The bug Jonah

My grandparents were poor sharecroppers in Johnston County. I loved going from the city of Raleigh down to see them. It was always fun and an adventure, except for this one time.

We always ate supper after dark, because Grandpa worked in the field until the sun went down. One hot August day with the windows open, we were eating supper. There was one bare bulb above the table, and bugs were flying around it and would sometimes drop into your plate of food. Well, one big crusty bug fell into my food, and I did not notice it. I heard a crunching noise but ate and swallowed it. Why? I’ll never know what possessed me to swallow that old bug, but it was a big mistake.

So I drank lots of water to wash it down. With my imagination I could feel him crawling around in my stomach. It was just like I was the whale and that bug was Jonah. Maybe he was praying, but I got so sick I had to leave the table and go to the outhouse.

Well, Jonah the bug was free from Bobby the whale. I don’t know what shape he was in, but he was out. My grandparents took me to the doctor, and he gave me some medicine to make me feel better. I saw the doctor talking to Grandpa, and they were laughing. It was no joking matter to me.

Until this very day I can say without a doubt that I hate bugs, especially big crusty, crunchy bugs.

Bobby Price, Wake Forest, Wake EMC
As told to his grandson, Ian