The Invasion

The Invasion

Sitting on the bank of the little stream near my house, I was watching the leaves floating slowly around the bend. They were floating on top of the water and I was struck with the thought of each leaf being a little boat. A tiny fleet, all on their way somewhere. Where?

As I mused about this, I thought I heard a noise, tiny but distinct beyond the flowing water. It seemed to be coming from the direction of the leaves. Peering harder, I actually saw that there was a grasshopper on one of the leaves! Now the thought of the fleet became so much more exciting. In my imagination, the grasshopper became the admiral of his fleet, standing in the bow of the lead boat, barking orders to his crew.

I realized they were invading another colony of grasshoppers in a war over territory. Though they both lived on one side of the stream, this colony had realized that the other colony would never suspect a water attack. They were about to take them by surprise.

I had no idea who was in the right, and no way of me ever finding out. A sneak attack though, that bothered me! Knowing I, myself, was huge compared to this entire fleet, I realized it was as if I was hidden in plain sight. I could stop this! I stood slowly, picking up a huge rock. As soon as the first leaf passed, I tossed it in scuttling the entire fleet!

Well, except the first boat, of course, it was just a fantasy after all, I had to save the grasshopper!