Curds and Whey

Short Story Day 147 of 365

“Boo!” the Spider said as he sidled up to the girl.

“What? You think that’s enough to scare me? I eat curds and whey, pal, so I don’t scare easily.”

“Curds and whey? What’s that?”

“It’s like cottage cheese in its purest form. Supposed to be good for you.”

“Never heard of it.”

“That’s why you’re a spider and I’m a little girl.”

“By the way, what kind of name is Muffett? Did you get it just to rhyme with tuffet? And, of course, you know my next question.”

“You ask too many questions, Spider. Go spin a web somewhere else. The name’s Muffett, so get over it. And that would be Little Miss Muffett to you.”

“What, you don’t like my company?”

“Not particularly. I’m a little girl, remember? Historically, I’m supposed to be frightened by spiders, but you’re so tiny. You’ve got the gift of gab, I’ll give that to you.”

“Yeah, Mom always told me that too. Said I was outgoing and extroverted. You?”

“Introvert. Not sure what I am on the Myers Briggs scale, but it’ll land on the introvert side. No friends. I just swing on a swing all day. And sometimes I do sit on that silly stool, er, tuffet.”

“Pity.”

“Why pity?”

“We could have fun scaring people if you were a little more outgoing.”

“Why would that be fun? When you scare people, they run away from you. I want friends, you know, people who want to be with you. Instead, I have an on and off relationship with a spider.”

“Could be worse,” the Spider said.

“How so?”

“Well, you could be like that lady down the street who lives in a shoe with a boat load of kids. There doesn’t seem to be any man in the house from what I can see. I don’t go there often, but those kids have a field day with someone like me. They’re just ornery.”

The door opened.

“Oh, better run along, Spider. Here come the folks.”

“Uh, Muffett, who were you talking to?”

“The Spider. He’s gone now.”

“I’m telling you, Dear,” the father said to the mother. “I say we get her in while the therapy’s still cheap and while there’s still some hope.”