Sorry to harass everybody again… but while holding Enthalpy a couple of days ago, something odd happened. She was wormed around both my hands, and I needed a hand free, so I mostly untangled my right hand until just the tip of her tail was wrapped around my index finger. Then I gently pulled my hands apart, figuring she’d let go with her tail.
But she didn’t. She just kind of let herself stretch out, and then I heard – felt – this weird clicking. It felt like what happens when I’ve been sitting too long and have to stretch to realign my spine. I wasn’t even pulling hardly at all, and I certainly wasn’t tugging. I quit right away, but Enthalpy didn’t seem particularly discomforted, just went right on tying herself into a big knot around my fingers. Then she went to sleep.
I tried it with the other snake, Entropy, as well – just letting him hold onto one hand with the very tip of his tail, then slowly moving my hands apart. He “clicked” too, and held real still with his muscles all loose and relaxed for a minute, but let go after he’d had enough. Being gently pulled on didn’t seem to bother him, either.
What in the world is going on? Is it just the spine un-kinking? Is it good/bad/neutral for the snakes? Neither seemed to have minded, but I certainly won’t do it if it hurts them. They both seem perfectly fine now, a couple days after the “clicking.” Could I have hurt them anyway? Help!
Thanks,
TS.
*****
Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
-Ralph Ellison
But she didn’t. She just kind of let herself stretch out, and then I heard – felt – this weird clicking. It felt like what happens when I’ve been sitting too long and have to stretch to realign my spine. I wasn’t even pulling hardly at all, and I certainly wasn’t tugging. I quit right away, but Enthalpy didn’t seem particularly discomforted, just went right on tying herself into a big knot around my fingers. Then she went to sleep.
I tried it with the other snake, Entropy, as well – just letting him hold onto one hand with the very tip of his tail, then slowly moving my hands apart. He “clicked” too, and held real still with his muscles all loose and relaxed for a minute, but let go after he’d had enough. Being gently pulled on didn’t seem to bother him, either.
What in the world is going on? Is it just the spine un-kinking? Is it good/bad/neutral for the snakes? Neither seemed to have minded, but I certainly won’t do it if it hurts them. They both seem perfectly fine now, a couple days after the “clicking.” Could I have hurt them anyway? Help!
Thanks,
TS.
*****
Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
-Ralph Ellison