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Caught in a Trap

Ahhh … yes.  It’s that time of the year again, the time when the nights become longer, the mornings become nippy and shrieks of “Ackkk!!! A spider!!!” echo across the land.  Yes, Autumn is upon us, which means spiders everywhere will leave their outdoor environment and move into our warm, toasty homes.  Just as birds and butterflies migrate south, spiders flock to the nearest doorway or window, desperate to begin their winter holiday away from the not-so-warm winter sun. 

This, of course, can cause extreme (and unnecessary) distress for many people, and after the initial “Ackkk!!! A spider!!!” greeting, what usually follows is one of two options:  aimless slipper swiping at the poor creature with further intermittent screams or sometimes, just sometimes, the spider will get lucky and come across a kind, sensible human that proudly brags about his no kill spider policy to his arachnophobic friends at work on a daily basis.  Out comes the cardboard and a small glass, and before the spider knows what is happening, it is chucked outside back into the cold, frosty garden. 

Obviously, it is all a simple misunderstanding.

However, it is the spider that gets the last laugh.  Spiders aren’t stupid. Doubtless the same spider will be back inside the house before that glass is put away.  After all, would you want to stand in the garden completely naked with a blustery breeze whooshing between your legs?

Probably not.  

So I’m afraid that until spiders can sew themselves eight-legged onesies, they will continue to pay us a visit in our homes whether we like it or not. Clearly the best option, should you wish to rehome the spider outside, is to toss him into next door’s garden.  Just be sure to have your earplugs on standby.

However, spiders on their winter holiday are only one type of spider humans must contend with.  Somewhere in your home, perhaps under the bed, behind the wash machine, or at the back of your cupboard lurks the notorious house spider.

 

Most likely, the house spider will never have set foot outdoors.  It will have emerged from an egg sac from somewhere within the house, left there by its mother.  And often it seems that house spiders come out into the open more in Autumn than they do at other times of the year. 

Why? 

Because the house spider you see scooting across the carpet is most likely a male, searching for a female so that the House Spider Legacy can be passed on to future generations of house spiders.  For an interesting insight on the life of a house spider, check out this article The Life Story of Large House Spiders I recently read.  Again, as you’ll see, our eight-legged roommates are really harmless, often misunderstood, and they live a fascinating lifestyle right under our roofs.

I actually came across one of these house spiders yesterday.  I was innocently cleaning out the hall cupboard when I thought to myself, “I better be careful and prepared to meet the Cupboard Spider.” Because, as you and I know, every cupboard has one.  And it’s not because I am terrified of the actual spider.  It’s more the surprise encounter that sends goose bumps down my spine.

I even warned my daughter about him as she knelt down to retrieve some papers for me that had fallen behind the shelf onto the floor.  She just rolled her eyes at me, but as she dug around in there, sure enough, as predicted, the Cupboard Spider made his appearance.  

My daughter suddenly shrieked “Ackkk!!! A spider!!!” just as a spider the size of a £1 coin scuttled across the cupboard floor, probably shrieking “Ackkk!!! A human!!!” before disappearing somewhere into the safe confines of the dark abyss at the back of the cupboard. 

After flashing my daughter a motherly I told you so grin, I debated about sweeping him out, but seeing as one of our cats was about, I thought death via a cat’s mouth wasn’t a very pleasant way to die.  Plus I also remembered the invaluable service spiders provide to humans.  So I made a deal with the spider:  stay in the cupboard, keep all the other uninvited creepy crawlies under control for me and you’ll have earned your keep. I assume the spider agreed to these terms because I didn’t see him after that, and the cat soon stalked to its food bowl, tail hung low, to munch on some chicken and veg biscuits instead.

Now I’m sure people will argue about whether spiders have any feelings or not.  A common question on the internet is:  Are spiders more afraid of humans than humans are afraid of them?  No one really seems to know, and if a spider’s body language is anything to go by, I’m guessing a stunned non-moving spider is just as scared as a darting spider appears to be. 

In Art the Spiffy Spider, Art is possibly the most human spider ever.  Art has feelings.  Honest human feelings.  He hates being bullied by insects. He ponders over their negative and hurtful words. And ironically, he feels trapped by their cold, closed-minded nature.  

Clearly his intentions are misunderstood. 

While he struggles to cope with the hearty insect-diet that Mother Nature inflicted on him, his longing for a friend is more prevalent than a tasty dinner.  The turmoil he feels, thanks to the insects’ unkind words, almost makes Art forget who and what he is.  It nearly breaks him.

There are many subtle messages in Art the Spiffy Spider, lessons that perhaps all people, children and adults alike, need to be reminded of now and then.  Don’t bully. Don’t say unkind words to others. Don’t judge others – there’s simply something about them, or something going in their lives, you don’t understand.

And most importantly, if you are bullied or treated unkindly, never give up on yourself.  Because whether it seems like it at the moment or not, the light at the other side of the tunnel isn’t as far away as it seems.  As we learn, Art's friend, Bart, is testament to that.

So before you are tempted to open your mouth – whether it is to say something that is not so kind to another person, or to scream something as simple as “Ackkk!! A spider!” think about the impact your words or actions will have on that person (or creature!).  Is there a kinder way of saying it?  Do you need more information before you jump to conclusions? Because always remember, while it is so easy to misunderstand someone or something, it is even more difficult to take back the unkind words.