Bugs and a Tan

Melissa was fascinated.
Do bugs get sunburn? She thought.
Digging out her Dad’s magnifying glass, she peered at the small creature.
‘Do you mind?’
Melissa nearly dropped the glass in surprise.
‘Erm, hello. Did you just talk to me?’
The bug sat up on its haunches and crossed two pairs of legs.
‘Of course! We’re not just dumb critters you know!’
‘Oh! I’m sorry Mr Bug. I was just interested to see………..
‘If bugs get sunburn. Yes, I know.’
‘You do? and do you? Get sunburn I mean.’
‘Yes. And sometimes we shrivel up and die.’
Melissa stepped back in shock.
‘You die from sunburn?’
‘Not exactly. Some little boys, and girls too actually if they’re that way inclined, love to watch us smoulder under the glass as they take their inquisitiveness a step too far. The sun rays through glass can cause fires, and sadly sometimes us bugs are in the line of it.’
‘Oh! I am so sorry. I’ll put it away and never do it again!’
‘Melissa? Who are your talking to sweetie?’
‘No-one Daddy,’ and with a smile, she picked the bug up and took it outside, placing it gently on a leaf in the shade.
For the visually challenged writer, the photo shows a little girl with a magnifying glass looking at a bug.

Written for Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge

About pensitivity101

I am a retired number cruncher with a vivid imagination and wacky sense of humour which extends to short stories and poetry. I love to cook and am a bit of a dog whisperer as I get on better with them than people sometimes! In November 2020, we lost our beloved Maggie who adopted us as a 7 week old pup in March 2005. We decided to have a photo put on canvas as we had for her predecessor Barney. We now have three pictures of our fur babies on the wall as we found a snapshot of Kizzy, my GSD when Hubby and I first met so had hers done too. On February 24th 2022 we were blessed to find Maya, a 13 week old GSD pup who has made her own place in our hearts. You can follow our training methods, photos and her growth in my blog posts. From 2014 to 2017 'Home' was a 41 foot narrow boat where we made strong friendships both on and off the water. We were close to nature enjoying swan and duck families for neighbours, and it was a fascinating chapter in our lives. We now reside in a small bungalow on the Lincolnshire coast where we have forged new friendships and interests.

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