Butterfly Butterfly 3/6/68

Chapter 9: The First Luna Moth

Chapter 9

The First Luna Moth

I've always hated that shed out behind the church. It's creepy and full of a bunch of old dusty props. I even saw a hornet's nest last time I was in there. I ran out screaming and not even all the assurance it had been abandoned for years could get me back in that shed. That was like three years ago and I haven't entered it since.

Now it's winter and almost time for the once every year Christmas pageant. I've been sent out to the shed to get the cardboard sceneries and some sheep props and costumes. I want to strangle my Sunday school teacher for making me come out here.

I pulled out the totes with the costumes and props first so it would be easier to reach the backgrounds. Problem was the moment the totes were out of the way the backgrounds fell over. I sighed unhappily and pulled the totes out. I tied my scarf around my face and went in again to get the backgrounds from the now dust filled space. I pulled most of them out without problem but it was when I came to the last one a problem came up.

It was stuck and I of course had to go to the back to find out why it was stuck. I slipped into the back of the shed to where the end of the scenery was wedged between the wall and a large stack of flattened cardboard boxes. While I wedged the scenery free I knocked the boxes over. My back was to them so I decided I'd pick them up after I got the scenery out.

I finally pulled the scenery free and then tripped over my own feet. My back fell against something soft and warm. I screeched and threw myself against the wall. I turned around expecting an attack from a hibernating bear or something. Instead I saw a light blue thing made of webs about three feet wide and four feet tall. It was held in the air by more webs that stretched from the ceiling to the walls and floor. If I hadn't knocked the boxes down I would never have found it.

I watched it in terror expecting any moment a giant mutated spider would crawl out and eat me. The only thing that happened though was the dent I'd made when I bumped it popped out. The thing moved a little and the webs tightened but that was it.

I relaxed a little and took a step toward the cocoon thing and put my hand against it. It felt warm and silky beneath my fingers. I heard whispering in my ears and could feel the pain they caused.

"Stupid girl!" "Why can't you be more like your like your little sister?" "Another C! What are you, stupid?" "I'm so proud of her, unlike my other daughter." "Mommy and daddy love me more and you know it." "I don't like her, she's so weird." "Well, it's not that I don't want to be your friend. It's just that I can't..." "Weirdo Luna!" "No one likes you so just go crawl in a ditch and die." "You don't belong with this family. You're a freak." "Maybe you're one of those butterflies. Oh, no wait, you can't be because you're not pretty enough."

"Stop it! Just leave me alone!" "I just want you to be proud of me too." "I'm trying but nothing I do is good enough." "I'm not her, I'm me. Why can't you see that?" "I don't need their love. I don't need anyone." "I'm not weird, I'm just different." "Why are you leaving me too? Why does everyone leave me?" "I wish I was a butterfly but even then I'd still be different." "I just want to die. Why can't they just let me die?"

The whispers faded out. I opened my eyes to realize I was crying. I wiped them and blamed the dust. When I was done I looked at the cocoon and saw it must be one of those butterfly cocoons. I don't know what she'd be doing here but okay.

I put my hand against the cocoon again and shook it a little, "Wake up, it's just a nightmare. Think happy thoughts before you go to sleep." I said trying to wake her up.

The whispering faded away completely as the bad dream ended and a happier one began.

"Ayra what's taking you so long?" Phil my Sunday school teacher yelled from the entrance.