My three year old son brought me the phone the other day and said, between breaths of air, “Mama, call insectsinside and tell them to bring a bug for in the house so it can fly around and I can watch it!”

Did I hear right? I said, “Call who?” He explained again, this time it was more urgent. His trying to get the words out between breaths slowed him down and gave me enough time to consider my next move.

Hmmm. Should I tell him there is no such thing as Insects Inside? Should I steer him into something else? Maybe take him outside to search for bugs he can watch through his viewer? Where did he get an idea like this, anyway?

I had gotten this far in my wondering when I heard him say, “I jusht want a black beetle so that it can fly around and I can watch it. One with pinchers and then we can feed it. Jusht a black beetle. her, here’s the phone to call Insects Inside.”

Without really thinking about the consequences, I picked up the phone and proceeded to “dial” Insects Inside. (Any number will do as long as the receiver is down.)

“Hello, Insects Inside? Hi, yes, this is Mrs. Richardson.” I gave them our address. “Yes, hi, how are you? Great. We were hoping to get a beetle delivered sometime this evening. yes, a black one; not too big, not too small; with pinchers, please. You do? Great. Super. Ahuh. Fine, we’ll see you then. Thank you.”

Needless to say, my son was ecstatic! He bombarded me with questions. “Are they coming now? Are they here? Will they bring the beetle? Let’s find some food for the beetle. What’s that noise? Is that our beetle?”

It seemed I had made a promise, and god forgive me if I couldn’t keep it. Now came the really fast thinking, the just in case I can’t come through for you thinking. “Well, I called Insects Inside and they said that they would have to check to see if there was a black beetle with pinchers left. They are very popular you know. Someone is suppose to bring one back tonight so they will bring that one if nothing happened to it.”

There, this would buy me time.

“Oh,” he said. “And it will come and it will fly around in the house there and there and there?” his little finger pointed all around the room. “Are they here yet?” He felt mature and in control. His face was as serious and confident as could be.

I know what you’re thinking. how can a mother lie to her child like that? And where is she going to find someone to deliver a black beetle, not too small, not too big. Or even worse… is she really going to let a black beetle fly around in her home?

Here’s your answer. Ever heard of Santa Clause? The Easter Bunny? The Tooth Fairy? Birthday wishes? Besides, what harm can be had with a bug? And why not? Why can’t there be an Insects Inside for all those little entomologists running around?

My number one duty as a mother? Do what you can to get the job done and let your kids know that their dreams are important and that they can come true. My second duty? Get Dad involved.

“I’ll call Papa and tell him about Insects Inside. you wait here and tell me if someone knocks on the door.” with that, I went onto the balcony and called my husband. He could find something on his way home from work.

But the unfortunate happened. I couldn’t get a hold of him. I kept trying. I began to panic. I was doomed. My whole plan was doomed from the start.

Time passed. I kept my three year old occupied with all sorts of crafts and games and songs.

Later in the evening, I was charmed with a little blessing in disguise. My son pointed to the wall in front of him and said, “Look, Mama! A spider! On the wall there.”

“How wonderful,” I said. Relief shot through me. Our first spider of the season. Thank goodness this was not an everyday occurrence. I knew what my next move would be and prayed it wouldn’t cause tears.

I talked fast. I couldn’t afford to get cut off. “I bet I know! Insects Inside probably didn’t have a black beetle because the people that borrowed one didn’t return it yet so they brought you a spider instead! they’ll probably bring the beetle another time.”

“When did they come? I didn’t hear the door.”

Uh oh. Quick. Quick. “They must have come when I was giving you a bath! How super! Aren’t you excited?! It’s even making a web!”

“Yeah, I do see it’s web.” I smiled beamed across his face. “I’m so ex-psychic!”

It had worked. My enthusiasm had done its job. For the next two days, our little boy was a house spider watcher.

Whatever happened to the black beetle I was promised? Well, it had an accident and had to go to the hospital so it would be a while before we got to borrow him; and yes, I’m sure his hospital had lots of videos for him to watch just like at the Children’s Hospital.

 And yes, the best things in life… are free.

Prologue: A week later a huge butterfly flew into my husband’s work. He put it in a container and called me up right away to tell me that I needed to call Insects Inside to tell them that Papa would be coming by after his work to pick up a butterfly for his little boy. And I did. And it was a great night.

Bugs have pincers not pinchers but we didn’t work on correcting this until later.