A few things could be going on in this picture.
It could be an unfortunate misunderstanding that will eventually lead to that kid becoming a Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner to that python in a few minutes. Judging by the calm on the boy’s face he’s either totally comfortable with this job or completely ignorant as to how much danger he could potentially be in.
It is possible that he could be washing that snake because he intends to eat it. Forigive any racist overtones in the following generalization, but that kid doesn’t look like he’s from Boise (well, maybe he does). But he does look like he could be from somewhere where they eat snakes. Just a guess. Once again, the calm expression implies that he washes a lot of snakes and this his his little contribution to the preparation of the family dinner.
Personally, I’d like to believe that this is his pet snake and that’s his regular “snake cleaning pot” and they do this cleaning ritual all of the time after they come back from their adventures together. You know, catching diamond theives and stopping pirates, riding on rafts down the Mississippi… and scaring the holy hell out of Indiana Jones.
I wouldn’t be surprised if, in some countries, people kept big ass snakes around to keep the rodent population in check. I’d do it. If that snake has been snacking on rats and nutria, why bother trying to eat the little boy who washes your head?
I don’t have the heart to go and look this one up on Snopes only to discover that it’s a fabrication.
Let me have my dreams, just this once.
Good “snake cleaning pots” are hard to find. I left mine out in the yard for half a minute and it was gone.
The boy’s expression really says to me: “Well, let’s get you cleaned up before Mom finds out.”
I love the ads that google finds based on this article.. Audio snakes, snake food.. so awesome.
Does this look like the same kid and snake, grown up?