Came August br the Flea Commander br slapped his walking stick br upon the table bare br br surveying his battle plan br testing his jumping legs br assembled before him were br flea battalions on the ground br restless for the attack br mosquitoes and flies to buzz the air, br giant bedbug tanks from New York br gnats, moths, and crawlies eager for blood to suck br bat sentries, owl look-outs br coyotes to howl signals out br all was ready. br br “Now, ” he began slowly br br The family in there does not yet suspect br and we must not relinquish to them br our element of surprise. br We don't want them to get a chance to mobilize br until after we attack br and gain our cache of blood br surprise before they discover where our larvae lay br before they deploy their canisters of Raid br or insect repellents br before they open their bomb sprays br before their wash the beddings br before they deploy their expense flea sprays br and lethal flea droplets br we want to hide in their beds, dug in br we want to hide in their animals fur br in their clothing br everywhere br and before morning we will have established br our impenetrable beachhead. br br So he said ready your selves for the strike this night br as they lay asleep. br br With that he stood br his flea legs elevating him br above the others, shouting br br Are you will me? br A roar went up br br and I watching from my hiding place br crept away br saying to myself; br not this year you suckers br you’ll get your own surprise br glee in my voice. br br To be continued.