sammy bought a hermit crab. we drew on its shell with a sharpie marker. i flicked it across the floor and poked at it with the sharpie, hoping it would come out of its shell and pinch at me. sammy lit a match on fire and the hermit crab grabbed it with its claws and held it. the hermit crab jumped out of its little plastic tupperwear tub home and attacked juanita while she was painting her nails. john called the crab 'fishy' and sammy let it run around on the floor all night.

today the hermit crab passed away. perhaps it was due to the crack in its shell (that sammy cleverly tried to patch up with scotch tape) or perhaps it was due to the climate shock. maybe it was home sick for the ocean or the *ventura* mall. or maybe it was just its time to go.

without a sound, the little hermit crab left this life and moved on to wherever dead hermit crabs go. rest in peace crab. we will forever remember you with the warmest of thoughts...