Adventures with Pauley the Praying Mantis

One day Pauley requested a  photoshoot.
He had heard I was the best photographer this side of the creek, and he wanted the best.  

Normally I don't shoot insects, but on this particular day I indulged his request.

After all, he had survived a nasty little run-in with a giant and lost an antennae.  

 He deserved to be captured (by the camera, not the giant).

He was really rocking the photos...

When suddenly...

Pauley heard the thudding of footsteps off in the distance.
Alarmed and utterly afraid, Pauley somehow invoked his courage to appear.

Just as Pauley feared, the bouncing, smiling giant appeared, oblivious and unconcerned with Pauley.
He sighed a huge sigh of relief, letting his guard down when

the giant curiously noticed Pauley.

After a rather heavy-handed poke, Pauley tried to play it cool and

pretend dead.
This really tickled the giant and she decided to engage in this play with him.

They unfortunately came from two very different worlds with two very different views of "play."
Pauley bolted.
Later we found Pauley's close but distant cousin, Pablo, looking on in horror.
They were close friends, but very distant mantis miles apart. 

He safely resided up in the tree away from the giant's curiosity. 
Perhaps now, Pauley will heed his cousin's urging and find refuge in the safe, but distant trees far away from the photographers and the giants.