"Max," his mum said, "you're not getting a dog."

"But, Mum, I'll keep it outside, away from dad." Max blinked his big, brown eyes.

"The answer is no." His mum shook her head. "We've been through this before."

"It's not fair," he muttered under his breath. He booted his school bag down the hall. With a final kick, he sent the bag hurtling into his room. He threw himself onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.

He'd stopped at the pet store on the way home from school again today. The shop owner had let him hold one of the puppies. He touched his face where it had licked him and smiled. How he wished his dad wasn't allergic to dog hair.

"Max," his mum hollered. "Set the table, please. Tea will be ready shortly."

Max groaned and slid off the bed. He trudged up the hall and was about to pour a drink when he heard his dad's car outside.

"Max, come and see what I've got for you." His dad closed the front door behind him. "I bought it from the market this afternoon."

Max strolled around the corner. He eyed the leafy, green plant up and down. Great! he thought. Just what he needed. A plant. How exciting.

"I know it isn't a dog," his dad blurted. "But you have to feed it just like an animal."

"You mean water it, don't you?" Max sniggered.

"No, they eat bugs," his dad said.

"Bugs?" Max moved a step forward.

"Yeah, like flies or mosquitos." His dad smiled. "Then its trap shuts once the insect's inside."

"Wow, that's cool," Max said, his eyes widening. He picked up the plant for a closer look. He thought it looked like a clam, only it was green and had teeth. "I'm going to call it Cruncher."

"You have to feed it twice a day," his dad said. "And only one bug at each meal. Otherwise you'll be over feeding it."

Bzzzzzz! A fly buzzed past Max's ear. "Dad, it's a fly," Max said. "Let's catch it and feed it to Cruncher. I want to watch."

"Quick, grab the fly swatter," his dad suggested.

Max raced to the laundry and returned with the swatter. The fly landed on top of the lounge. Max crept up from behind and raised the swatter. Thwack! Stunned, the fly fell to the ground.

Max picked up the fly by its wing. He chucked it into the plant's mouth. Cruncher's jaw's snapped shut tightly.

"Awesome," Max shrieked. "I can't wait to show Dylan. He'll want one too."

His dad laughed and handed him a container. "I also bought you this. It's a bug catcher. You need to set it outside and, then in the morning you'll have Cruncher's breakfast ready."

"Thanks," Max said and he went outside to set the trap. That night he went to bed with a smile on his face.

The next morning he woke early and tiptoed outside with Cruncher. He entered the shed and searched for his mum's special plant food. He'd seen her scatter it on all her favourite plants.

On the floor he noticed a large, brown sack resting against a cupboard. The label read, 'Extra-Super Strength Dynamic Grow'. Grabbing a handful, he sprinkled the mix around Cruncher's pot. He wanted his plant to grow big and strong, like his mum's. Then he heaped on another handful, just to make sure.

Max collected his bug catcher and fed the plant its breakfast. As he turned to walk inside, he thought he saw a flicker of movement. Was it Cruncher? He spun around to look again. The plant was still. He hurried inside to make his own breakfast.

Later when Max arrived at school, he headed straight for Dylan. "Dylan! Guess what? Dad bought me this amazing plant."

Dylan turned around. "A plant. What's so amazing about a dumb plant?" He asked.

"It eats stuff," Max said.

Dylan raised his eyebrows. "What kind of stuff?"

"Insects. It's really cool." Max grinned as his class mates began to gather around.

"Bring it to school and show us," Steven demanded.

"Yeah, can you bring it tomorrow?" Grace asked.

Max beamed. Anyone could have a dog, but no-one else had a pet like Cruncher. "I'll ask my parents if I can bring it tomorrow," he said.

"Can I come over after school?" Dylan asked. "I'm your best friend. I should get to see it first."

Max nodded. "I'll come and get you tonight when it's feeding time."

"Great," Dylan said.

At the end of the day Max was first out of the classroom. He sprinted home and through the house. He didn't stop to say hello to his mum.

His eyes bulged when he saw his plant. Amazing! Cruncher was more than double the size. The fertilizer really was extra-super strength. He leaned over for a better look. The stem seemed to jerk.

Was Cruncher moving, Max wondered? He blinked his eyes. The plant's trap was opening and shutting. It seemed to be thrusting after insects. Max scratched his head. How was this happening? What was in that fertilizer?

He watched as Cruncher continued to catch more flies. He decided to fetch his bug catchers, Cruncher seemed very hungry.

He emptied a handful of insects into Cruncher's mouth. The plant gobbled them up. He tossed the plant some more. Max prayed the plant would fill up before he ran out of bugs.

"Phew," he said when Cruncher became still. He didn't have a single bug left.

He reset the catchers and carried his pet inside. He thought it was a good idea to keep Cruncher hidden. Otherwise his parents might not allow him to keep it. He hugged the pot tightly. He would never let that happen.

