Roboroach

The morning sun was shining brightly through the kitchen window as I walked in. As my eyes grew accustomed to the brightness of the light, my mouth dropped open and I gasped in horror.
Dishes, bowls, pots, pans dirty glasses and silverware were everywhere. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a cockroach dash over a plate half full of spaghetti trying to escape to a dark corner to hide. Fortunately, my good friend Cathy was staying with me while my parents were out of town.

"Cathy!" I squealed.

"What Rose" she called from the other room.

"Come and help me! I swear I just saw a huge cockroach that's big enough to carry away a plate of spaghetti."

"What plate of spaghetti?" asked Rose entering the room.

"Oh my God! I thought your little brother was supposed to clean up after his party last night?"

"I'm going to smack that little snot! He is so spoiled. Mom never makes him do anything."

"I know what you mean. I'm always picking up my little sister's toys."

"Yeah, and my mom always says I have to be the responsible one because I'm older. It's not fair"

"Hey Rose, I think I've got an idea."

"What, Ehhh that's an awful nasty smile you have on your face."

"Help me carry these dirty dishes into my brother's bedroom. We're going to dump all of them on his bed."

"Oh gross"

"If you see that cockroach, see if you can get it in a jar. I really want him to find it in his bed!"

A little while later Cathy and I were finished carrying all the dirty dishes into my brother's bedroom.

"Now what?" asked Cathy carrying in the last bit of dirty silverware.

"Let's dump all of it on his on his bed and get out of here." "Where is the cockroach?" I asked.

"I don't know. I didn't see when I picked up the dirty dishes."

"Ought oh! I think I hear someone coming up the stairs."

The noisy chatter was coming from Jeff and his friends.

Cathy and I ran and hid in the closet.

"I left the basketball in my room man. I'll be back." This was one of the rare times when Jeff and his brainy friends took time to play outside.

Jeff scrambled up the stairs to his bedroom and opened the door. He quietly got his basketball and left the room.

As the boys meet outside near the basketball hoop they erupt in laughter.

"The plan worked. The roboroach is in the bedroom. My sister and her friend are hiding in the closet," said Jeff. "I saw their shoes sticking out of the closet door."

"Shhh! I think he's gone now. Let's get out of here Cathy."

As Cathy ran out of the closet, she tripped over Jeff's baseball and landed face down in a plate of cold spaghetti which was on the bed.

"Ahh gross!" squealed Cathy. When I heard Cathy scream, I ran out of the closet and tripped over her. Both of our faces and hair were covered in spaghetti sauce and noodles. As we looked up the cockroach ran across the bed right under our noses. We both jumped up and ran out of the house.

As we ran screaming, we passed by Jeff and his friends at the front of the house. The boys fell to their knees in a fit of laughter. After a minute or so, Jeff whistled and his littlest friend came flying out of the bedroom window and landed on this shoulder.

"Good job, roboroach. I don't think my sister and her friend will ever bother us again."

Even today, many years later, my brother and I still talk about this. Roboroach, well he stays in the closet, locked up, where he is safe. Maybe someday my grandkids will get to play with him, but for now I like him just where he is.

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