Scurry

wah

Her utterance is abrupt.

What’s up

There’s a critter

And he looks like he’s dead

I cruise over to the sink, unsure what I’m about to see. I peer over the edge and see my little buddy

My buddy, because I’ve seen him in these parts, many many times. He does the hard work of pest control.

A rusty, faded green, four adept and sinewy limbs, suction cupping their way up and down our walls and the other night, on the ceiling.

He waves at me, sometimes. I mean, not actually waving. But I do think he’s greeting me.

Usually, though, he mostly just sits in wait. Waiting for me to turn off the lights, provide space, get out of his way.

Flies of the drain and fruit variety make their home on our first floor. Not enough to be a nuisance, yet enough to provide a thriving and mostly balanced diet for our gecko bud.

It’s not only bugs that keep him fed.

The temptation of honey nut O’s is too much, and where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I recall the random morning a few months back when I mindlessly reached for the cereal box and tilted it towards my bowl.

Out comes the usual cascade of o’s,

but on this day there’s a surfer, riding the wave

cowabunga dude

he follows the oatstream waterfall, leaping to the edge of the blue ceramic bowl (catches his hind leg briefly) and skitters away, a bolt of green. Freezes on the vertical surface of the island.

If I don’t move, you can’t see me

Toddler vibes.

Quite the presumption.

And while I appreciate his gumption,

I’m quite aware that this box of cereal is no longer fit for consumption.

In the weeks since, we’ve been more diligent about proper containers for food storage.

No follow-up incidents.

But this morning, as I run a bit of water into the sink to cajole my buddy to take a hike,

he doesn’t move.

Oh crap

He might be dead

I peer more closely, and as the water slips in, he briefly moves his leg.

Is he just stuck in there?

I grab a paper towel and gently cover him to lift him out. He wiggles and waggles, I giggle and gaggle, and attempt to secure him without severing him

wander to the open door and place him on the entry tiles just adjacent to the street

you gonna be okay buddy?

I steel myself, ready to watch and wait. Expecting him to sit, sun himself, properly convalesce

when, instead

he looks back at me, winks,

shakes his moneymaker

and scurries into the mist.

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