Diary From The Carrot Union

Chapter 24: #Cockroach

It was almost a sleepy time for Star, and naturally, she wanted me to accompany her. And well, I just can't refuse even though everyone else was still around the campfire, drinking coconuts Woofer got from a tree nearby - don't ask me how he found it.

There are only two options: sleeping on the tent without a mattress or sleeping on the car's couch. For Star's comfort, I tucked her on the backseat of Joseph's car after finding a sweater after one of the Woofers brought luggage filled with clothes a few hours ago.

"W-will you accompany me, Mr Leon?"

"Yeah, of course! Of course, I'll stay for you!"

"Good, good," Star cooed, "I sleep now."

I saw Joseph near the campfire playing with a guitar, hearing the sounds of midnight insects chirping around as I pat Star's head down to her tiny ears, feeling the warmness of the hearth while the soldier's song serenaded us.

And alas, everything felt fine...

....

But of course, nothing good ever lasts long for me!

A few hours later, everyone was in their tents sleeping here, where I heard something creeping near the plastic bags of my car.

Rustle, rustle, rustle, the sound of something creeping on plastic. I didn't like it, so I turned on the interior light and saw a giant cockroach the size of a grown chimpanzee's palm twitching its filthy antennas as I noticed it.

I am grimly afraid of cockroaches, but I kept the urge to scream like a drama queen for fear of waking Star up. So I decided to exit the vehicle slowly, careful to lay Star's head on the car seat.

I thought it would be a quick one-rabbit operation - exit the car, grab a tissue, grab the infernal insectoid nightmare from hell, squish the poor bastard and throw it back to the fire it came out from, and relinquish all thoughts for today and go to sleep!

S-simple right? Well, it was all simple until the first and second steps. When I found the plastic tissue box on the glove compartment near the steering wheel, it was when that lovely and dandy little Star woke up.

"Uhh...Mr Leon, what are you doing?" She asked

"Shush!"

I need concentration, for the chance of this little hellspawn of a creature escaping increases the longer it stays upon the interior's blinding light, and so I focused my intent, took a deep breath, and...I went for it!

And I missed...

The insectoid monster scuttled upwards to the car seat, and that is when I panicked.

"AaaAAaAAHHhHHHh!!!!!!"

My idiotic impulse quickly awakened everything in a half-a-mile radius, and everyone thought the CGB was here to cut off our giblets.

And of course, panic ensued when the cockroach decided to fly to my face...

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
I woke up everyone in an instance of utter panic as I tried shrugging off the insect, which seemed to enjoy running back up my leg every time it latches off. It was all up to my survival instinct that time, for I jumped, lunged, and ran as if a fox is chasing me, up until that inevitable moment where I hit a nearby root on the grass and fall headfirst into the charred fire pit.

The searing warmth of charcoal engulfed my furry face, and cries of fear quickly turned into unfettered agony. Fortunately, Violet quickly high tailed in and swung her leg towards my nether regions out from the fire.

There were no words to describe the idiocracy other than, "Leon, you're a fecking idiot!" Who Woofer conveniently said, and a whole load of ass pain.

I stood back up, and saw Joseph chasing the cockroach, finally leaping towards it to cusp it into his arm.

"Mr Leon, I caught it!" He said proudly.

I barely responded as I was aching in pain thanks to Violet's kick, even though all I want to say is to throw that thing into the fire. But, alas, Violet looked at me confused as the previously sleeping Star ran towards me and then Joseph.

"Ooh, what do you have there, Mr Joseph?"

"Oh, this silly thing? Just local wildlife, that's all!"

Just local wildlife? Your head is local wildlife! Was the word I wanted to scream out.

"Just let it go, Star," Woofer said, "We're leaving in three hours, get some rest!"

"B-but...I want it!" Star said, "I want it!"

Hahaha...I'm in danger, and so I yelled out, "No! Nonono! To hell I'm letting that creature near me!"

I stood back up and rushed back towards Joseph, who had the wriggling nightmare on his soft, fluffy hands. Star quickly followed, tugging my shirt with that puppy dog eyes of hers.

I won't be deceived, so I said, "No! Star! Please, no!"

"But it's cute!" Star whined, "Please Mr Leon! Can I have it?"

Violet had her arms folded as Woofer dragged his palm across his face, sighing as he came over, "Enough with this nonsense! Get some sleep everyone. We've got a very long day in front of us!"

"No! I don't want to sleep! I want it! My little Cashew!"

Great, she even came out with a name for that cockroach, and boy isn't Joseph helping!

"Look, I don't think keeping it harms anyone, right?" Joseph added, "Come Star, we'll find a jar or something to keep it!"

"Fine! Go keep that damned insect if it means you'll sleep!" Woofer said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" I stormed in, "Don't you think I have a say in this?"

But the mean glare Woofer gave to me gave me the answer I needed, and slowly, that sinking feeling on my chest returned.

"Then it is settled then!" Joseph said, "Come on, Star! Let's find you a glass jar!"

The crowd quickly dissipated in front, and I kept looking at Star and Joseph as they conveniently found a glass jar on the car's luggage compartment.

And at the end of the day, I felt like nothing ever changed...

....

"Hey Leon, are you okay?"

I looked right and saw Violet looking down at me. I scoffed nervously, "Heh, there's no way I'm sleeping with that thing."

....

"Well, do you want to sleep next to me?"