Joe H 5G

TARANTULA OBSSESION

I was in Old Saybrook. We drove to the Connecticut Science Museum. I went up to my favorite floor. The animal floor. They have toads, frogs, turtles, tortoises, fish and a tarantula. I went to the tarantula’s cage. It was in the corner. It was a Rose Haired Tarantula. One of the most popular tarantulas kept as a pet. That was the exact moment that I said to myself I am going to get a tarantula.

As soon as I got back to the hotel I did as much research as I could. Then I found the perfect one. The best you could get in the world. The Pink Toed Tarantula. It may seem lame but it is the nicest tarantula one of the easiest to care for and it has pink toes. I talked to my dad about it. I said we should go to Parrots of the World. The best pet store ever. They have tarantulas.

We went there the next Saturday. When we got there I was really exited.  I ran inside. It is a small place. I went to see the hedgehogs but they weren’t there. Again. Then I saw the insects, lizards, and amphibians. They had a chameleon, a snake, a scorpion, some toads, newts, a monitor and a tarantula. It was also a Rose Hair. There was a cricket right next to it. I tried blowing on the tarantula. It moved a little. I wanted to see it grab the cricket. It didn’t do anything.

My dad asked some questions about the tarantula, how to care for them and what they eat. The store owner Mark Morrone opened the top of the tarantula’s cage reached in and picked it up. My dad said “Wow”. Mark said “Come on” and put the tarantula on my dad’s hand. It crawled all the way up his arm. I ran to get my brother. He was all the way in the front. He was looking at the turtles. “Dad is holding a tarantula!” I yelled. We ran back. The tarantula was still on my dad’s arm. I was amazed. Mark told me “Usually people who want a tarantula hold it.” At first I was really scared. I was freaked out by the idea. But shakily I said “Sure”. Partly because I was scared of the spider and partly because I was talking to the TV star Mark Morrone who also ran his own pet store.  He picked up the tarantula and put it on my hand. It felt like a hamster with eight legs. It felt tickly. Then my dad totally surprised me. He quietly said “Do you want her?” I thought I didn’t hear him right.  Then I realized what he said and that he meant it. I almost fainted on the spot. One whole month I waited for this. I almost said no. But I didn’t. Yes. I can’t believe at one time I was so afraid of spiders and here I have one in the same room with me even when I’m sleeping.