A childhood belief about creepy crawlies

I have always loved nature and from a very early age was read books about animals from all over the world. When I was about five years old I rode my little 16" bicycle down the quarter mile long lane of our farm. In the middle of this quarter mile journey toward the end of the lane nearest the road and away from the house, I saw a snake crossing the road. It was about two or three feet long. When I reached the end of the lane I was terrified because I was certain this was a "baby" snake and that its mother, a 30'(at least) python was lurking in the ditch on the side of the lane. I sat there at the end of the lane for a long time. I thought at least I was lucky and had not run over the baby and made the "mom" python mad. I decided on a plan and screwed up my courage enough to get on my bike and race back down the lane as fast as I could pedal that little bike. I raced into the house and related my brush with death to my mother only to find out that pythons did not live in Iowa they live on another continent. I was both relieved and chagrined