I live in a wonderful world full of parasites.: seanan

I live in a wonderful world full of parasites.

The other day, I was in Safeway—buying Diet Dr Pepper, naturally—when I heard the guy up ahead of me say something to his friends that I was positive I must have misheard. Specifically, what I heard him say was "and there's this really awesome parasitic wasp that drives its victims like cars." Now, I like parasitic wasps. I am, one might say, unduly fascinated by parasitic wasps. So I tend to assume that when I hear other people bring them up in conversation, I'm hearing them wrong.

I began shamelessly eavesdropping...and wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, he was talking about insect parasitism! Yay! As the conversation swung toward blood flukes, I interjected to note that blood flukes were probably largely responsible for the evolution of gendered reproduction. He looked, in a word, delighted.

What followed was the largest, rowdiest, happiest discussion of parasite behavior I have ever been involved with outside of a group of my friends. All five of the people involved had read Parasite Rex, and parthenogentic reproduction came up, gleefully.

I think I may have met my male equivalent from a nearby parallel dimension.

I'm just saying.

stakebait

June 30 2010, 17:50:35 UTC 7 years ago

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Have you considered reproducing with this person? I realize it's a bit incestuous but your child could RULE the insect kingdom.

seanan_mcguire

July 1 2010, 05:13:04 UTC 7 years ago

Yes, but sweetie, would you trust me with a baby?

elorie

July 1 2010, 06:18:09 UTC 7 years ago

He might have an innate talent for baby-wrangling. Don't sell him short.

And since it was a grocery store, he might show up again. Go forth and buy more Diet Dr. Pepper. I'm not saying romance will blossom, but hilarious conversations no doubt WILL.