We have a new resident at the Casa. A reluctant little resident it seems. Who really wants to leave. And we want he/she? to stay. And it has already been a struggle of wits and wills.

Caroline found a little green caterpillar with yellow side stripes at the park on Tuesday. Having successfully "hatched" two chrysalises last fall that Leslie gave us, I felt brave and daring enough to agree to take the little guy home.

The caterpillar had a rough start in our care. Parker was in P.E. and the class runs for 90 minutes. Caroline found little caterpillar about 5 minutes into class. Yes. You know what that means. Lots of love and attention for the caterpillar from our resident bug hugger. She let (read: strongly encouraged) the little guy/gal? to crawl about on her hands and arms, took him/her?? for a walk and told lively stories to her new friend.

I, on the other hand, started rapidly eating purple grapes. Why? Because the only moderately acceptable way I could come up with to transport the crawly guy (Caroline's vote of holding him in her hand all the way home was vetoed promptly.) was to eat all of the grapes I brought for a snack out of the rubbermaid container they were in and convert the fruit holder to a caterpillar holder. All the while I am reminding Caroline (and the other little girls, two others of which had also found caterpillars) to be gentle and that caterpillars don't necessarily crave a "lotta lovin'".

While the caterpillars and girls were having adventures and I was chain-popping grapes, Parker ran on...oblivious to all the excitement happening off the field.

P.E. finally ended and to my relief (and shock) the caterpillar was still alive. We pulled some leaves off the tree he came from and placed him in his temporary prison. Parker expressed some "Cool!"s and "Are we really gonna keep him?"s, and Caroline convinced me to let her hold the open topped caterpillar holding tank in the car and we were on our way.

On the way home the caterpillar got a name and a guessed gender, Erika.

We brought her home and put her in a real bug box with little air holes and lots of viewing area (Compliments of Leslie and the chrysalises last year...Thanks Leslie!) and she did very little. We thought the love might have been a bit intense for her so we simply hoped for survival.

Yesterday, the kids and I went to find fresh leaves for Erika and gave her some new fodder just before we left for church. That was approximately 5:45 p.m.She was motionless as usual and we left.

When we came home about 10:45 p.m. that night...she was gone! David and I searched each little leaf in the box and then started looking about the dining room. No caterpillar. Anywhere. Sadness and dismay and a lot of bafflement. Where did she go? And how did she get there?!?

I broke the bad news to the kids this morning and confessed to having no idea what had happened. They "Awwwww."ed and then suggested a trip to the park to find another one. I agreed to that and we went back to cooking. (I finally made Parker's birthday scones this morning.)

An hour or so later Parker says "Hey! I found the caterpillar! Come look!" Caroline and I dash to the dining room and sure enough, in a grout line heading for the laundry room is Erika the caterpillar. Not looking too happy I might add. She was alive and we scooped her up in a leaf in put her back in her bug box home.

She crawled around and settled upside down on a stick and has moved very little since. I keep checking on her but she is playing the part of a docile, compliant little bug. Is she smarter than the average caterpillar? Just daring and strong? A Jack Bauer kind of bug? A nocturnal party-pillar? We shall just wait and see.

And yes, I did save the P some grapes!

Posted by stephanie at April 14, 2006 03:45 PM