Spinne

By Julia Schweer

Spider was sitting in her web, spinning wool. Her spindle dangled below her, spinning like a top, winding the threads into cords, the cords into ropes. She was sitting in her web and she was happy.

Mantis walked by, tall and dapper, and Spider called out to him. "Come, Mantis, spin with me. We'll weave the wool into fabric, and make ourselves grand robes, and ascots, and vests with pockets for our watches."

Mantis stopped, and watched Spider with suspicion. "I will not come into your web, Spider," he replied. "You will trap me and kill me."

With that, Mantis ran away. Spider did not move, and still spun wool. Her spindle dangled below her, spinning like a top, winding the threads into cords, the cords into ropes.

Dragonfly walked by, thin and carefree, and Spider called out to her. "Come, Dragonfly, spin with me. We'll knot the wool into rope ladders, and into belts to keep our pouches of treasure near us, and into hats to keep the sun from our eyes."

Dragonfly stopped, and watched Spider with suspicion. "I will not come into your web, Spider." She replied. "You will trap me and kill me."

With that, Dragonfly ran away. Spider did not move, and still spun wool. Her spindle dangled below her, spinning like a top, winding the threads into cords, the cords into ropes.

Beetle walked by, small and guileless, and Spider called out to him. "Come, Beetle, spin with me. We'll knit the wool into bags to carry our food, and into blankets to keep us warm at night, and into shawls to wear to Sabbath."

Beetle stopped, and because he carried no suspicion within him, he climbed up and joined Spider in her web. And they spun together, winding the threads into cords, the cords into ropes.

Spider took the ropes that Beetle had spun, and praised his craftsmanship, and his skill. Though the wool was uneven and rough, Beetle glowed with pride, and looked only inwards in his vanity. Spider began to wrap the ropes around Beetle, her voice still carrying him inwards, making him unable to see. Spider wrapped tighter and tighter, and more and more, and then she pulled until Beetle was dead. Smiling to herself, she placed Beetle's body in a high arch of her web, to feed to her children later.

Spider was sitting in her web, spinning wool. Her spindle dangled below her, spinning like a top, winding the threads into cords, the cords into ropes. She was sitting in her web and she was happy.