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Food thrown into the tank with the snake was snagged while still in mid air. The snake, seeing the food moving through the air, would rear back and strike the object with lightning speed, its red eyes glistening with anticipation.

Next I made a big picture of myself and placed it near the food dish. On the other side of the tank I put a TV set and wired it to a small piece of foil on the floor of the tank. Every time a picture of someone other than myself flashed on the screen the snake would get a mild electric shock. However, the snake could avoid the shock if it struck the TV fast enough and with enough force to throw a small switch.

My daily walks were taking an odd turn. People who used to share the sidewalk with me, now went the other way if they saw me coming. I noticed my snake eying their pets with a strange glint in its eye. Those few who did walk past my snake and I, seldom did it again. As they passed, my snake would make a lightening quick movement, the other person would suddenly find they were dragging an empty collar down the sidewalk.It was very hard to tell if the snake was merely flexing its muscle or if there was really a new bulge moving down its abdomen. Somehow, I felt it best not to ask too many questions about this. My training however had been very successful.

If the other person suddenly found their leash empty and began accusing me of foul play, my snake would rise up and rear back as if to strike, muscles rippling and red eyes shining in the warm Florida sun. This usually ended such accusations very quickly, although it did little to increase my popularity among the other pet owners.

At long last it was time to put my snake to work in the store. It was some twenty feet long now and it was time for the snake to start earning its keep. In the morning I would take the snake out of its home in the fish tank. I would put it in the Eastern facing window of my shop where it was sunny and warm. If someone came into the shop with anything but shopping in mind all I needed to do was to call up my snake.The snake would slither out of its resting place and move to where the undesirable person stood. It would then rear back and up to its full seven foot height hissing and sticking its tongue out at them. It was usually enough to cause even the most determined salesman to reconsider.

Unfortunately, it also had a detrimental effect on the customers who regularly frequented my shop. Oh well, this does give me more time to devote to writing and I have my snake for company.