It’s that time of year again, as Auburn students head back to school with enthusiasm, and our social media feeds fill up with heartwarming pictures of kids donning backpacks and grinning ear to ear.

Among these delightful snapshots, one back-to-school picture stands out. Seventh-grader Brooke Mills, a student at Auburn City School, appears in the photo with her contagious smile, sporting skinny jeans, a black t-shirt, and meticulously styled hair.

At first glance, it seems like a typical scene – Brooke ready to take on the school year. However, there’s an astonishing detail lurking in the background that has made this photo an instant sensation.

Behind her, a tree captures attention. But the real surprise is the unexpected “photo-bomber” that has entered back-to-school picture history – a sizable snake, gracefully slithering down the tree, its gaze fixed on the Auburn student.