Short Story

Eulogy

The Sicilian Storyteller

Written for Fandango’s Story Starter #154

ā€œā€™It wasnā€™t that long ago when Ethan was rarely bothered by mosquitos, but this year heā€™s being eaten alive by themā€™.ā€  

I wrote that in my diary just a few weeks ago.

Thank you all for joining us today as we say ā€˜farewellā€™ to my beloved husband, Ethan ā€¦. another innocent victim struck down in the prime of life by the dastardly mosquito. Ethan was attacked last week while bringing out the trash for pick-up in the morning; it was just a quick run to the curb but he didnā€™t have his EpiPen on him. Who knew just a few moments later heā€™d be in cardiac arrest from anaphylactic shock?

Ethan was never bothered by mosquitos before and at first it was just an annoying surprise when he started developing a reaction a few months ago. The change in him was sudden and drastic and, as much as I will miss him, Iā€™m so thankful his time of suffering was short.

Doctors canā€™t say whether this is a genetic trait, if our children Evan, Ella and Emily will develop this horrible allergy. To help our children realize the seriousness of this situation and to protect them, Ethan has left them his award-winning collection of swatters, his supply of EpiPens, his boxes of citronella candles, his stash of DEET and, of course, his journal.

When the allergic reactions started, Ethan began writing down his thoughts; as a poet, he wrote some of his best work over the recent months. He was most evocative in his agony.

In closing I would like to read one of his most poignant poems. Itā€™s called ā€˜Ode To The Mosquitoā€™. And please .ā€¦ next time you see a mosquito, ask yourselves ā€˜What would Ethan do?ā€™“

Ode To The Mosquito

How can such a little thing
Be so damn annoying?
Flying round my arms and legs
Itā€™s bothersome and cloying.

Go away, you vile thing
Iā€™ll swat you with a stick.
Youā€™re not welcome in my home
You nasty little prick!

Who would think that tiny guy
Could be such a bloody sucker?
When he sticks his fangs in me
I scream ā€œYou Motherf*#+er!ā€

You get me every time Iā€™m out;
My blood is extra sweet.
Come and get me, little twit!
Tonight Iā€™m packing DEET!

The end. šŸ¦Ÿ

NARĀ©2024
Poem originally posted 2022

Fandangoā€™s Story Starter #154

This is ā€œThe Mosquitoā€ by The Doors

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantā€™s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARĀ©2017-present.

47 thoughts on “Eulogy”

  4. That was highly entertaining, Nancy. What a way to die! šŸ˜† And I never heard this Doors song before. My husband gets swarmed by those suckers! They left me alone for years, but have shown more interest lately. šŸ¤”

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  6. šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ Everything is so trippy here. And I’m gobsmacked by the previously unknown Doors song! šŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦ŸšŸ¦Ÿ

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  9. Goosebumps!

    Geez, Nancy that featured image made me itch. Those suckers on that personā€™s limb are fat! šŸ˜¬
    I hate mosquitos but truth be told, if thereā€™s a mosquito in the house it goes straight to my husband. Skipping me.
    I hear they go for folks with šŸ…°ļø type blood. šŸ¤·šŸ½ā€ā™€ļø

    Your story made me so sad. I didnā€™t know where you were coming from.
    Then I knew. šŸ˜®ā€šŸ’Ø tremendous šŸ‘šŸ½
    And the poemā€”oh my! How splendidly you wrote that. hats off to you. Perfecto, Amiga! So cool, youā€¦ wowed me.

    Thanks for sharing. Iā€™ll sleep well tonight knowing this is all made up and no oneā€™s getting devoured by those annoying blood suckers. Good night.

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      1. They can be so awful. Ugh.
        The “no-see-ems”? My mother’s hubby would get attacked mercilessly. We’d all be sitting outside and he’d be cursing and swatting and we would look at him with a “what’s your problem?”. He’d reply with “les osties de brĆ»lots”. I guess they are also called biting midges? They’re teeny tiny.

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          1. Yes!! When we went to Costa Rica, it was the first and only time, we stuck around the pool. Those who went to the beach came back with their legs, from the knees down, looking like they got the pox!

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  16. I always found it odd (maybe not lol….just glad)
    that everyone in my home gets their share of mosquitoes from time to time except mešŸ˜lol.
    It so annoys them šŸ¤­

    nicely done, Nancy šŸ¤

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