“What in the world is that?John yelled in terror. He was staring at the unusual object in his toilet with wide eyes when he said, echoing across the tiled bathroom. It looked shiny in the strong light and had no business being there.
His first instinct was to flee, to get as far away from the thing as he could. He felt oddly pulled to it, but he was unable to articulate why. John was a typical person living a typical life in the sleepy town of Maplewood; strange “snakes” in his toilet were most definitely not part of his everyday existence.
The most peculiar thing he had to cope with as a former English teacher from the local high school was his students’ perplexing interpretations of classic literature. John was a practical person who valued the peace and regularity of his everyday existence. The calming presence of Maplewood’s vibrant avian community or the lovely words of classic literary masterpieces brought him consolation. However, this was anything but calm and expected. That was something else entirely.
John Baxtern was a retired English teacher who loved to watch birds and lead a peaceful life in the Maplewood suburbs. He took great pleasure in hearing the local songbirds’ lovely singing each morning and found comfort in their melodies. But this typical Tuesday had a shocking surprise in store for him.
In his modest two-story colonial home, John had made a happy life for himself with a set routine and a strong appreciation for a calm living. He was surrounded by a colorful garden full of roses and hydrangeas, and he enjoyed the security and predictability that came with being known. Ignoring the sensationalism of news headlines and Hollywood blockbusters in his daily life, he had no idea what was about to happen this day.
The experience he was going to have broke the peace he had worked so hard to build over the years. It was unlike anything he had ever imagined. He thought it was an extremely unlikely occurrence that would never happen to him in a million years.
John was well-liked for his ability to patiently, thoroughly understand, and remarkably skillfully break down even the most difficult Shakespearean sonnets for his students during his active teaching career. His pupils loved him for his deep insight, and his colleagues respected him for his persistent dedication. But those days of teaching were behind him now, and he was occupied with other activities to pass the time.
John took great comfort in the pastime of birdwatching during his free time, which served as a subtle reminder of his teaching days while also fostering a connection with the natural world. The birds, each species having its own songs, habits, and quirks, were his new classmates. He had taken up sketching in addition to birding, and his house was covered in elaborate pencil drawings of a variety of birds, including blue jays, sparrows, and robins. Up until that tragic morning’s discovery, his entire world had revolved around the harmonious sounds of birds, the lines drawn by his sketching pencils, and the peaceful calm that enveloped him.
Everyone knew one another in the friendly and hospitable town of Maplewood, but there was still a sense of privacy. John was grateful for this balance because he valued the close-knit group and his moments of solitude. He attended town meetings regularly, was a recognized face at the library, and was always willing to provide a helping hand to his neighbors. John was satisfied with his simple life, despite it being monotonous and full of small-town celebrations, leisurely park strolls, and early morning coffees.
John was a widower without children, and he missed his late wife Martha a lot. In the peace of his house, he would often have one-sided chats with her, as though she were still there, knitting in her favorite armchair by the hearth. But life went on, and John gradually found a new rhythm, one based on contented reflection and the consolation of isolation. He had come to like this style of living, which added to the strangeness of that morning’s unexpected meeting.
John was sitting by the window, taking in the serene beginning of the day as the sun started to peep over the horizon, creating a stunning peach and rose color scheme over the sky. He held his binoculars close to his face as he enjoyed his steaming coffee. At that moment, he saw something remarkable: a White-throated Sparrow, fluttering happily among the bushes drenched in dew. He was ecstatic as he observed the bird’s amusing dance.
But just as he was enjoying his ecstasy, he felt the urgent need to respond to nature’s call, so he headed to the immaculately clean bathroom, which was a reflection of his love of order. But he was shocked when he realized it just as he was about to flush the toilet. With a skip in his heartbeat, he let out a free-flowing, “What on earth is that?!?”John was always a calm man who seldom ever used foul language or raised his voice, so he was totally unprepared for this unexpected sight.
John was staring at his toilet, totally absorbed in it, when an involuntary gasp came out of his mouth. He could not move, his eyes locked on the bewildering scene in front of him. He blinked several times, thinking it was a figment of his imagination, but each time he opened his eyes again, the perplexing vision persisted, proving that it was real.