With Cruncher being kept inside Max had a problem. He needed more bugs. He went to the garage, hopped on his bike and rode around to Dylan's house.

Dylan greeted him at the front door. "Is it time to feed your plant?" he asked hopefully.

"Ah, almost," Max stammered. He'd completely forgotten his promise. "But first I need to ask you a favour. Can I borrow your bug catchers?"

"Sure." Dylan ran to his room and returned with a bag. He handed it to Max. "I'll grab my bike and meet you out the front."

Max nodded.

They peddled back to his house together. The two boys walked up the hall next to each other. Dylan paused in the doorway. His eyes grew big and round. "Geez! It's huge."

Max stared too. Cruncher had grown again. "Brilliant, hey?" he said. "I used some of mum's extra super-strength plant food."

"I'm not going in there," Dylan said his face pale. "That thing looks dangerous. It might take my hand off."

"It only eats bugs," Max said. They watched as the plant caught a fly.

Dylan gulped as Cruncher ate noisily. "I just remembered Mum wants me home early. It's my turn to set the table."

Max shook his head as Dylan backed away. What was he worried about? Cruncher wouldn't hurt a fly. Max saw a wing disappear inside the trap. Okay, Cruncher would hurt a fly, but definitely not a person.

The next morning Max was finding it hard to get out of bed. He'd been up during the night feeding Cruncher.

"Ow," he yelled as something nipped at his toe. He jumped out of bed and let out a loud gasp. He hardly recognised his room. It looked like a jungle. Cruncher's stem stretched across the floor, winding up the bed post. The trap was the size of a large cat. Its stem was so thick the pot had cracked and fallen away. The pieces lay scattered on the floor covered in soil. The plants roots had forced their way underneath the floorboards. A sweat broke out on Max's forehead. His body felt hot and he began to tremble.

"Ow," he yelled again. "Cut that out." Cruncher had nipped him on the back side. The sharp pain snapped him out of his daze. He threw on some clothes as Cruncher chomped wildly behind him.

Max hurried outside and gathered up the bug catchers. With his heart pounding he peeked back into his room. Cruncher lunged forward. Max tore the lids off the containers and tossed the catchers inside. Then he slammed the door shut. As he turned to leave, he spotted his dad watching from the bathroom.

"Is everything all right, Max?" his dad asked. "You look a bit pale."

"Do I?" Max walked past his dad.

"Didn't you sleep well?"

"I'm fine Dad," he said. "I just have a lot to do before school." A million thoughts ran through his head. Was this plant ever going to stop growing? What was he going to do with it?

"Max, I'm talking to you," his dad said. "Do you want a lift to school or not?"

He stared at his dad blankly. "Ah, it's okay Dad. Thanks anyway."
Max finished getting ready for school. He was about to leave when he saw his mum turning the door knob to his room. She held his freshly ironed clothes in her hands.

"Don't go in there," he shouted.

"And why not?" she asked. "Haven't you cleaned your room like I asked you to?"

"Well, I, I, I'll put them away mum," he said, snatching the clothes from her.

She raised her eyebrows. "Just make sure they end up in your cupboard and not thrown all over the floor."

He waited until his mum left before he opened the door. He breathed a sigh of relief. Cruncher seemed full for the moment. Taking two steps inside, he heaped the clothes on the bed. Sorry mum, he thought. He'd put them away later, once he'd worked out what to do with his plant.

Max was in such a hurry to leave, he failed to see the door hadn't fully closed behind him. "I'm going to school now, Mum," he yelled.

Max took his bike from the shed and pushed it down the side of the house. He couldn't go to school, he decided. He had to get this thing out of his room. Cruncher was ruining his life.

An idea popped into his head. He could try returning Cruncher to the market. Maybe someone else would want to buy it. He sprang onto his bike and peddled madly. With the wind blowing hair across his face, Max prayed he would be able to find the right stall.

When he arrived at the market he padlocked his bike to a post. He marched towards a row of tables where the owners were setting up. He looked around but didn't see any plants that resembled Cruncher.

"Excuse me," he asked a friendly faced lady. "Do you know anyone here who sells bug-eating plants?"

"I don't know about bug eating plants," the lady said, re-organising her jam jars. "But the man over there, in the blue cap, sells plants." She pointed in the man's direction.

"Thanks," Max said. He rushed over to the man. He paused before he spoke to catch his breath. "Do you sell bug eating plants?" Max asked.

The man looked up but didn't speak.

"I need to return one," Max said. "It's out of control in my bedroom. You have to come to my house and take it back."

"I'm sorry," the man snapped. "I don't give refunds and I've never seen you before." He began to spray water over his plants.

"Oh, I don't want a refund," Max said. "I just need you to take it back. It's grown enormous and split from its pot. The roots have dug through the floorboards and its stem has wound all around my room. I can't keep up with its appetite."

