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Big Bug Little Bug

Some Are All Show and No Go

By Dennis HumphreysPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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by: Dennis R. Humphreys

Some Are All Show and No Go (an allegory)

Once there were two bugs who lived close to each other. One had built a large hole in the ground because he was very large and would come out the same time every morning as his neighbor did. His neighbor, who was a fourth of the other bug's size would marvel at all the colors his large neighbor exhibited, while he himself was just a dark gray.

There were times when his large neighbor was unkind.

“Why don't you get some paint and spruce up your outside? You could use some color. You're a bit dull,” he told him. The large bug was called Bartuga while his smaller neighbor was known as Speck.

“I can't hold a brush you fool. I'd rather be dull than a dullard,” he told his big friend.

And so they went around like this almost every day but they liked each other and enjoyed each other's company. They would each go out to scavenge for food, going their opposite ways. They each had to be careful themselves or they might become something's dinner as they went through the day coming home before sundown. They would compare notes as to what they accomplished during the day before descending into their holes for the night.

“I'm not finding as much food as I used to around here,” Bartuga commented one evening.

“Neither am I, I've noticed. What do you think the problem is,” Speck asked.

“There's just not as much food,” Bartuga exclaimed.

“Well, duh! I think that goes without saying. You eat a lot more than I do because of your size. If I can't find enough food you certainly won't. We'll have to do something,” Speck surmised.

“What do you think we should do?” Bartuga inquired.

“I've lived here in this hole my entire life... two years. I hate to move but I may have to. Plus I like the neighborhood. I hate to leave my neighbor,” Speck told him implying he wanted to stay with Bartuga.

“Well, let's think about it. Let's see what happens tomorrow and then decide,” he suggested to his neighbor.

“That sounds like a reasonable suggestion. We can talk about this again tomorrow evening and decide then,” Speck proposed.

The two of them wished each other well in the morning as they went their opposite ways for the day looking for food. It was a long and grueling day. Neither bug had much luck and both came home that night hungry, especially Bartuga who began imagining his neighbor packed between two slices of bread, covered with a bit of mayo.

“Any luck?” Speck shouted as they both got closer.

“Very little. I think we have to do something, or at least I do or I'll end up a hollow shell,” he complained.

“I guess it's time to move then,” Speck answered.

“We might as well start in the morning, then” recommended Bartuga.

“Where should we go then?” Speck asked his large friend.

Now both of them lived among a few rocks piled alongside of a state highway where mounds of crown vetch grew sporadically in the stony soil. Both of them spent their time on this side of the highway and never crossed it, because of the traffic.

“I hear there's an abundance of food on the other side of that highway,” he told Speck.

“I've heard the same thing but it's awfully dangerous isn't it?” Speck asked his friend's opinion.

“Only if you get run over by a car,” Bartuga replied.

“Well, that's what I mean you knumbskull!” Speck answered, shaking his head.

“The secret is to keep moving. But then I can move faster than you. I can make four steps to every one of yours,” he told Speck.

“Yeah, but I can scurry... you lumber,” he told him.

They stood at the side of the road for some time looking back and forth from the shoulder. It wasn't a busy road out in the middle of nowhere but it was a daunting stretch to look across after a car passed.

“Well, there's no time like now,” shouted Speck, as he took off across the road, scurrying as fast as he could. While fear made him hurry, the hot pavement made him hurry more.

Bartuga tried to keep up, but Speck was right. He lumbered. As Bartuga reached half way Speck looked back at him and chided him for his lack of speed. As Bartuga looked, he saw a car coming and watched as it squashed his friend.

“Speck!” he screamed, “Speck was the same color as the road and the car didn't see him. Surely if he had he would have swerved to avoid him.' Then he resigned himself to the fact his friend was gone. He went over and decided the trip had made him hungrier than he was, so he decided to go and get a Speck to eat.

As he was devouring some of his tasty friend he saw the shadow pass over of one of his enemies... a crow. Better being safe, he began to run across the road the rest of the way but he could only lumber. His colorful outer shell made him an easy target on the road as the crow landed and scooped Bartuga up in his beak, swallowing him quickly.

Some people are all show and no go while others think just because they move quickly under the radar, they can't be caught.

goals
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