I was startled, but I did not scream as I watched a snake slither quickly from behind a bookcase, under my sofa, and into a basket of toys. I grabbed my long machete prepared to do battle and called for reinforcements. When Tim and Tiffany arrived, Tiffany pulled the basket of toys out from under the couch while Tim and I stood ready with our machetes. Instead of hitting the snake, we chased it into my oven.
After Tim did a quick examination of the oven that did not reveal the snake, we lit the oven and waited for the snake to exit. After a while, we heard movement in the top of the oven followed by silence. We figured the snake must have died and could only hope that he didn’t smell too bad as he cooked and decayed in there.
I left the oven on for awhile as I baked. On one trip to check on my baked goods, I saw the snake slithering out of and behind the oven. Fortunately, my machete was still in the kitchen. I picked it up but didn’t swing it as I watched the snake slither behind the gas bottle. Hmm…I was worried I would nick the gas line if I swung at him. We enjoyed an easy peace for a while with my keeping on eye on him while I did dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Finally, he turned just enough that I was able to take a swing at him. I sliced clean through, and a few inches of tail twisted around on the kitchen floor while the rest was out of sight. Relieved to have the fate of the snake settled, I retreated to my room.
Before I went to bed, I returned to the kitchen to fill my water bottle. Looking down, I thought, “Is that…?” It was—the snake was now under the counter the water filter sits on. Again grabbing my machete, I used it to pull the snake out from under the counter and started swinging. Snakes are normally hard to hit because they twist so much, but this one didn’t move much (probably a result of our prior encounter). I chopped him to pieces and then went to bed assured that the snake would not be startling me again. But I will admit to be jumpier than normal for the next 24 hours.
In the morning, I swept the snake out the front door and cleaned the blood off the kitchen floor while thinking about and rejoicing in the assured defeat of another snake—the Serpent, Satan.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” Gen 3:15 (NASB)