Extermination
When the doorbell rings, I think it is my friend.
Not! It’s a young man with a name tag hanging round his neck and an iPad in his hand.
“Hello Mam,”
“Hello.” I can feel the sales pitch for something coming and I was sorry I’d opened the door.
“I’m in the neighborhood offering great deals on pest control. Some of your neighbors have already signed up to get rid of pests, spiders and bugs. Who do you use for pest control?”
The truth is I use no one because I don’t see spiders and bugs as pests. Though I will admit I do pursue mice because they’ve taken up residence in my home in the winter.
“Critter control,” I fudge the truth.
“Well, I’ve already had a couple of households switch from Critter control to our service today. Let me tell you why…” and as he droned on I just watched this young man with perfectly coiffed sandy brown hair and a nice smile when he took a breath. He had a bit of a twinkle in his eye. I can tell he loves selling as he periodically pats his chest, as though to say, “you can trust me/us” to get rid of your “pests.”
“I’m going to interrupt you right here,” I say. “I’m not going to switch services today. In fact, I need to do my own research about this.”
“Have you heard of Forbes?” he cuts back in.
“Like the magazine? Yes.”
“Well, we have been endorsed by Forbes as one of the best companies for pest control in the U.S. and I can give you a great rate today if you decide to join your neighbors today and sign up.”
He is pulling out all the stops. Subtle peer pressure, the discount for “only today” the prestigious endorsement by Forbes.
But the real question bubbling up in my own mind is Why do I need to spray for pests around my house? Do I? I welcome pollinators, spiders, insects in my garden and the last thing I want to do is poison them because a few of them might step into my house. In fact, one of my joys of summer is watching the bees and butterflies and other non-named insects’ flit about in the soft glow of evening, backlit by the waning sun.
No, I am not going to poison them or their cousins. That feels antithetical to my own values.
“Thank you for stopping by,” I cut in. “I’m not going to take you up on your offer today.”
And with that he flashes a smile, confidently pats his chest again, as if to say, “I hear you. I see you.”
I shut the door thinking I’m more committed than ever to making room for those who some may consider “pests” in support of life’s larger ecosystem.
