Free Snakes Don't Miss Their Mothers by M. E. Kerr Page B

mother died. But you met my father.”
    â€œHe said he liked being Santa Claus, and he was once a professional clown.”
    â€œWe both were. And my mother’s family was with the circus for generations. This CD I’ve been listening to? It’s Jimmie Spheeris. He was a circus kid too. He wrote songs like ‘Lost in the Midway’ and ‘The Dragon Is Dancing’… and that’s where ‘Snakeman’ came from too.”
    â€œâ€˜The Dragon Is Dancing’? Like Chinese New Year?”
    Jimmie shrugged. “It could be.” She took the Walkman off and handed it to Sun Lily. “You can hear his songs, and I’ll get them back New Year’s Eve.”
    â€œOh, thank you! You’re very kind, Jimmie.”
    â€œNot really.”
    â€œYou aren’t kind?”
    Jimmie blushed. “I don’t know what I am sometimes.”
    â€œI don’t always know either,” said Sun Lily. “Sometimes I think I might want to be a doctor.”
    The chauffeur was pushing the Magic House inside the front door.
    They stood there watching him a moment.
    Peke was in a big snit, not only about Catherine listening to personal conversations, but now about this chauffeur who had just marched up the sidewalk as though he were part of the family too. How dare he go in the front entrance!
    Peke began to scold him with sharp, snarling barks.
    â€œPeke! Peke!” Sun Lily called out. “Hush!”
    Now the chauffeur was heading back from the house.
    â€œI’m going to have to go, Sun Lily,” Jimmie said.
    Peke would show the chauffeur what he thought of him. He lifted his leg against the limo’s front tire.
    â€œGet outa there!” the driver yelled, running toward him. He gave Peke a kick that sent him a few feet into the air.
    â€œHelp! Help!” Peke yelped.
    Sun Lily cried out, “No! No!”
    Next thing, Catherine bounded forward with her yellow teeth flashing, just managing to catch the sleeve of the driver’s uniform before he got inside the limo. There was the sound of cloth ripping and a furious chauffeur cursing.
    Sun Lily clapped her hands. “Good for you, Catherine!”
    â€œIs your little dog hurt?” Jimmie asked.
    â€œHe’ll be all right, thanks to Catherine.”
    Sun Lily walked over to the limousine and asked the chauffeur if he was hurt.
    â€œThat dog could have taken my arm off!” said the chauffeur.
    â€œBut she didn’t. She didn’t even bite you,” Sun Lily said. “Don’t you know you shouldn’t ever kick an animal?”
    â€œYou tell Ms. Twilight I’ll go without her if she doesn’t get back in right now!”
    â€œHe’s not going to hold the door open for me,” Jimmie told Sun Lily. “He’s terrified of Catherine.”
    â€œI love her so. I wish we could keep her, but Peke doesn’t want her around,” Sun Lily said.
    â€œI had a dog named Dancer,” said Jimmie. “He wouldn’t let any other dog near me.”
    The chauffeur honked the horn, a long, loud blast.
    Jimmie Twilight said, “I’ve got to split, babes.”
    â€œGood-bye,” Sun Lily said. “Thanks for the music! I’ll see you New Year’s Eve! Good luck being a crumb!”

21
“Where Did the Little Crumb Come From?”
    â€œH I! ARE YOU TRYING out for one of the dancing baseballs?”
    â€œI’m trying out for the cookie crumb,” Jimmie told him.
    â€œI’m Cole Cane.”
    â€œI’m Jimmie Twilight.”
    â€œI was a germ in a toilet once.”
    â€œYou’re just saying that,” Jimmie said. “No, I was. I had to sing ‘Whitewater stops the stink in your toilet and in your sink.’”
    â€œYou were in a little boat, with a paddle. I remember that ad!”
    â€œPaddle past the awful smell, paddle past the scum as well.’” He laughed. “I’m on my second