photo prompt © Victor and Sarah Potter
Holding hands, they took a last look at their favourite room.
“Jan, remember when we moved in you ranted and raved about the spiders the previous owner left behind?”
“What was worse – he took the light fittings. Those colanders were only meant to be temporary and they’re still hanging.”
George examined the room, recalling and saving memories. ” I hope they look after Jezebel.”
“Perhaps we should leave a note.”
“Notes are usually left to say when to put the garbage out or idiosyncrasies of the oven.”
“Leave one. Write, don’t kill Jezebel, the spider. She keeps the bigger critters out.“
Thank you to Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers and Victor and Sarah Potter for providing the photo prompt.
About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
A bear-killing spider! I love it
LikeLiked by 4 people
LOL. We only have koala bears.
LikeLike
lol great take on the photo, I can imagine the conversation taking place … the kind of thing I’d do/say 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
We once moved and I was cranky at the state it was left by the previous owners but it wasn’t long before I learnt the spiders are quick weavers. If you live in Australia, as you know, you just have to get used to them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes it’s cohabitation or massive amounts of toxic spray … I prefer the former 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
For a moment there I thought they were talking about the cat. The spider sounds to have quite magical properties though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know about magic except perhaps the spider had woven its web around them causing them to think the way they didi. However, I think the spider had just been a fixture for so long that they didn’t want anything dire to happen to it.
LikeLike
Shiver. Spiders are bad enough, what are the bigger critters?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An excuse to ensure the new owners don’t kill poor Jezebel who hasn’t done a thing wrong in her life unless you are a fly.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, this gave me goosebumps. Very clever.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Miriam.
LikeLike
I liked that! Very true to life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Penny.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Irene,
I’m not sure I’d be sympathetic to Jezebel. 😉 She might kill critters but she could populate the house with her little ones. No thanks. Good story, nonetheless. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rochelle. We have a couple of poisonous spiders here that I gladly get rid of but the rest I don’t bother about too much. I’d let Jezebel be but I understand that like you, many would not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I generally leave bugs alone unless they’re poisonous, so I’d let Jezebel be (like Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web). I guess Jezebel should be glad to not have encountered the characters in my story. ☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
True.
LikeLike
Nope! It’s the broom for Jezebel if I was moving in. Nice story, Irene. There are people who grow little sentimental towards spiders and snakes. Not me though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Varad I understand your sentiments but I’m glad they didn’t sell their house to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Although my wife has me kill any spiders we find in the house, folklore has it that it’s bad luck to kill a house spider and they really do keep other pests under control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you on this one, apart from our deadly spiders. We once put in one of those ultraviolet insect zappers and succeeded in attracting more spiders than insects and the spiders were more successful than the light in getting rid of the little pests.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope Jezebel survives. Or maybe she’ll sneak into a packing crate and leave with them 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that would be a nice conclusion for all of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the humour, the dialogue and the spider!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Ha Ha – this is great! We’ve had many a spider pet – our long term one was Stephen with a home by our fridge 🙂 I love the reasoning with this one though – it’s not sentimental its utterly rational – she’ll protect you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I think Jan had done a course in the art of persuasion. 😄
LikeLike
I’m just thankful I’m not born of the spider sept… then, I couldn’t kill the little buggers. I don’t mind a granddaddy long legs hanging around, but in our area there are too many brown recluses and they bite and make one ill.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. I can let most go like huntsman spiders but funnel webs and red backs have to be squashed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally understand that. Here in Northern Kentucky, USA we have Brown Recluse, Black widows, and there’s another I know on sight that’s poisonous, but can’t remember the name at the moment.
LikeLike
Enjoyed your story – that’s a great name for a spider!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Susan. Glad you enjoyed it and the spider’s name.
LikeLike
I don’t even want to know what the “bigger critters” are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. A persuasive measure in the buyers imagination.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keeps the drop bears away?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely dialogue and very sound advice – never kill a spider! Unless it can kill you, of course. Great tale Irene
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Lynn. Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly! Spiders can be your friends. I always leave the web spinners alone. Don’t bother them and they won’t bother you. Even better, they’ll eat all the bugs that bug you. That’s a smart family there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to agree with you as you probably knew I would.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Couldn’t they take Jezebel with them?
LikeLiked by 1 person
They could but they knew how long it took her to spin her web and are reluctant to make her do it. Could be preferable to death though.
LikeLike
I think that I would build a outdoor spider house, it would be safer for spider. In the interest of the spider.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now people might have some cause to really think they/you were crazy. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure how note would be received. Probably, goodbye spider.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are probably right.
LikeLike
I’m afraid my compassion bypasses spiders. Bye bye spidey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So far I think the spider has been squashed more than let live. Thanks for dropping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a cruel group. The good and bad news is that we kill people on a regular basis too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be fair, in my story, people *do* feel bad for the spider.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Goodness, Jezebel sounds like she’s become part of their family! Maybe instead of warning the new tenants they should warn her — to stay low. Interesting take!
LikeLike
LOL. I don’t think she understands English too well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunate for her. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awwe, so sweet. After all, spiders are people too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. You have me thinking – are they people?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have woven a very delicate tale here, Irene. As far as maintaining the status quo is concerned i am not very sure if the new tenants would empathetic towards their presence.
Nevertheless, a highly imaginative story.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Neel. I don’t think Jezebel stands much of a chance with the new people but time will tell.
LikeLike
I want to adopt Jezebel 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll let the spider adoption agency know.
LikeLike
What a brilliant name for a spider! My sister had a cat called Jezebel too. I know you get big spiders down your way. What do you get that’s worse than giant spiders?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the thumbs up re name. Your sister and I must be on the same wave-length. We do get some horrible spiders here – I think we have the most venomous in the world but certainly in the top few. A funnel web spider has fangs that are bigger than a brown snake and we had a brown snake death yesterday.
What do you get thats worse than giant spiders?
LikeLike
You should work for the tourist board…I don’t think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They should take JZ with them – sounds like one of the family!
Click to read my FriFic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The would feel sad that she had to make a new web for herself so think she is better off where she is used to.
LikeLike
Somehow I love their wanting to protect Jezebel. Which says a lot about this story!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad it moved you Dale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this. Save Jezebel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Could be the start of a movement.
LikeLike
Nice idea, but how could leave their pet behind?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes you have to wonder if they are worthy of pet ownership. She may be better off taking her chances with the new folk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice story, on trying to save the spider. Myself, I don’t like killing them, though I don’t object to others’ doing so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t kill spiders but grass hoppers are altogether a different kettle of fish. Squish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they should bring the spider with them… after all there are always big critters (guests) to keep at bay,.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have given me an idea. Guest control. Thanks Bjorn.
LikeLike
Jezebel the spider. I like it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dawn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jezbel! What a lovely name and story 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Dahlia. Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jezebel is an adorable name and looks like a part of the family . I wonder if the note with the mention of the ‘ big critters’ would scare the new tenants away .
Lovely storytelling , Irene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Moon. Hopefully they’ll just keep Jezebel.
LikeLike
YIKES … I want to like Jezebel but since I dislike spiders I’ll have to say I would stomp on her despite their note. Great way to approach the prompt … with sympathy for Jezebel. : )
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least you want to like her….. thats a start before stomping begins.
LikeLike
We once had spider named Igor but he lived in our garden. Had he tried to live indoors, he wouldn’t have lived long. Fun story to read, Irene, I really enjoyed this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Igor. I won’t feel sorry for him because better to be alive outside than squashed inside.
LikeLike