The story of the earthworm
A few weeks ago, I went out for a run. It was a beautiful spring day, just after some heavy rains. I went out on the rail trail nearby, one of my favorite paths to run. As I was returning toward home, I saw two little girls up ahead, huddled together and looking at something on the asphalt trail. When I got next to them, I stopped, hoping I wouldn’t alarm them (I don’t think I did!). I asked them what they were looking at. One of the girls pointed to an earthworm that was on the trail, and said, “It’s a big worm, and my friend named it and said it’s her pet!” After a pause, I said, “You know, worms come out when it rains. If that worm stays on this trail, when the sun comes out and it gets hot, he’ll dry up and die. But, if you pick him up and put him back over in the dirt on the side of the trail, he’ll be okay.” The little girl who had talked to me paused for a moment, then she bent down and picked that worm up, carried him over to the side, and put him into t