Chapter 9

           Aspider’sisstrongerthanitlooks.Althoughitismadeofthin,delicatestrands,thewebisnoteasilybroken.However,awebgetstorneverydaybytheinsectsthatkickaroundinit,andaspidermustrebuilditwhenitgetsfullofholes.Charlottelikedtodoherweavingduringthelateafternoon,andFernlikedtositnearbyandwatch.Oneafternoonsheheardamostinterestingconversationandwitnessedastrangeevent.

           "Youhaveawfullyhairylegs,Charlotte,"saidWilbur,asthespiderbusilyworkedathertask.

           "Mylegsarehairyforagoodreason,"repliedCharlotte."Furthermore,eachlegofminehassevensections-thecoxa,thetrochanter,thefemur,thepatella,thetibia,themetatarsus,andthetarsus."

           Wilbursatboltupright."You’rekidding,"hesaid.

           "No,I’mnot,either."

           "Saythosenamesagain,Ididn’tcatchthemthefirsttime.

           "Coxa,trochanter,femur,patella,tibia,metatarsus,andtarsus."

           "Goodness!"saidWilbur,lookingdownathisownchubbylegs."Idon’tthinkmylegshavesevensections."

           "Well,"saidCharlotte,"youandIleaddifferentlives.Youdon’thavetospinaweb.Thattakesreallegwork."

           "IcouldspinawebifItried,"saidWilbur,boasting.

           "I’vejustnevertried."

           "Let’sseeyoudoit,"saidCharlotte.Fernchuckledsoftly,andhereyesgrewwidewithloveforthepig.

           "O.K.,"repliedWilbur."YoucoachmeandI’llspinone.Itmustbealotoffuntospinaweb.HowdoIstart?"

           "Takeadeepbreath!"saidCharlotte,smiling.Wilburbreatheddeeply."Nowclimbtothehighestplaceyoucangetto,likethis.