Worms are the Christ br of small children, br who love to pull br fat, wriggling things br from dark earth. br br They walk about br with the creature br in an outstretched palm. br 'He likes me! ' one child br marvels with wide eyes. br br Petting the worm, br they don't notice br it's moving less and less, br br Or they leave it br in the 'worm-box' br without soil, br carrying the box br around by the handle, br explaining the worm's inertness: br 'He must be taking a nap.