House Fly

The common house fly is something everyone knows and resents. These creatures have their uses, but they are also rather dangerous. They carry a number of nasty diseases on their hairy little bodies and the insect is so prolific that it is used often to study genetic matters. I am one of those inclined to keeping pests out of my house if at all possible. To this end, every door and window is screened and if such bugs should enter, they are dispatched or discouraged immediately. The summer being over, it seemed time to put away the fly traps and other gear meant mostly to fend off the worst of the fly pests, the fruit fly. The latter come in drifts through screens and in a semi agricultural area such as the one in which I dwell, they are a great nuisance. But it was late fall and the fruit fly had thankfully disappeared. Those of us who live alone, are inclined toward seeking companionship of almost anything, somewhat like prisoners in solitary confinement. We ought to know better but human nature is a peculiar thing. When a house fly, just one, appeared a few days ago, I was a little amused. First of all, there was no food exposed for the small thing to consume. And second of all, the feeding sources were covered or inside cabinets of some kind. The trash was also covered. Well, I thought, it will die of old age possibly this evening, therefore, I shall not worry. That evening, the fly in a kind of companionable way flew back and forth in a sallying manner in front of my television screen. It was silent, no buzzing. It did not come near me or attempt to share my little bun or wee glass of sherry. No. It simply sallied back and forth as though in a friendly fashion enjoying the same program as I. The next morning I consulted Google and learned some extra facts about house flies. It had a short life span and thus my house fly would not be a problem for very long. I had not seen it about all the next day, but on settling into my couch for a quiet reading time, what should sit on the arm of the chair next to mine, but the shiny little self of the fly. I could have reached out and easily destroyed it but instead I simply shooed it away and away it went. It will be gone by next morning surely I told myself, but I was feeling quite familiar with this little chap by now. I learned that flies usually live for only a few days if that long. Unfortunately, they can lay their eggs and continue to be a hazard when they land with all of the disease they carry. But I had nothing to swat the creature with and let it be. I did not see it at all the next day and forgot about it entirely. This morning while having coffee and reading my book at the counter in the kitchen, I looked up and who should be staring at me with his compound eyes, but my tiny friend, the fly. There was a dish towel next to my hand and in a single blow, without a single thought, I dispatched it. Before tossing the towel into the laundry, I saw the little body of my erstwhile friend, lying on the floor legs up and quite still. Why I should feel sad and just a bit lonely, is very odd.