Louse

Louse

noun |lous|

1 ( pl. lice |līs|) a small, wingless, parasitic insect that lives on the skin of mammals and birds • ( sucking louse) an insect with piercing mouthparts, found only on mammals, an insect with a large head and jaws!

My sanctuary has been despoiled………. This morning upon departing for town I passed two ladies staying in the other building on my compound. What looked like an intimate moment between the two women soon was revealed to be nothing more than an old-fashioned “nit” picking session. Seems their room of six girls all have it now, some worse than others.  I am already itching… I asked the poor girl if she just got it or did she get it somewhere else from her travels. She replied I think I just got it here, I have a few. Her friend behind her secretly shakes her head and mouths “she has thousands”! Holy Mary Mother of God! I have raised two children through multiple lice epidemics, watched my best friends children and in some cases entire families deal with infestations but I have remained unaffected. Somehow my little world has remained bug free… but now here I am surrounded.

My head has been itching all day since I found out………….if I get lice…who will pick them out for me? Who will be my baboon mommy…. Nobody, that’s who!!!

Itching!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coming on this trip I went through a rigorous preparation process. Getting all kinds of tropical disease vaccinations, and visits to my Doctor for every kind of antibiotic, anti diarrhea, anti itch, anti swelling, etc. medication. The medicine kit I am carrying could save a small village from death and mayhem. I am ready for anything…bring it on! But this…. I am unprepared. My hair is so long and big I can barely get a comb through it now. God help me….itching!

I imagine waking up to find myself roped to my bed, surrounded by millions of lice soldiers, I am like Gulliver, the giant woman, and the lice are taking me away to their Queen… chanting as they move me from the bed onto the floor and out the door.  I will stay awake all night and wait for them…waiting, watching… I am ready for them and this is my battle cry…nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Itching…….