must’ve been his cry that I heard as my size 11 shoe came down and tragically crushed my little friend’s delicate head, thorax and abdomen.

Oh well, I’d better install the game in honour of Sidney’s memory, then maybe later I can look in my antfarm and choose another special friend. I think I will name him Sheldon, I dont know why.