Stories

The Hermit Crab

a Jay and KS Story

I'm relaying the first half of this story from the tales I heard the next morning.

Our family linked up at a house in Cape Charles for a week-long family vacation. While at the beach, Jay found what he called a conch shell for KS. It was a pretty little shell, well-shaped with a spiral top. It was actually a periwinkle. They brought it back to the place we were renting and placed it on the night stand.

About 10 pm that night, they heard a clicking sound and turned on the lights. There was a little crab coming out of it and moving the shell across the table. Jay wouldn't go near it, so KS had to take it out, exiting the front door, and threw it across the street. The commotion woke everyone in the house but me. I didn't hear about it until after my walk and breakfast.

I went out to find it and to see if I could save the little hermit crab but figured it was most likely dead. I found the shell right away and walked it down to the bay, just in case the little buddy had survived. As I walked, the crab started coming out, and I had to tap him back in twice. I assume the rhythmic swaying of my walk made him think he was back in the water.

I placed him down in the calmer waters of the bay, next to the breakwater. You're welcome, Little Buddy.