SoCS: Back to…. (oops! Back of the Frig)

October 8, 2022 by JoAnna 20 Comments

 Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “back of the fridge.” Write the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “back of the fridge.” Enjoy!

Back to the future! Maybe one day, in the future, I’ll hire and exterminator for the waterbugs, aka American cockroaches, like I threaten to do often. I have no problem taking spiders, moths, or beetles outside in a cup. Who knows why the waterbugs creep me out so much. Maybe they freaked my mom out and she passed it on to me like her red hair and soft green eyes.

I haven’t hired an exterminator in spite of frequent threats (like the bugs can hear me), because I think the exterminator chemicals will be toxic to more than bugs. I do have termite contract, but that’s different. They don’t spray.

How does this relate to the prompt? I have to keep all food in the refrigerator, unless it’s canned or tightly wrapped. That includes bananas and the butternut squash they’ve been gnawing on. Gross, I know. If I lived in the mountains, it would not be an issue since I don’t leave food out or open for the smaller German cockroaches. But here in the sub-tropical south, the bigger cousins are prolific. Climate change may be a factor in their abundance, too. I found some old diatomaceous earth and spread it around their pathways. Last night, I put some peppermint out on cotton balls (where Marley can’t reach) along with the citrus spray. The cedar oil spray works, but the smell is awfully strong.

We are now approaching the time of year when a few bugs will come in from the cold, but mostly they die back until late spring. What a relief. I’m determined to leave no food available so maybe they will go back outside and stay there.

“Back to the howling old owl in the woods,” as Elton John sang in “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” Do owls eat bugs? The song says something about them hunting the toads.

As for the toads and frogs, I hope they make it “Back to the River. Back to the Forest!” as Elliot encouraged them in E.T. I love it when the other kids in the classroom start chanting:

“Back to the River. Back to the Forest!“

And then there’s Galadriel telling Sauron to go “back to the void from whence you came!” I think that’s what she’s saying. Perhaps I shall tell that to the nameless ones if they come in through the tiny cracks.

Yeah. Galadriel. The ultimate exterminator. No, that was Frodo. And Sam. They all played a part.

(I just realized that I blatantly misread this prompt as back to the frig, but it was supposed to be “back of the fridge,” which makes more sense as a prompt. Oh well. I must have needed a laugh and Galadriel’s power.)

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