Years passed and I have lived a regular teenage life. High school was a smooth breeze. I had new friends. I met Jafe and she was like, "Your name is Alyssa? I'm an Alyssa too! My name is Jafe Alyssa. Nice meeting you!". I recall how she met Meg too. Jafe said, "Michaelyn? Isn't that long for a name? Can I call you Meg?". From then on, Michaelyn has been called 'Meg' for the rest of her life. Every occasion I remember that moment, I smile a little inside. Classic Jafe. I'm not amazed why we're still roommates. Now that we're in college, we've led different lives together. She's out expanding her governing skills: acting as president of one establishment, auditor of another, and editor of the school journal. To top that, she's an Engineering student. Only a few individuals amaze me, and she's one of them.
I, alternatively, have remained as a "teenage dirtbag" like how the band Wheatus sang it. I have passed my subjects, fortunately.. but failed the most. I can't definitely declare I'm stupid because I'm sure my brain is nourished with brilliant knowledge, ideas, and spectacular intelligence. It's just that, when I got to College, I've discovered how so much fun it is to have so much fun. I hung out here and drink a cupful of coffee to "exchange ideas", and frolicked there to drink a bottle of whatnot and exchange laughter. I ask my classmates to sign the attendance sheet for me when I'm absent, and scream at the top of my lungs at parties to make them feel my presence. Really, I felt like a kid again. Only that time, I just got released from a cage.
Wow. So I'm troubled about needing to take good care of it. I'm in school and I have too much time to suck up to be in a position to get closer my studies (and partying). Time has passed and I think those days where little items that fascinate me are gone, too. Can I still take staring at a turtle for minutes? Do I have the time to purchase the food it needs? Am I furnished with a different place for it? Is that childhood dream worth fulfilling now?
Today, I woke up so early. My classmates and I had to attend to a Mangrove Tree Planting activity. We'd to meet at 06:00 AM to be able to go to the venue together. I felt excited because it was going to be my first time. Mark, the organizer, advised us to wear shorts as opposed to jeans, and slippers as opposed to shoes. So I wore a loose shirt so I am able to move freely during the activity, white shorts, and slippers. I was finally going to have a chance to show how I care for the environment, despite how little the deed. Mark said the activity is going to be done quick: we'll just have to go to the area all together, plant ten seedlings, and then we're done. It was simple to hear, but when we got there, it wasn't what I expected it to be like.
Mr. Rory said his staff feeds the snake with chicken often times. I asked, "Like drumsticks?". He said, "No, whole ones. Dead ones." I got sad again because those parts for the chicken could have been fed to me and my brothers and sisters for dinner. But a snake needs it too, and Mr. Rory said it was the correct way of feeding his pet snake. I remember Mr. Rory asked me if I could catch our house mice so the snake could eat another sort of food often times, and because my Mom would be happier without mice in our house. I thought it was worthwhile but I did not want to catch mice.
Dad told us not to worry, but I feared the snake would come crawling at us and bite us while we're asleep. Come five in the morning, our maid woke us all up. She said she was about to cook breakfast when she saw the snake hanging by at the high ceiling between the stairs and the kitchen. The snake only moved little. I stood at the steps, staring at it for minutes. Some neighbors were returned to see. A few of Dad's friends tried to help catch the snake for Mr. Rory to have it back. One man held a really long sturdy stick with a little hook in it. When he held it to attempt catching the snake, it was then the largest shock of my life happened. The snake opened its mouth and quickly moved towards me! I screamed for my life. It actually went to me! Fortunately, the uppermost level of that it stretched its body only reached country about a centimetre away from me. It was that close! Reptile Channel
|
You might think it's not cool, but I like lizards. For me, they are the loveliest reptiles in the world. We've lots here at home and I would do anything to have them here forever. My father used to scare us, saying that to whomever a lizard falls to is cursed for the day. He told that to my cousins who came to visit from Austria, too. They're my other favourite cousins. And boy, were they scared beginning at the time they heard that. Jam and Van screamed a lot, pushing each other, scared of receiving the lizard's descent. I think it was funny.
I named it G. I like it how G doesn't need high maintenance. I couldn't even maintain myself well, what more when I must take care of G. It is so cute how G has an attractive color: yellow with an exotic touch. I love it! When I chat to G, it chirps back. That's what I love about it apart from other lizards. I've considered unleashing G so it could walk around the whole house, wild and free. When all said and done, it has to eat insects. There are lots of insects lurking around the house. G's appetite needs cockroaches, flies, crickets, even spiders. A lot of it would sure satisfy G, and I wouldn't have to look for the food by myself like I always do. I wouldn't want to have to carry it anywhere near food where there are fruit flies. I guess I'll just have to find a method to keep catching its food than let it go on its own around the house. But I wouldn't wish it to disappear and leave me. Of course I'd love to see the price of my money, and hear the chirp of my beloved pet. I think I can't afford supplements, too. Besides, there is no replace for the 'real thing'. When G grows to adult size, I want to feed it a one-day mouse, which the saleslady said would be good. I don't know how I'll be able to see that, though. It would also be tremendous and disgusting work to manage mice to feed to G!
Oh I can't wait until Jam and Van get to see me again and see G! Imagine how they will keep screaming whenever I get it near them. Dad and I will love seeing it. But in some manner, I want them to appreciate this animal for its fun and fascinating side, not just because Dad scared them back when we were way younger. If it weren't for Dad's teasing and scaring them, my cousins and I would have more fun looking after a G now and again, specially when they get to drop by. Maybe they will realize that to whomever the lizard is at, is not cursed, but is lucky!