Computer Worm. Literally.

I'm sick as a dog today (just in time for two 12+ hour days working on John Adams), and my stomach is turned easily. But I don't think I can blame my ill health for the fact that I nearly vomited in my classroom today.

I was working on my school laptop, grading my kids' classwork, and I was having a hard time with the "Home" key. The other keys around it were fine, but for some reason "Home" wouldn't push. Upon closer investigating, I saw something under the key.

It was a worm.

Not a software worm, an actual grub or maggot of some kind was living inside my computer. It was about as long as the last knuckle of my little finger, a brownish, grey color, and very much alive as it slowly wriggled its way between the keys of my keyboard. Fighting back the vomit impulse, I pried up the key and tried to pluck the damn thing out of my keyboard with a paperclip, hopefully without puncturing it and smearing worm guts all through the insides of my laptop. By the time I dropped it in the trash can, it wasn't moving any longer.

This freaking worm is all I can think of. How long has it been living inside my computer??? How did it get there? What has it been eating, and how much worm poop is between my keys? Why in the world was it there? Did some insect lay eggs inside my computer? Are there more of the freaking things in there? Of all the places, why inside my compter?

Dude, there was a worm living inside my computer. I am completely nauseated.

I wish I'd had my camera on me.