The photo below was provided by fellow blogger Deb @ Nope, Not Pam. Thanks, Deb

(For the visually challenged writer, the photo shows a man walking on a paved path at a park holding a snake that is draped over his shoulders)
I didn’t think that what I did that night was going to have bad consequences for me until they sounded the alarm. The snake was not in its enclosure and I was the last person who had handled it.
The zookeeper called me into his office and I was told to go over the details of my last evening, step by step. As I was recounting my nightly routine, I suddenly realized that I had not locked up the glass doors. I was about to lock them, that much I remembered but then there was a distraction. John had called me over to the crocs pond and showed me how two of the crocodiles were wrestling with each other. It must be then, that I left the doors unlocked and now the snake was missing.
This was so bad and I could lose my job over it. And they wouldn’t give me a good reference either. Frantically I searched for the snake. It was not a poisonous one but still, a snake of that size could give anybody a scare.
Well, I did finally find it, hiding under the dense foliage of the nearby aviary. But I couldn’t save my job. And I didn’t ask for a reference because I knew what it was going to be.
One should not be distracted when on duty.
Written for Fandango’s FFFC # 154 and FSS # 31
#Keepitalive
#FFFC
#FSS
Yes, distractions how they can cause much havoc. Love your story and the parable.
**Great photo. That would Not be me with a snake as a living “accessory” around my neck!🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks a lot Suzette! I’ve made many mistakes when I am distracted. Like locking the car with keys in it…..
I would never do it unless someone paid me a million dollars and it was harmless. 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes,sigh…I have done the car keys thing too!
Wow! for a million…that’s awesome🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, they were just strolling around without a care in the world. I don’t think I mentioned it, but taken at Australian Zoo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very brave people walking around with a snake. Nice photo. I would not have had the courage to take the photo🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! Taking pictures is okay as you can stand way back and zoom in. 😜
LikeLike
Yes, true.😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
How exciting. I’ve never seen a snake this big, up close!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The crocodiles were even bigger
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my! 😱
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be scared unto death if I knew a snake were roaming around free!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, same here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
… especially when handling snakes 101% attention (just looking at pix of snakes freak me out, stumbling on to one would be cardiac arrest for sure!!!) Good story Sadje!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot Dee
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😎
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! They terminated employment. I think that could have been handled a little bit differently by the zoo. I mean, a final warning, a ‘we will give you one more chance, but if this ever happens again…’ But straight up, one chance….wild.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe he already had made mistakes.
LikeLike
yeah, good point. Didn’t consider that
LikeLiked by 1 person
😎
LikeLike
Great combination of the two prompts, Sadje. Yes, getting distracted on the job can lead to getting canned. But shouldn’t they have cut him some slack? After all, he did find the missing snake.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Fandango. I think he has made mistakes before. And it was an exotic snake 🐍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Snakes should never be left in an unlocked place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right Diana! Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great story, Sadje. Super creative with a wise message.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jeff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Sadje. Always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
The expression on the face of the person pictured on right side says it all! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’ve noticed it too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch, that could have been dire 🙁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, a very careless thing to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It pays to pay attention.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly. Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😍🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person