...without even thinking about it. I was sitting teaching a class, when suddenly this weird, unexpeced buzzing type noise went past my ear and made me jump out of my skin! Apparently, my fleece jacket, which had been on the clothesline, had come in with a moth-type creature attached. When I looked down, there it was on my shoulder, looking like one of those old (first series) Star Trek badges, only a mottled brown. Quite pretty, actually. My student squealed (Diana makes espresso nervous!) and after a moment I took the little critter (who showed no fear nor tried to fly away) to the window, opened the window and encouraged him out into the open air. The whole time, he rode quietly on my shoulder.

Diana had dissolved in giggles during the liberation of the insect in question, and I asked her what was so funny. Apparently I didn't listen to the dialogue I was having with the creature, which, she says, went like this. "Oh, God! (as it buzzed in my ear) What's that? (pause) Oh, hello. Hello, you--what are you doing here? Wouldn't you rather go home? OK, let's get you home then." (yabbit walks to the window making reassuring little noises, opens window) "Off you go then. Don't be out late."

I would never have squished an insect with fewer than 8 legs, and I could not have stood to squish the sort of roaches we get here (too darn big and mean!) but this is the first time I have "liberated" a critter instead of letting it find its own way.

I was honestly unaware of the conversation...well, monologue.

VegWeb has a real trickledown effect... :D