Eulogy for a Lizard

[kyra_ojosverdes]

Well, James knew ye pretty well. The rest of us thought you were pretty damn cool.

I bought an african fat-tail gecko for James' seventh birthday. It was December of 2000, and very cold. As I drove home from the pet store with a live lizard and a bag of live crickets zipped inside my jacket, I reflected on the things mothers will do for their children. James named the little guy "Insect Eater" because, well, he eats insects, see? Yeah. We nearly lost Insect Easter the first month we had him, while figuring out the intricacies of reptile care. Turns out that even with the perfect temperature, lighting, moisture levels, and food, he's not going to thrive without some hidey-holes. I can identify. I bought him two little caves, and he got all happy.

We've temporarily lost him twice, as children forgot that they'd taken him out of his tank and left him on the carpet. He was the exact same color as the carpet. Imagine the stress of trying to find your rather fragile lizard, knowing he could be under your foot and you wouldn't know until too late.

James is convinced that Insect Eater loves him and can understand his words. James, in turn, could read Insect Eater's thoughts. James doesn't know yet that Insect Eater is dead. He was holding him a few days ago, and expressing concern because Insect Eater was so thin. I replied that it was indeed odd that his tail was getting thinner, because we'd been feeing him regularly and abundantly. James worried several times that Insect Eater might die. I, of course, assured him that his pet would be just fine. (Fat-tail geckos, surprisingly enough store fat in their tail. After a feeding, Insect Eater's tail would double in size, becoming as thick as my thumb.)

Chuck came over to visit last night after he got off work. He was checking out the lizard tank, and I asked if he'd like to meet Insect Eater. As I lifted the wooden cave, I saw something was wrong. Insect Eater's tail was tiny. I nudged him, but he didn't move. He was stiff. I think he just got old and stopped eating. He was an adult when I bought him. A previous owner had brought him into the pet store, so I have no idea how old he was.

I'll have to tell the kids tonight when I pick them up. We'll probably wrap Insect Eater's body in a piece of cloth and have a funeral. I'm not sure if I'm going to replace him any time soon. Poor James.

Comments

oh no!

[mindscat.livejournal.com]

poor james indeed. good luck with telling him what happened.

Re: oh no!

[kyra-ojosverdes.livejournal.com]

We just had the funeral. The boys took the news pretty well. We buried him in the flower bed, and the kids each told Insect Eater goodbye. James cried for a little while, and is wishing we'd taken pictures of Insect Eater when he was alive. I suggested that he write down his memories of Insect Eater, so he'll have something to remember him by. He agreed it's a good idea, but doesn't want to do it just now.

Re: oh no!

[mindscat.livejournal.com]

awwwwwww