“None pities him that is in the snare, who warned before, would not beware” – Robert Herrick

The other evening as I was washing the dinner dishes Ava, the four year old, ran over to the sink looking for some way to help. I explained there wasn’t much she could do with the dishes at this point but if she could get the play room cleaned up we could go outside for a bit before bedtime. Off she ran.

Roughly three minutes later she comes thundering back up the stairs voicing loudly a complaint, with a bit of concern, around an ant she spied in the playroom. I assured her we would take care of this most pressing issue and requested she lead the way to the offending insect. Off we ran.

In the kids playroom they have one of those old bouncy horses. I believe it belonged to their mother when she was a child which means it’s likely not very safe but tons of fun. When we entered the playroom Ava quickly jumped on the horse and began pointing to the place she saw the ant. I began moving toys and lifting up hop-scotch rugs as Ava called out from atop her steed, “Ahoy ant! My dad is here to kill you!”

I paused my search just long enough to look back and see her sitting tall and proud in the saddle. Seemingly pleased with herself that she had issued a good and proper warning.

Unfortunately the initial search didn’t produce an ant, dead or alive. I cautioned Ava to be on the lookout and let me know if the ant proved brave enough to show itself again. I was working my way back upstairs to finish the dishes when I heard Ava call out, “Ahoy ant! My dad is not going to kill you after all!”