The Smusher and the Saver

 It must be getting close to spring because there have been lots of fun writing games to play instead of doing my chores! (Though I did take the time to spring clean the remaining Valentines Candy.)

Susanna Hill is hosting the "In Just Spring" Contest.  Rules: The topic can be anything that says Spring to you, 350 word limit, and the last line must be "[Character Name] knew Spring was here at last!"

I can usually be counted on for taking something sweet like springtime and making it gross.  And well, consistency is a good thing.  So here's your warning: Worms were harmed in the making of this story!  

The Smusher and the Saver

By Lauri Meyers

"Eww," Thomas said staring at the slimy spot that had been a worm.  Johnny jumped again, "Take that, worm!"

"Johnny, that's gross. Stop stomping worms." Thomas rescued a worm out from under the shadow of Johnny's shoe and dropped it in the grass. 

"They're everywhere. It's fun!" Johnny yelled as he smushed a worm's skin flat, spilling its gooey dirt lunch on the asphalt.  

"It's mean." Thomas said standing in front of Johnny.

Without taking his eyes off of Thomas, Johnny slowly lifted the toe of his shoe and snapped it down on a nearby worm.

Thomas pushed the sled aside in the garage and found the sidewalk chalk.  He circled worms on the wet pavement. 

"The dread pirate Thomas proclaims these worms protected by magic spheres."

Johnny grabbed a piece of chalk and drew Xs by the unguarded worms.

"X marks the worms I'm going to squash!"

Thomas rummaged behind snow shovels to unearth the bubbles.

By MissFran via sxc.hu

"Sir Thomas of the Kingdom of Wiggly will defend these worms with an enchanted barrier of bubbles!" He blew as many as the cool air would allow.

"Ah, the better to flavor the worm gut potion I'm making."  Johnny pounded the ground into a wormy pulp.

As so the fight between the smusher and the saver continued.

The attacker's shoes got gooier as the number of worm injuries grew.

The protector ran from worm to worm blowing warm breaths to revive wounded worms.

"Did you just kiss that worm?" Johnny crinkled his nose.

"No, I was trying to save him."

"Thomas kissed a worm! Thomas kissed a worm!"

Thomas threw the limp worm at Johnny, hitting him right in the mouth. The worm dangled from Johnny's lips. Rain started to fall again, but neither boy broke the face-off. The worm wiggled down Johnny's chin until it finally fell into a puddle. 

The raindrops swelled, beating a rhythm on the driveway, the worms, and the boys. 

"Same place, same time tomorrow?" Johnny asked.

"You bet," Thomas replied. "I think I'll be the smusher tomorrow."

Thomas knew Spring was here at last.