The colour drained from the man's face. "How much have you been feeding it?" he asked.

Max shrugged. "I don't know. It just keeps eating until it's full."

The man began hastily chucking plants into crates. Then he lifted the full crates into his white van.

"Where are you going?" Max asked. "I need your help. I don't know what else to do." He threw his hands into the air.

"I don't know what you're talking about." The man slammed the van door shut. "I've never sold a plant like that. Now get out the way. I'm in a hurry."

Max didn't move. The man stepped around him and opened the driver's door. He jumped inside his car and refused to look at Max again.

Max knew he was lying but what could he do? He listened as the engine started up and the car sped away down the street.

Feeling sick with worry Max staggered to where he'd left his bike. He threw his head into his hands. He couldn't remember the combination to his bike lock. His mind felt foggy.

Max gave the lamp post a swift kick. "Ow!" He grabbed onto his foot. Great, he thought, now he'd have to walk home with a throbbing toe.

Tears trickled down his cheeks. He considered ringing his dad for help. That wouldn't be a good idea, he decided. He would be cross Max wasn't at school. And he'd get into trouble for touching things he wasn't allowed in the garage. His only choice was to walk home and get rid of the plant himself.

He dragged his feet the entire way home. He walked down the side of the house and opened up the back door. He had a creepy feeling something was wrong. The house was quiet. Too quiet. He'd expected to find his mum inside. Her car was parked in the driveway.

Max went cold when he spotted Cruncher. The stem wound from his room, along the hall and into the lounge. The trap was around the same size as a human.

His heart began to race. Why was Cruncher so quiet? Why wasn't the trap snapping around, hunting for food? It had been ages since Max had last fed him. And where was his mum?

He looked along the thick, green stem. A huge bulge near the top caught his eye. Max clapped his hands over his mouth. On the floor his mum's glasses sat, mangled, and broken. No, no, no, he shook his head. It couldn't be true, he thought. His body began to tremble. My poor mum, she's been swallowed up. Cruncher's eaten my mum!

A couple of leaves on the stem twitched. Oh no, he thought, Cruncher's hungry again. He slipped out the back door. He had to get rid of Cruncher for good.

Max wiped the tears from his eyes and flicked on the light in the shed. He turned the handle on a large wooden cupboard. It wouldn't budge. Damn, it was locked, he thought.

He checked underneath the cupboard for the key. But it wasn't there. Springing to his feet, he checked the table tops. Unable to find it there, he climbed a ladder and checked on top of the cupboard.

Aha, there it was. He seized the key and scrambled down the ladder. "Yes," he shrieked as the cupboard door swung open.

Max rummaged through the shelves. He read the labels, rat poison, weed killer and ant powder. He hoped that would do the trick.

He poured a little from each into his super, duper water spray gun.

Bang! Bang! Loud noises were coming from the house. He guessed Cruncher was trying to find a way out. He screwed the top on his water pistol and dashed towards the house.

Once he was inside he prepared to fire. The plant opened its jaws wide and thrust forward. Max released the trigger, spraying poison through the air. It filled Cruncher's open trap and spilled down its twisted stem.

The plant continued to charge. Max wiped his sweaty hands and fired again. The plant wasn't slowing down and he was out of mixture. He scurried outside and listened. The only sound he heard was the sound of his heart thumping. He'd been expecting the plant to slam into the door.

Max peered through the window and watched. Cruncher was swaying slowly. Froth oozed from its trap and dripped onto the carpet. Then suddenly the plant hit the floor with a clunk.

Max stepped into the doorway. Some of the leaves on Cruncher's stem were jerking. At last when the plant was still, he crept closer.
He noticed the bulge inside the stem was moving. "Help! Help! Get me out of here!" a muffled voice yelled.

It sounded like his mum. Tears pricked Max's eyes. He could hardly believe she was alive. Using his fingernails he tore at the stem but it was too tough. He grabbed a sharp knife from the kitchen and cut through the green flesh carefully.

"I thought my life was over," his mum said as she climbed out of Cruncher. "Thank heavens you were here to save me."

Apart from being covered in sticky goo, Max thought she looked good for someone who'd been swallowed by an enormous plant. She gave him a giant bear hug and began to cry. Now Max was covered in the sticky goo.

"I'm glad you're okay Mum," he said. "I was so worried when I came home and saw what Cruncher had done."

His mum wiped her eyes. "Max," she said. "How would you feel about a gold fish? It would be a lot less trouble."

"I don't know," he said. "I think I've had enough of looking after pets for a while."

The End

Lindee Nearmy has completed both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education. She resides on the picturesque mid coast of Adelaide, South Australia with her husband, three daughters, two cats and one dog. 'Cruncher' is the first story of many she hopes to have accepted for publication.

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