Snake in the Grass

Our new friend.It's not often that Claire is scared by things so when she comes running to me, crying and whimpering, I take her seriously. Yesterday, she asked to go outside to the playground and retrieve a ring she'd left near the swings. I gave her permission and about two minutes later, she was back at my side, trembling and telling me not to go out. When I asked why, she didn't mince words: "There's a long snake out there." I got right up and went to investigate.

In two years of living in...