"Catching" a Cottonmouth

Rhilla Waddell (1900 - 1992) aka MaMa (pronounced MaMaw). I was about 10 or 11 so this occurred in the mid 1950's when we were in Alabama for a vacation from either Philadelphia or Tucson.  My cousin, Jimmy Lee, myself and brother Mike (about 6 years old then) decided to catch a cottonmouth snake.  When I reached for it, it struck and I ended up grabbing the middle of the snake instead of its head.  I flinched backwards and the snake went under my neck and bit the left arm of my T-shirt.  We all screamed and I flung the snake and took of like I was on fire.  When we got back to MaMa's house she was on the front porch and the following exchange took place:

MaMa:  What is wrong with you boys?

Me:  I tried to catch a cottonmouth.

MaMa:  What in God's name were you doing that for?

Me:  Well, I'm pretty fast.

MaMa:  Child, you're not faster than a cottonmouth.

Me:  Well, not that one.

MaMa:  Wait, wait, wait.  Does that remark mean you think that there are cottonmouths you think you're faster than?

Me:  Do you want to hear this story or not?

MaMa:  No, no I don't.  I've been telling my lady friends how handsome and smart my grandchildren are but for you I'll just have to stick to handsome.

Me:  I HAVE FANG MARKS IN MY T-SHIRT!!!!!

MaMa:  Tommy Higgins, you are living proof that luck is more important than intelligence.

Tom Higgins, Jr.