CATCH A LEOPARD BY THE TAIL (Part II)

Or at least a glimpse of one

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Last time, in CATCH A LEOPARD BY THE TAIL Part I, I recounted two recent journeys: overseas to a South African safari lodge in the hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive leopard and right here at home as I hoped to find the “perfect” laptop computer replacement for my expiring veteran machine.

I ended the piece on location at the safari lodge as follows:

But our most thrilling sighting took place inside our chalet. Where there were no phones and no cellphone coverage. And we were too far out for anyone to hear us scream.

At around midnight. After we’d had too much to eat and way more to drink. I was pulling the mosquito netting shut around the bed as I’d been instructed to do…

And there it was…

It was clearly not a leopard, or I probably wouldn’t be here to tell you this tale.

It was a big—shiny as patent leather shoes—scorpion, clinging to our mosquit…