A Conversation Between Two Mothers

One fine day, on a beach in Florida, Mrs. Fiddler Crab came across Mrs. Horseshoe Crab who was buried in the mud at the moment. “Good day, Mrs. Horseshoe!” said the crab to the non-crustacean. The latter unburrowed herself to see as to whom was addressing her. For, she could see out of the sand because her eyes are quite high on her carapace, but she could not see what was going on in the back of her. “Oh, hello, Mrs. Fiddler, how are you doing this fine day?” “I’m doing quite well, thank you. I’m just ever so tired of carrying these eggs around.” Mrs. Fiddler gently patted the egg sponge that had been on her abdomen for days.
“My, how I wish I didn’t have to leave mine in a hole,” Mrs. Horseshoe Crab said sadly.
“Well, maybe you could watch your little ones run to the sea to grow and become adults.”
“I’m not sure I could take that, Mrs. Fiddler.”
“Why not, my friend?”
“There are many that get eaten by predators, you know”
“Yes, I do know, but maybe you could help some of them make it and see your children enter into the world safely…”
“I don’t know…”
“Mrs. Horseshoe, it’s going to happen whether you watch it or not, and you might as well watch it, so you can try to be of some assistance. But, of course, it’s your decision.”
“Yes, I think I shall try.”

The next morning, just before dawn the two set out to watch the little ones make their get-away. But they did not see them. Just before the friends gave up, they saw, a few feet away, little horseshoe crabs scuttling toward the sea. Suddenly, they heard the sound of a bird. Mrs. Fiddler spotted it and made her way toward where the bird was aiming. She made it to the right spot at the exact time the bird swooped down to attack and, with reflexes unknown to most crabs, she pinched the bird’s behind with her cheliped. Scared beyond sense, the bird flew away from this all-you-can-eat buffet and the strange monster that looked a lot like food at first glance, but hurts like the dickens when encountered. Mrs. Horseshoe was grateful to her friend for what she had done, and they watched the natural phenomenon together, totally different creatures, but both created and loved by God.

Fin

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Anna told me she had to write a report for her Biology class. She uses Exploring Creation With Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day by Apologia.

It took her a few days to write it. She didn’t ask for any help. I explained to her about plagiarism so that she would write the report in her own words. She said she was having some trouble with that because it was already written as simply as it could be. I was not sure what kind of paper I would see when she finished and handed it in to me.

The day she gave me the report, I was holding my breath. I was hoping it would be her own work and that she was actually learning something, not just regurgitating what was written in the book. Her report was good and she drew a wonderful diagram of crustacean anatomy. I was impressed.

Then I started reading this delightful story about a horseshoe crab and a fiddler crab. I didn’t know what to think. I thought she must have copied this story from the book, but I wondered why she put this in with her report. When I finished reading I asked her if she wrote that story. She nonchalantly said, “Yes.” I was amazed! I did not know she could write like this.

I am finding out that I have several budding writers among my children. All of that reading of living books to them throughout the years seems to be paying off.

I may be posting some other samples of their writing in the future. They are writing stories with chapters, so I may just put up one chapter at a time. Would you like to read some more of my children’s stories?

Hello, is anybody there?