MAY 20: The Mosquitoes
“Well, friends,” said the little mosquito, “how about a banquet to-night? It’s the first warm evening of the season, and without a doubt the people will sit out on their porches and enjoy the beautiful air.”
“They won’t enjoy us,” said the second mosquito.
“Well, I’m sure we wouldn’t be flattered if they did,” said the first mosquito. “If they enjoyed us it would mean that we didn’t bite them, and that would never do.”
“It would never do,” agreed the second mosquito.
“Well, let’s be off, for the sun has gone down and the people will have finished their suppers before long.”
“All right,” said the first mosquito, “I’m ready, and I’ll give a call to the children and to the cousins and to all of the family and relatives.”
“Buzz-buzz-buzz,” came back the answers, and soon all the mosquito relatives had joined the first two mosquitoes.
“Is every one ready for a banquet?” asked the first mosquito.
“Every one, without a doubt,” said the mosquitoes.
So they all started forth and buzzed along, talking of people who felt them most.
“We don’t want to go to those who’re not properly bitten by mosquitoes,” said the first mosquito.
“I heard some one say, the other day,” said the second mosquito, “that the two creatures she hated most were the flies and the mosquitoes. She said she didn’t like yellow-jackets and hornets, but practically every other creature she liked.
“Now, wasn’t that a nice compliment?”
“A large one,” said they all.
“What do you mean by a large compliment?” asked the second mosquito. “You should say a big compliment. But still what do we care about words except a few choice ones such as bite and bitten and will bite?” So the mosquitoes hurried, and some of them went on one piazza where people were sitting and some on another, and were happy over their mean banquet.