“The Scorpion”

Sections: Information | Plot Description

Information

• Related books:
  • Dirty Beasts

Plot Description

Spoiler warning! A mother tells her child that she is lucky there are no scorpions in England. The scorpion’s name is Stingaling and he is a “most repulsive ugly thing”. He has black armor-plating and a long crinkly tail. When you see his tail move, run away! “He wants to make a sudden jump / And sting you hard upon your rump.” Then the mother notices that the child looks tense. The child explains that something is crawling underneath the sheet. It crawls up her leg. Could it be the Stingaling? “It’s on… it’s on my bottom now! / It’s … Ow! Ow-ow! Ow-ow! OW-OW!“