When the great outdoors comes inside

Over the last couple years, I have had some interesting encounters with wildlife--all of the experieicnes were outside. So whenever I was indoors, I always felt safe and secure.

A few days ago, I noticed in my shower an odd design in the wall tile I had never seen before. Curious, I entered the shower to take a closer look. I was surprised to see the "design" was actually a small lizard. It had changed colors to blend in with the tile color. I decided to leave the lizard alone. If I disturbed it, it might flee into the rest of the house. I saw the lizard one more time, and then it disappeared. I assumed it must have gone down the shower drain.

Last night, as I was preparing to go to bed, I see the small lizard scurry from my bedroom door and hide behind my bed. I was impressed the lizard was still around and was still alive. For the rest of the night, I was mindful to look on the floor when I moved around to make sure I did not squish the lizard. I fell asleep and forgot about my little reptile friend.

Today, my airways are congested. This often happens when too much dust accumulates in my room. So, it was off to get a wet mop. I shove the mop several times under my bed in an attempt to get some of the floor dust without moving my bed. I pull the mop out from under the bed. I notice something purple about an inch long. It looks like a piece of shredded cabbage. I think it is odd as I have not eaten cabbage in a very long time. I take a closer look. I then realize it is my little lizard friend, but he is now dead and has turned purple in color! The shock overwhelms me! I scream and flee my room.

Upon hearing my screams, my mom meets me in the kitchen. "Do you find it?" I am surprised my mom remembered me telling her about the lizard several days ago. I am also annoyed that she remembered him, but I had completely forgotten about the creature. "Yes," I tell her. "It is dead. I found it when pulling my mop out from underneath my bed."

I grab a hand broom and dust pan. I swept up my dead house guest and dispose of him in the trash. My mom mocks me that the reptile is small, only about an inch long. I respond, "Yes, but when you are not expecting to find it, and find it dead, it is quite shocking!"

Now, I have a little bit of peace knowing the small critter is no longer in the house. But I am also a little bit on edge. Wildlife is wonderful to observe, but it needs to stay outside, in the great outdoors and away from my room.