The Missionary and The Cricket

Once upon a time there was a cricket. He lived under a sink in the kitchen of the house of a missionary. During the day he would hide and cower behind many objects that had accumulated underneath the counter and in the cabinet. There he would stay in complete silence all day. At night, he'd sing and chirp and brush his small legs together like a violin and play, play and PLAY. The missionary, after a long day of serving would lay their head on a pillow. Instead of relaying in their heads the wonderful things that had been completed or planning for the next day, they would try and figure out a way to silence the little cricket. 

"Chirp, Chirp, Chirp..."

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Every night this would happen. Until one night the missionary decided that it was time for the cricket to end its noise. 

"Chirp." 

The missionary descended down the stairs using soft, soundless footsteps. It was dark, so they turned on the kitchen light.

"Chirp"

"Chirp" 

The missionary looked in the direction of the sink. There he was; a little black cricket the size of a dime. The missionary stood motionless by the light switch, then turned their body to a cabinet. They gently opened the pantry door and took out a plastic cup; a device to capture the singing machine. 

"Chirp"

The missionary turned to face the cricket. 

.....

It had disappeared. Disappointed and slightly frustrated the missionary switched off the kitchen light walked back up the stairs, curled up in their bed and vowed to someday silence the cricket.    

(Stay tuned for part 2 of this epic nonfiction story.)