Neighbors

“Morning, Marie.”

“Morning, Dave.”

“Bit of a cold morning, isn’t it?”

“Well, it’s a bit early still, but yeah, it’s much colder than I was expecting.”

“I just have so much trouble getting moving on these colder mornings. I feel like I’m moving so slow, you know?”

“The sun should warm things up soon enough. What are your plans for the day?”

“Same old, same old. Work until sundown, come back here to rest. You?”

“Basically the same for me, but I’ll stay here.”

“Of course, of course. It must be nice to live where you work.”

“It’s great when I get some traffic, but I don’t always get lucky. I was thinking of setting up shop somewhere else; you know, see if a different location works out better for me.”

“Do what you feel is best, but it’d be a shame to lose you as a neighbor.”

“It’s nice to know you feel that way. I’ve really enjoyed our conversations. Everyone else in the neighborhood has kept their distance, so you’re friendship has meant a lot.”

“I hope things work better for you today and you can stay. Well, I’ve got to head out. See you this evening.”

“Yeah, see you then.”

~~~

“Hello?”

“Dave? Is that you?”

“Marie, you moved! I didn’t think you would relocate today.”

“Yeah, I really didn’t want to, especially after our conversation, but a girl’s got to eat.”

“That makes sense. Still, it’s sad to see you go.”

“How’d you find the new place?”

“I guess I wasn’t watching where I was going and I just wandered in. Can you get me out of here? I guess I got myself trapped.”

“Of course you got trapped, silly. My silk is supposed to be sticky.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it: big scary black widow catches her prey. Come on, seriously, Marie, let me go. It’s your old pal, Dave the ladybug.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Dave. I’ve spent the whole day building this new web and you’re the first thing I’ve caught. Like I said, a girl’s got to eat.”

“Hey! Wait a minute! I was the only one that even talked to you in our whole neighborhood and this is how you repay me?”

“Everyone kept their distance for their own safety, Dave. I guess you should have done the same. I really am sorry. I’ll at least wrap you up quickly so you don’t have to suffer.”

“Hmfph! Rrmbf!”

“I really need to remember to not make friends with species that I eat. This is just like what happened with Portia the fruit fly.”