Autobiography of a Cockroach

I am an ordinary brown and black cockroach with two long feelers

and strong wings that enable me to fly. Mom always advised we
should stay together in a group since humans- the giants do not like
us and are always on the lookout to kill us.

I am fortunate to make my home in a dark corner of a house as

most of my friends live in rubbish bins. They can get emptied into a
garbage truck when the garbage collectors drop in. I eat almost
everything from rotten things to leftovers. My daily routine starts at
night when almost everyone in the neighbourhood is asleep. I look
for my food and carry it to my home to eat, lest I get killed by my
enemies.

Last time, in my enthusiasm to know more about humans, while my

parents were sleeping, I slowly went out all through the narrow
water pipe to the kitchen sink in the darkness.

As I reached the tiny holes, I could hear some noise of dishes and
water. I peered up through the hole when I suddenly saw a large
human lady screaming. I fled out of the hole to the sink area and
she was still yelling loud. Later I realized that she was shouting on
my view.

"I do not look so bad lady! Mom says I'm one of the best, good
looking guy in our community. Why are you yelling as if you just
saw a rat?"

Suddenly I saw a giant man who came running at the woman's call
and I saw a bottle in his hand. I knew what it was and I ran for my
life back in to the hole. Right behind I heard the sound of the bottle
being sprayed into the hole.

I continued running till I reached the other opening and took a turn.
That smell could kill me. I do not understand why they want to kill
us. Dad comforted me by informing that our genes were strong
enough to live for 40-50 million years.
After munching on my slimy dead lunch shared by all, I wanted to
go out and take a break from the darkness but mom wouldn't let
me. During day time, we were supposed to conceal ourselves in the
pitch dark, dusty and dirty back corner of the tables, beds or
basement pipes. While at night when all giants asleep, we were free
to move around though with care. That's the time when our uncles
gather most of the daily bread for the day time.

Once it happened that while searching for food, one of the giants
woke up and one of my elder cousin was crushed under his heavy
leg. Without much to do, we all ran about to save our lives in the
darkness; some ran to hide in to the corners, some under the
couch. After sometime we saw my cousin's body being taken away
by a group of ants. There was nothing we could do. It hurts when
ants, flies, mosquitoes keep bragging with the stories when they sat
on a human or have tasted their blood. Life of a cockroach is
vulnerable. In my next birth, I would like to be one of those giants
and play a major role bringing a revolution in the lives of
Cockroaches. Hail to Cockroaches!