In Search of Big Foot

Tonight there was some documentary on TV about Big Foot, but more importantly about Big Foot sightings in Oklahoma (lots of them). Silly me I never knew. Any time Akins hears Oklahoma he gets very interested as he knows this is where we live. So he's fascinated, asking a million questions - "will he eat people", "why he running", "why he throwing rocks", "why they shooting at him". After it was over he runs off to his room and gets his cowboy guns - a pistol and a rifle. He hands me the rifle and says "let's look for him Mommy-O, come on outside". Out we go in search of Big Foot, shooting off into the trees and the sky, running low to the ground (you get the picture and yes I feel silly). Then we come back towards the house and I say "let's check the pool". This is the time of year when little creatures tend to fall into the pool. Why not right? Afterall, why would some poor little creature expect a gaping hole in the ground? So, I pull the lid of the skimmer and low and behold there he is Big Foot himself! Staring up at me, swimming for all he is worth! Yes - that's right it's true I held him in my own hands. A box turtle (big migration time just about to start). I pull him out and Akins named him what else "Big Foot". After a few laps across the rug in the living room we released him into a more safe territory... the front lawn where he quickly (as quick as turtles can) made his way over to hide under some leaves. Akins wanted to keep him and I almost relented until he showed me that he is not quite ready - turned him upside down, dropped him (not far but still). So, I told him he was not old enough to take care of him and he says "when I get bigger I want that turtle". I say "Okay, when you get older you can have a turtle". He says "No, I want THAT turtle". Oh, okay????