MY CHARMING AOCHAN

BY ANNA FARKAS

EVER SINCE I WAS LITTLE, I've loved snakes. When I was four, a woman in front of us in a pet store checkout line was carrying a huge snake. I started petting it because it seemed to like me. The woman turned and started to tell my mom to keep away because the snake supposedly didn't like strangers. When she saw that her snake was enjoying my attention, she was speechless.

After that experience, I began to want a snake of my own. To me, there is something fascinating about them. I think they are very beautiful, graceful, and loving. I've learned in Christian Science that everything God creates expresses good and beautiful qualities.

I'd been asking my mom for a snake for a while. A year and a half ago, she told me that if I learned about pet snakes and how to take care of one on my own, I could get one. After hours of research online, I learned that ball pythons are good snakes to have as pets because they are easy to care for and friendly.