The Snake

“C’mere!”
He said.
“I wanna show you my snake!”

“Oh no.”
She slurred.
“I don’t know you THAT well.”

They were both drunk.
They had hit several bars
In the neighborhood
And were now in his small three room apartment.

“We’ve only been out together a few times...”
“I feel like I’m still getting to know you...”

“What are you? The last Puritan in this filthy stinkhole of a city?”
“I just wanted to show you my snake...”
“You can hold it too, if ya like...”

“Why you nasty man!”
“I have a mind to leave right now!”

“Look.”
He said.
He had a tired but fiery register in his eyes.

“C’mere and stop this fucking around!”

He was pulling her firmly
By the arm
Into the bedroom.

“Stop being so rough!”
She spit.

He dragged her over to a dresser
Where there was a large glass tank
Awash in amber light.

Inside
A large snake lie sleeping on top of a piece of wood.

“You really DO have a snake!”
She laughed.
“What kind is it?”

“A Burmese Python.”

“He’s beautiful...can I hold him?”

“How do YOU know IT”S a HE?”
He asked
Lifting the top off of the terrarium.

He reached in and hefted out the snake.

Caught by surprise
The python quickly tried wrapping it’s tail
Around the piece of wood
Instead
Coiling it around
The man’s arm.

“In Greek mythology, the Python was the earth-dragon of Delphi, ALWAYS represented in Greek sculpture and vase-paintings as a serpent. SHE presided at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for her mother, Gaia, or Earth...”

His speech was thick and slow with whiskey.

She watched the snake’s tongue
Flicker in and out.

“SHE’S smelling you.”

He continued...

“...Pytho being the place name that was substituted for the earlier Krisa. Hellenes considered the site to be the center of the earth, represented by a stone...the omphalos...
or navel, which Python guarded.”

“That’s fascinating.”
She feigned
Sticking out her tongue
To touch the reptile's.

“She’s kinda sexy.”

He wrapped the python
Around her neck and body
The snake contracting.

“Oh, she’s squeezing me!”
She giggled.

“Don’t worry. She won’t hurt you.”

She felt the muscles slowly move
And massage her body
Sensually.

“Python became the chthonic enemy of the later Olympian deity Apollo, who slew her, severing her head, and remade her former home and the oracle as his own.”

“Oooooh...”
She gasped
Her eyes closed.

Her nerves were bubbling.

He kissed her open mouth
Moving around the reptile
Warming her neck
Unbuttoning
Her blouse
With fast and hungry hands.

There was no refusal
And he continued
Clothes dropping to the floor.

And but moments later
He thought to himself
“Works every time. Like a fucking charm!”

As he pushed his snake
Into her warm
Wet
Good stuff.