Val Fox Writes

Little Sofia was afraid of spiders.  She didn't even like the children's song about the water spout.  She had always been afraid and disliked camping, picnics and sitting on the grass.  Grandpa always said the spiders were our friends and only bite if they feel threatened or afraid.  But Sofia didn't believe him and decided to stay afraid.

One day Mama asked Sofia to go add a towel to the washing machine.  Sofia discovered a small garden spider inside the washing machine.  It stood on a single thread of webbing.  Sofia jumped back and screamed.  Mama!  Mama!

Sofia heard the lawn mower start and knew her mother could not hear her.  The water continued to fill the machine and had almost reached the level of the little spider.  It scrambled up the thread but with nowhere to go it appeared the spider would drown.  Sofia was afraid but the next thing she did was grab a used dryer sheet.  She reached inside the washing machine and gently grabbed the struggling arachnid, lifting him to safety out the basement window onto the grass.

Mama!  I did it.  I saved the spider inside the machine.

What spider, asked Mama.                                                                                                                      

The big, black one with long, creepy legs and big yellow eyes, Sofia exclaimed.

Oh, I wondered where it was, replied Mama.  That  spider was just a toy that fell out of a popcorn box, remember?

It wasn't a toy, thought Sofia.  She walked outside to where she let go of the spider but it was gone.

After that day Sofia's fear turned to curiosity.  She learned all she could about the eight-legged creatures, including that spiders are also afraid of her.  And they play an important part in keeping the natural world healthy by eating other insects so there aren't too many of one kind.

Spiders can be a helpful friend and do not bite unless they are afraid.  Spider babies are tiny and helpless.  Sofia learned that when she sees a spider on her jacket, just brush it off and keep playing.

Sofia knows she doesn't have to be afraid of spiders any more.