Cicadas – 1963
I opened the shoe box gently to show Kelly my treasure.
“Just tree mess,” said Kelly as she moved the leaves, twigs, and moss around.
“Couillon! They’re hiding from us.” And I gently picked up a green and brown insect. Its whirring whine made my three-year-old sister say, “Coooool,” as she petted its folded wings.
“Careful,” I said and replaced the insect as my sister searched and found the box’s true treasure – a poopy-brown thing. “Lookit this.”
“It’s dead,” said Kelly. I set it on the oak tree trunk whose shade we sat in. The brown bug took slow-motion steps up the trunk. Kelly could only stare.
“Looks like a seratops.”
Kelly reached to touch it with her index finger, but my larger hand covered my little sister’s whole hand. “Leave it. Just watch.”
Our heads moved close, close to the bug on the tree. We watched it mummy-move some more. Then it stopped.
“It’s dying,” said Kelly as she put her arm around my neck.
“Watch,” I repeated.
It took one and a half minutes for the younger girl to lose interest. “It’s really dead now,” she whispered into my ear.
“Shhhhhh,” and I squeezed Kelly’s shoulder and pointed. Kelly moved her head closer in. Did the brown bug’s back crack? Why was it killing itself? Then slow, slow a wet thing backed out of the cracked bug. Kelly remembered cartoons where a baby bird pecks its way out of an egg. She leaned in and almost kissed the tree bark.
I held her shoulder and brought my face over my sister’s. As the new bug emerged, it paused to allow its folded wings to unfurl. The green translucent beauty of the wings brought soft gasps from both of us.
“Now he’s gotta dry off,” I said, and we both froze to witness the new and improved insect glowing atop the broken carcass. It seemed to be sunbathing in the broken sunbeams.
Kelly held her breath and I nodded my head. After awhile the cicada made its whirring, clicking whine to flyaway. Both of our heads tilted up to watch the miracle depart.
Then I carefully took the split-open brown thing and placed it in my shoe box.
“Cool,” said Kelly. I nodded and put an arm around my sister’s shoulder.
Sittin' Ugly Sistahs 
Cute pic of Kelly. Sweet girl. Beautiful memory 💕
LikeLike
Well done, my ‘crooked’ friend. 🥰
LikeLike
That little “crooked girl” grew up to be a beautiful and amazing young woman! LOVE!
Enjoyed the story!
LikeLike
Thank you, Aunt Faye! You know all about being amazing!
LikeLike
What a beautiful story! Miss you both!
LikeLike
Merci beaucoup, Celeste. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Love & miss Kelly’s beautiful smile. She was so full of life. I remember finding quite a few of bug carcass on those big oaks at yall house.
Great story to honor your sister Ginger.
Love you Cuz…
LikeLike
Thank you, thank you, Deborah! I keep going back to our childhood under those trees these days.
LikeLike
There is nothing like a little sister to give you purpose and moments to teach. Ginger, you embraced your role and made a career out of it. ❤️
LikeLike
I totally agree, Crystal! Little sisters were the first ones to ever look up to me. Even after we got older and we fought and annoyed each other like feral cats, Gayle, Kelly, and I understood each other beyond words. Thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLike
We called them locust back then and it was like a little miracle to watch them emerge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! I still call them locusts sometimes and I still remember enjoying the miracle!
LikeLike
Lovely memories of a beautiful soul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Taking time for others! That’s you!! And Kelly and her friend , on the boulevard, took time to teach me about watermelon “spitting”seed contest! SHe also marvelled at the little ( but big) things life has to offer!!
LikeLike
Right, Claudia! Kelly had the biggest of hearts with a nice dose of “canaille” or mischievous behavior!
LikeLike