Dragonflies

It was the summer of 1985. 

“Watch out for dragonflies, they’ll sew your eyes shut.”

That’s what Benji Devenport told me when we saw one. He was 11 so he knew that kind of stuff. I was only five so I followed his advice.

Then it was the summer of 2023. 

“Dragonflies are cool but they’ll sew your eyes shut.” 

That’s what I told my friend when we saw one as we walked across the parking lot. 

She looked at me and laughed. Like I was making a joke. When she realized I wasn’t, she smiled awkwardly. 

“Uh, no they won’t.” 

I didn’t believe her. 

“Uh, yeah they will.” 

So we googled it. 

She was right.  

But wait. Does that mean Benji Devenport was — I don’t want to think it, let alone say it — wrong?

I refuse to accept that. 

I’ll continue to keep clear of dragonflies, thank you very much.