I went to the store on Sunday, like I do every Sunday, to acquire fresh vegetables. I looked at the labels and made sure I had everything on my list.
I wanted something sweet with my coffee the next morning, so I took a bag of strawberries out to wash.
When I ripped off the cover, I saw something weird and paused.
In the middle of the brilliant, glittering strawberries, there was a long, thin, strange thing.
I initially believed it was an accident, like a string or lace that an employee had carelessly left behind when packing.
But what made me shake right away was that it appeared like it was moving. It was so small that I could hardly see it, yet I could feel a slight vibration, like a tiny breath. My heart was racing. I bent down and looked at every inch, trying to figure out what I was seeing.
I saw small, repeated movements that made it look like the object was trying to get out of the plastic wrap.
When I looked closer, I saw what it truly was.
It turned out to be just a little snake when I looked closer. The shock was still very strong. You never expect to discover anything but fruit in sealed packaging, but there it was.
This made me remember how important it is to be careful about what we eat. The strawberries were just right: they were red, bright, and clean. There was no sign that an uninvited “guest” was hidden inside.
I called the grocery store right away to tell them. They swiftly took the defective batch off the shelves and started looking into the supply chain.
This story shows that even the most normal things can be weird. A simple desire for something tasty turned into an unforgettable moment.
When you open a box of fruit next time, think about this story. Then look more closely between the berries!