Something coiled and uncoiled in the water seemed at first like a snake, but John hesitated at its shiny appearance and strange movements. With a hint of skepticism, he whispered to himself, “But… hold on.” It was unlike any snake he had ever experienced, and it had an odd quality. Unexpectedly, his dread seemed to fade and was replaced with an intense interest that made him want to have a closer look. His curiosity had gotten the better of him, overwhelming any residual fear.
He was not prepared for the sight that met his eyes; it defied reason. It was nothing like the natural occurrence he had braced himself for. John stared at the mysterious object in his toilet bowl, his eyes straining to take in what was in front of them. He couldn’t quite figure out what it was, and that confused him. There was just something off.
He had never seen anything like the movements of this creature in the natural world. Rather than possessing the natural fluidity one would anticipate from living organisms, its movements were purposeful, bordering on intentional, and following a strange and esoteric beat. John couldn’t escape the unsettling feeling that something wasn’t right as it kept swishing and swirling inside the bowl.
There was a flash of skepticism in him, followed immediately by confusion. His thoughts racing through his head, he said to himself, “This can’t be real.” He could not think of a reasonable explanation for the whole thing; it seemed incomprehensible.
John was not creatively inclined by nature. He favored to rely on the concrete parts of life, putting his faith in what he could see and touch. But his basic beliefs were called into question when he discovered something unexplainable in his toilet bowl. He was surprised to see a strange, bizarre-looking serpent appear from an unexpected place.
Doubt crept into his head as he moved away reflexively, his heart thumping in his chest. Had his eyes really seen what his logical mind could not quite make sense of? If his impression of reality was correct, he couldn’t help but wonder if the strange creature was innocent in its appearance or if it stood for something more important that was out of his control. The uncertainty hovered over his mind, causing a shadow of discomfort.
He realized he was in a tight spot. John realized that he required assistance from a more knowledgeable person than himself. He was shaking his hands as he was on the phone. He could not shake the idea that his orderly and predictable life was going to drastically shift as he waited for the phone to be answered.
He hung up the phone and considered his typical morning schedule. For the first time in a long time, he understood that his quiet life was being disrupted. As he waited for the expert to arrive and explain the unexpected turn his day had taken, he experienced a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.
The specialist was an experienced wildlife rescuer who had previously assisted John with hedgehogs and raccoons. Yet John realized that this would be considerably different from their prior experiences with animals as he examined the unusual object in his toilet. He sensed something was strange about this “snake,” but he wasn’t sure what it was.
The specialist, Sam, showed up on time in a beat-up pickup truck that stood out among Maplewood’s immaculate fleet. With haste, he exited the truck and headed in John’s direction. He moved boldly to the restroom, whispering, “Okay, let me see this creature.” He was familiar with John’s residence from his frequent visits. John watched with a deeply focused expression on his brow as Sam examined the object attentively in the bathroom. The intense gaze on Sam’s face only quickened John’s heartbeat.
Sam eventually stated, staring at the toilet, “John, there’s something really strange going on here.” His tone of severity caused John’s hands to clench into fists. The once peaceful home seemed uncomfortable quiet at this point, and John could hardly endure the sound of the wall clock ticking away.
Even though John was in the dark about what was going on, he could tell that Sam was in a tough spot. He saw Sam occasionally coming out of the restroom, pacing the hallway, petting his bearded chin, and muttering to himself. He appeared to be debating whether or not to divulge a significant piece of information.
While he watched Sam clearly suffer, John couldn’t help but reflect on his typical life. Normally, he became excited when he saw unusual birds in his garden. But now he found himself in a world more stranger than the mystery books he loved to read in his spare time. His ears were full of the sound of his beating heart, waiting for Sam to tell him what he had found.
At last, Sam met John’s gaze and stated, “I think this situation is beyond both of us.” I have a phone call to make. With that, Sam left John alone with his thoughts and a plethora of unresolved concerns as he walked outside while holding his phone. “I promise I’ll explain everything, but I need you to trust me,” John said.
