Gabriel: Your Divine Excellency, you may remember a fellow who showed up here seventeen years ago by the name of Theodor Geisel. Calls himself Dr. Seuss.
God: Well, of course I remember him. I remember everyone, in all 100 billion galaxies. I'm omniscient, you know.
Gabriel: Yes, Sir. Of course. Anyway, this guy Geisel has some artistic talent so we assigned him to Earth Design, Animalia, in the Arthropoda department.
God: I love that department! I have a particular fondness for beetles. Have this Geisel fellow design me some beetles.
Gabriel: I suggested beetles, Sir, but he has come up with something so phantasmagorical I decided I better run it past you. Have a look. (He opens a box.)
God: A stick? I though you said Animalia, not Plantae.
Gabriel: Not a stick, Sir. It's an insect.
God: No kidding, let me have a closer look. (He peers.) This fellow Geisel has a sense of humor, doesn't he? I doubt if even I could have come up with this.
Gabriel: It has certain advantages, Sir. For the insect, I mean. It is virtually invisible when perched on a bush. Invisible to predators.
God: But I love seeing my creatures eat one another. Tooth and claw, and all that.
Gabriel: Yes, I know, Sir. But this adds a bit of fun to the chase. Or so says Geisel.
God: And look. The "stem" is brown and the "twigs" are green. How cunning!
Gabriel: Just like a real bush.
God: What does he propose to call it?
Gabriel: A walking stick. (Chuckles.) But I think something like Phasmatodea is rather more dignified.
God: I like it, I like it. One of the more intelligent designs we've seen from that department. I think it's a keeper.
