Snakes are Scary

I don't have too many legitimate fears, so thinking about something frightening to write about was difficult. Heights don't scare me, neither does being in closed spaces nor being trapped. Monsters, haunted houses, and ghosts are all fake, so they don't scare me one bit. As I browsed the internet, I was still pondering about this hard task in the back of my head when it hit me. There, right before my eyes, was an article about the 10 most vicious snakes who have the deadliest venom. This horrified me. Something about the slimy scales that run throughout their bodies when they sliver around on the ground gives me nightmares. When encountered, they face you eye to eye, and unpredictably jolt at a terrifying speed faster than the speed of light. I soon remembered some stories of my childhood that horrified me, and created a dislike of this particular animal type forever.

                                           Just look at this disgusting joke of an animal ^

The first time I directly encountered a snake was an instructional snake training activity at camp. It was about 10 years ago, my six year old self got dropped off at High Meadows Day Summer Camp, and boy I wish I would have known what I was getting into. I was excited, and was curious of the activities I would participate in before lunch; Was it swimming, arts and crafts, sports? No, it was much different than those innocent activities. I walked into the first activity which was in the nature center, and I saw a tall man with some sort of leather rope around his arms. I reached down to feel the texture of this rope, but I was mistaken. I felt a scaly, gross substance on my fingertips, and the snake used it's ripped neck muscles to turn in my direction, and started to stare me down. This is what I consider the end of my innocent, youthful childhood. I flew back, and ran into the bathroom crying, never wanting to see a snake again. Before that day at camp I was a child, and after I saw the snake- a man. Of course it was foolish to think I would never have to lay my eyes on such a hideous monster for the rest of my life, but whenever the time comes, I try my best to avoid that slimy beast.

I have now accepted my fear of snakes, and live curious, happy, and reptile free. As I grew older the tables slowly started to turn, and now I like to think that snakes are afraid of me.