Little Max

Little Max

Trigger Warning- Inspired by true events, this short story contains violence towards insects. If you love insects- you might want to read something else. Otherwise, I would rate this story R for Disturbing Content. Now buckle up for a fun ride where nearly every quote is from real life.

Part One- The Misery is Real. If You Don’t Kill Them- They Can Kill You.

I’ve killed hundreds of thousands of hideous insects, because I find them disgusting. You kill them when you drive. You kill them when you walk. You kill them when they climb out of your toilet. Yes, they are disgusting, Martha wrote in her journal.

Since the overwhelming infestation, she would look around her apartment like a crazy person in search of the centipedes that had invaded her home. They came in many sizes, and were hard to kill. She laid down traps. Twenty traps to be exact, but they would walk right around them, and into her bedroom. Her landlord once told her in passing that twenty insect traps for a one-bedroom apartment was excessive, and Martha was shocked to learn that insects were cannibalistic. She had no idea.

“Leave the insects on the sticky traps. They die quickly, and attract other insects to the trap,” said Martha’s landlord.

Her landlord then showed her a trap she had in her office. It was insane. It was unsightly. There were dozens of insects on one small trap. Yuck.

Part Two- Death.

A trans neighbor once raced out of her apartment screaming,

“A centipede just crawled into my apartment! If it crawls into my ear while I’m sleeping- I’ll die!”

Part Three- A Note on Martha.

Martha was sweet. Martha was kind, but when it came to insects, they made her lose her mind.

Part Four- It’s a Date!

Martha had a date with Stephen, and she did not want him to go to her apartment. Centipedes! Though she had only killed ten that day- he did not need to come over. Not for any reason.

It would be a reprieve from the insects to spend the night at Stephen’s place if he were to ask, and he did!

Part Five- A Note About Rich Stephen and Martha.

Stephen’s house was perfect. Done up in a way that would make any mother proud. Immaculate, clean, and free of insects- thank God! Everything seemed to be gold plated. When Martha saw this after they had had such a pleasant dinner experience, she knew that he was the one she would marry for sure, but she could not stop thinking about the insects. Her hopes of a reprieve were gone. This situation was driving her mad. She did not like to be away from her apartment for long. She feared a centipede would make its way into the bedroom again.

Stephen never dated before, so he was nervous. Martha and Stephen went to church together. They both met in the singles group where lots of Christians go to marry. He always hated to admit it, but he was quite wealthy. No one needed to know, but Martha. He felt he could trust her, but she was being distant. Something had to be going on.

Stephen loved the cello, and when he played for Martha, she found her mind drifting away for a brief moment. She did not think of her apartment. No bugs. She thought of warm beaches, of trips in the summer, and a smile lit up her face for the first time in weeks.

Stephen saw that he was winning Martha over and he knew. He knew that he was going to ask her to spend the night in the guest bedroom. He knew that she needed rest, and he would make her breakfast in the morning. Eggs, bagels, and waffles were his specialties. He would surprise her in the morning when she woke up with a glorious feast.

Martha woke up embarrassed. She had drooled all over the pillow that Stephen had lent her. A thought hit her along with a sudden jolt of adrenaline. The apartment! She had to check on it for she had been gone for eighteen hours. The centipedes! She snuck out, and left poor Stephen alone, and asleep. She had centipede’s on the brain, and Stephen did not get to fix her breakfast.

Martha soaked cotton balls in rubbing alcohol, and placed them all over her apartment to help repel the insects. A great idea thought up, and researched, by Stephen. Sadly, it did not work, but it was sweet of him to help.

Part Six- Sorry for This. Another Note on Martha.

Martha always believed in love at first sight. It was Stephen. He was the one. He could be her rescuer. She wanted him to save her from the nightmare that was her apartment. Would he? Could he? Oh, please, Stephen! Take me away; she thought in anguish.

Part Seven- Maggots! Maggots! Maggots Everywhere! They Will Fall from the Ceiling, and Settle in Your Hair! Another Darn Note.

Have you ever had a maggot infestation? Martha had. Twice. They multiply quickly. She learned her lesson the hard way. Do not throw your chicken carcass in the trash. Throw it away in the dumpster outside all tide up tightly. She even had a friend throw her repulsive chicken carcass outside right in her front yard, and before long, maggots!

Part Eight- Positively Vivid Dreams.

Martha cried herself to sleep that night. She knew she had let Stephen down. Her drool-stained pillow against her head felt so good that she quickly fell into a deep sleep. She had beautifully vivid dreams of a positive future with Stephen despite her sadness. He never gave her nightmares. Not Stephen. Not ever.

Part Nine- Other People.

One day, Martha asked her reclusive neighbor if she got centipedes. She said they were getting large spiders instead. Then her son said,

“I put two in the microwave.”

Part Ten- More Notes on Martha. Sorry.

Martha had come home to ants trailing along the side of the ramp to her apartment at night. It was as if they were famished. Starving for every bite. They were after a huge centipede that had died of old age on my front porch. With the porch’s light already lit, and the insect spray she kept in her purse ready—

Hey, lots of people carry around mace for predators, so what is so strange about carrying insect spray, or repellent in your purse? She was not paranoid. Okay, yes. She was.

-she sprayed the ants, and saw a large wolf spider climb down from the ceiling with her baby on her back. She sprayed it down as if she were a madwoman mowing down innocent children at a Christmas parade just for kicks and giggles. Hey, it happens.

Next, she saw a baby roach lying on its back, and crunch! She killed it. She laughed once she realized she had won the battle.

Part Eleven- Little Max.

Max was a newborn, and somehow, he strayed away from his parents. He found his way into an apartment’s room. It was grungy, and full of yummy insect corpses to eat, so he ate. Tired and confused- he missed his mother’s goodnight hugs. So, in look of a place to rest, he crawled into bed with Martha, and went right into her ear.

Part Twelve- The Final Chapter

From heaven, Martha had just one question for God-

“Why insects?” She asked.

He knew she would ask that question, and He responded with a question that made Martha feel bad. Anxious, even. It gave her butterflies deep in her gut. It made her feel like she was questioning God’s decisions, and she feared she would be sent straight to hell for it.

”Did you wish to die a different way?” He asked, and she could not answer.