Standing Guard

On Saturday, I was down at the boat telling my next-slip neighbor, Chris, about the six-legged visitor on the boat. The story was reaching its thrilling conclusion about how we eventually forgot the thing was on board when I decided to see if it was still there. So, I reached inside the coaming and.....again shrieked like a little girl as it came climbing out in all its freakish glory.



Chris' first question was "what could it be eating" then he threw out a disturbing thought -- rope mites. I paid good money for my rigging and can't believe that Mauri Pro Sailing would ship me rope mite infested lines. Then again, I am not even really sure that there is such a thing as a rope mite and it would destroy this whole paragraph if I looked it up.

I think I have to get used to my stowaway and come to peace with him/her. Maybe bring him/her some aphids or something as a snack next sail.

First step is to come up with a name. I'm not sure if it's a boy or girl (and I'm not going to turn the beast upside down to check that's for sure) and I don't want to know. If it's a girl, it ate its husband. If it's a boy, it's single and entertaining ladies and will eventually get eaten. I'd just rather not know.

Any name ideas are welcome in the comments.