Sam left to make his call outdoors, and John took refuge in his living room. There was a strange comforting buzz from his grandfather’s ancient clock. He was pulled to the window, seeing Sam deep in what appeared to be a serious conversation. John felt a knot of dread form in his chest as Sam’s motions became more animated by the minute. To whom was Sam speaking? And what about the “toilet snake” was so unnerving?
John’s gaze strayed to his sketchbook that was perched on the coffee table as he waited. It remained unfinished, the drawing of the White-throated Sparrow he had observed earlier. The calm he’d experienced while birdwatching seemed to be a planet apart from the tempest that was building within his once tranquil home. A sigh leaked from his mouth. Since he’d woken up that morning, his world had changed in ways he had not anticipated.
Sam appeared to have aged considerably during that phone talk, and his expression was strained when he eventually returned inside. He lowered himself into an armchair and looked up at John. No matter how strange the circumstances became, they had an underlying agreement that they were in this together.
“I spoke with a friend of mine who used to work here,” Sam began, his voice sounding a little tense. He holds a high position inside the government. He is going to dispatch an expert to assist us in comprehending the situation we find ourselves in.
John widened his eyes in shock. The authorities? What had he discovered? Still, he found himself nodding in agreement with Sam’s remarks. His life’s peace and consistency seemed like a faraway memory, given way to a day of unimaginable mystery. The routine delights of birding and neighborhood get-togethers had been replaced by a frenzy of covert phone conversations and government intervention.
The two men sat in quiet as the truth of their predicament started to set in. The familiar noises of Maplewood—the faint radio tunes, the distant hum of lawnmowers, and the sound of kids laughing—became almost strange. John longed for the comforts of home, for the ease of identifying a rare bird or curling up in his favorite armchair on a calm evening. His environment had become something out of a spy book, where the serene rhythm of a routine had formerly prevailed.
John trembled, remembering the strange metallic object in his bathroom that had caused all the hullabaloo. An aura of expectation pervaded the atmosphere, like to that of a thunderstorm. John felt his heart speed as he felt fear and doubt seeping into his very being. He was a person who liked things to be known, comfortable, and routine. This meeting with something uncommon roused an old spirit of adventure that was stirring but also unnerving.
John felt a peculiar rush of energy as he looked at his hands, the same hands that had held books by Austen, Dickens, and Shakespeare, and that had shown young students where robins and sparrows could be found. It was a combination of anxiety, terror, and—wait—excitement? Feeling the rush of adrenaline filling his veins, he inhaled deeply. He was the one who was always reliable and solid. But today a maelstrom of intrigue and suspense had upended his quiet and routine life. A fresh resolve began to take root in him. He was the main character in this unexpected story, after all.
John began to realize how severe the issue was as the day wore on into a stressful evening. His comfortable life was upended and replaced with an exciting and nerve-wracking conundrum. He was amazed at the change in his viewpoint on his life while he waited for the government official to come. He was sucked into a story that read like one of those exciting books he used to read all the time. His heart pounded, reminding him all the while of the thrilling world he had entered.
A loud knock on the front door suddenly stopped him in his tracks. A tinge of uneasiness crept over John as Sam stood up to answer it. Glancing out the window, he noticed a black automobile parked in front of his residence. He would be drawn farther and deeper into this unanticipated mystery by whoever was waiting for him beyond that door, further removing him from his calm life. Still, he got to his feet, ready for whatever came next.
The next few minutes were a fuzzy blur. A woman walked into John’s living room and her desperation filled the room. Agent Thompson was her name when she presented herself, and the name stuck in the air for a long time. John felt even more out of place in her powerful presence.
Sam and John exchanged nervous looks in the hallway as Agent Thompson examined the strange “snake” in the restroom. The atmosphere became strained as the house felt unexpectedly small. John’s home’s comfortable routines had been upended, and in their place was a strange feeling more fitting for an espionage thriller. As they waited eagerly for the agent to return, the normally quiet hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen seemed particularly loud in the quietness.
Nothing was visible on Agent Thompson’s face when she returned. She looked at John and said, “Gentlemen, we are dealing with something incredibly important.” The room felt even more stuffy because of the weight in her voice. It was clear that this was not an average day or circumstance.
