Edu-cat

We sit in the window

Bambi and I.
Ninja naps on the bed.

"Drosophila melanogaster,” she says,
“not be confused
with Tephritidae, the true fruit fly."

I stare, fascinated.
Bambi is an entomologist.

Ninja yawns,
turns over,
"A bug.. is a bug.. is a bug!"

He stretches.
"Now, dogs...
on the other paw,
...much more interesting."

Bambi flicks her ears.

"Take those yappers next door, for example.
Just scratch the screen, my boy,
and watch what happens!"

Bambi's whiskers vibrate.

"Go ahead, scratch the screen!"

I reach out...

Bambi quivers, "Spyder! Look!"

I paws.
I've never seen
such a flitter flutter before.
I can't help myself... I chirp.

"Lepidoptera!
Yes, I do believe...
Epiphyas postvittana.
First one of the season,
not good for apples, they say."

I wonder what kind
of insect is an apple.

Ninja snores.

Elizabeth Munroz
May 2010