Thursday, April 1, 2010

There's a Lesson Here Somewhere . . .





When nineteen-year-old Kevin O. went shopping for an animal companion, he refused to settle for the usual pets. No puppies or hamsters or capybaras for Kevin. Oh no. He needed a cobra.

He brought his cobra home earlier this month and placed it in a special terrarium. When Kevin returned to see how his snake was settling in, he found the terrarium . . . EMPTY.

Now the snake in question is quite venomous, perhaps even deadly. And Kevin lives in an apartment building with two other families. The authorities were called, and a massive snake hunt began. Floors were ripped up and walls were demolished. (See below. And see more pictures here.) The search lasted a week and cost more than $50,000, but the snake was never found.

So what happens now? Everyone in the building has been forced to leave. The house will be sealed off for eight weeks, which is as long as experts figure the snake might survive.

If I were Kevin, I don't think I'd go back. The cobra might be dead, but I have a feeling the neighbors are now far more dangerous than the snake ever was.


19 comments:

The Golden Eagle said...

Major oops. And I's certainly be mad at my neighbors if they let loose a cobra. *GRRRR*

Kitty said...

"I have a feeling the neighbors are now far more dangerous than the snake ever was." I lol-ed at that XD

Poison Pen said...

Haaaaahahahahah. That reminds me of a friend of my dad's who lost a boa constrictor coming from South Dakota to Denver. The following spring, his sister in SD went to water a fairly large houseplant, lifted up the leaves, and found the boa constrictor hibernating coiled around the base. She was so freaked out. xD

montana irregulars said...

Would someone like to help me fine an image for the online irregulars group?

Anna said...

This is off subject, but without telling me, my mother won the dome doll! I just got it and it is sitting proudly on my shelf. Hopefully I will not need to use it anytime soon. :)

Kirsten Miller said...

Anna: That is awesome!!!! If you like, I'd be happy to send you a special, signed copy of the story! Just send me a note at kikistrike@gmail.com

EQ said...

Hmmm...has anybody read that picture book, "The Day Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash"?

Toodles*** said...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I WOULD BE FREAKING OUT IF I WAS IN THAT BUILDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHERE DID THAT HAPPEN, KIRSTEN???????
I NEED TO KNOW, OR I WON'T SLEEP!!!!!
I HATE SNAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WELL, POISONOUS ONES, ANYWAY.

Al Fonzo said...

EQ: Yes, very very interesting,

Patsee said...

It wouldn't be quite as terrifying if it weren't a cobra.

Halley said...

Wow, that is really weird. Where did the cobra go anyway? Weird.

true_dragon_master said...

I have heard I story quite similar to that but much sadder. A married couple let a large snake escape and it killed their baby. Quite stupid of them, stories like these rarely have happy endings.

Halley said...

Hey, Kirsten, I have a question for you. My friend, Julia, and I are writing a story together for a school project. It's going pretty well, and it's very exciting,but I think it would be cool to have a real author actually look at it, and give us feedback, and tell us what we might want to change. We're not exactly DONE yet, but will you think about doing that, please? We would be SO GLAD if you did! Thanks!

dangerous said...

EQ: that is exactly what I thought of!

Also, if one buys a snake, what is the normal reaction to LOSING it? "Oh darn, my highly poisonous snake is loose in the building. Better get the net and the darts."
o.0

Some Lost Melody said...

I'd be pretty pissed off but I live in a house :]

Rileydog said...

Wow, that would be terrifying! Happy Easter everyone! Today, my parents took my sister and I on the Underground Tour of Seattle!! It was amazing!

Micci said...

That is...scary. I wonder where the cobra went. But why do you think the neighbors are dangerous?

Clare said...

Wow, if I was Kevin, I would feel so guilty I would go insane!
Anna thats so cool! Did she just happen to buy it or did she read Kirsten's story and everything?

Irregular Kiki said...

Naughty Kevin..
He should have got a microchip for the cobra.