Compassion for Creepy Crawlies

From Guardian Books' interview with Laura Barton:

"Here," she says, pointing at an illustration showing several mites driving cars up and down a person's leg. "This was because I got headlice. Briefly. I think it was something to do with being at college. But I put on all the cream and then I woke up in the middle of the night and I thought, what about those poor creatures that I killed? That was their home."

Oddly, Monday evening, whilst exterminating the putative next generation <i>in ovum</i> and combing the current crawling passengers down the plughole, I did feel rather sorry for them all.

And I clean forgot to save an example of adult and egg to put under the microscope. Oh well, next time.

And we all know there'll be a next time.