When I was very young, Tommy took me out for some common sense lessons. We were walking down the shell road toward the reservoir and a big snake was in the road. Tommy walked up closer to the snake who had his mouth pretty wide open.  He told me to draw closer to it and get a look at what he wanted to show me. Since he was so close to the snake, I felt comfortable in joining him to look at what he wanted to show me thinking the snake was harmless.  He bent down over the snake and said, "See that mouth? See how it's white all in the inside and how wide it's open?" I nodded my head yes. Then he said, "Never touch this snake, it's a cotton mouth and very poisonious," while he calmly blew it's head off before he finished his sentence. I couldn't believe we were standing that close to such a poisonous snake. Tommy had no fear. That was Tommy!