Page 3 of Serving my Dragon
Two big, jewel-like orbs stared at me. Hunh. I’d never realized lizard eyes could be so pretty.
Since she kept looking at me, I smiled and softly said in Spanish, my native tongue, “Hello, pollita.” A word that meant little chickie.
She blinked.
“I hope you’re feeling better. You weren’t looking so good when I found you.”
The lizard sat up, obviously weak given how she wavered, the size of her barely more than my palm. She chattered in my direction, a surprise since I’d assumed lizards only ever hissed or flicked their tongues.
“I see you have much to say.” The corners of my eyes crinkled as I smiled. “Are you hungry?” I left her to dig into my pack, pulling forth a ripe lucuma. When I turned, I found the lizard only a pace behind me.
“Hold on while I cut it open.” I used my pocketknife to slice it in half before I crouched and held out the fruit. “Here.” I had no idea whether she’d even realized it could be eaten. I had little experience with lizards. Mama couldn’t abide reptiles or mice and had been known to chase them from the house with a broom while cursing them.
The dainty lizard grabbed the fruit and eyed it, then me.
I bit into the soft flesh. “Mmm. Good.”
Apparently, my action satisfied, for she stuck her face into it and took a bite. A bite that turned into a frenzy that left me open-mouthed as she finished it in seconds and held out her paws for the other half.
I handed it over, wondering how she could possibly eat any more given her size. Apparently, she must have been hungry, for the other half disappeared just as quickly. The lizard then stared at me and made a noise. A fanciful person would have imagined she asked for more.
“Let me see what else I have.” I dug into my bag and pulled out a bag of coconut chips. I sprinkled a bit on the ground and Pollita took one and sniffed it. Once more, I showed her it was edible by tossing a few in my mouth and crunching. That seemed to satisfy her, and the pile I’d given disappeared. Wouldn’t you know, she held out her paws, flexing the clawed fingers demandingly.
“Hungry girl,” I said with a laugh but I shook my head. “I think you’ve eaten enough for now. You don’t want to make yourself sick.” I tucked the snack away in my sack. “Let me get changed out of my wet bottoms and we’ll watch the sunset.”
The lizard crossed her arms and I’d swear she sulked. It made me curious as to what type of reptile she was. Tío Juan, my mother’s brother, who loved the outdoors, would have probably known.
I changed into dry shorts and then took my bottoms and shirt to the river to rinse them before hanging them on a bush to hopefully dry overnight. The lizard remained in my mini campsite, watching me. I’ll admit to being surprised she hadn’t run off. Could she be someone’s pet? It would explain why she had no fear of a human.
Given I didn’t want to scare her, I forwent lighting the fire and instead sat on my sleeping bag—after giving it a vigorous shake—in time for the sky’s change of color. The beauty of the sunset never failed to awe me. And this time I had someone watching it with me. To my surprise, the lizard crawled onto my legs and chose my lap to settle in. My hand lightly rested on her back, gently rubbing, noting a pair of strange lumps along her spine. She especially liked it when I rubbed the top of her head. The little pollita craned her head, uttering a sound that reminded me a of a purring cat.
When I slid into my sleeping bag, she crawled in with me, a warm bundle draped over my neck.
I woke at dawn, not because of the rising sun, but because of a lizard tapping my cheeks, chittering and shaking the empty bag of coconut chips.
Apparently, my little pollita was hungry again.
And she didn’t share.
Chapter Two
I’ll admit to being surprised the lizard hadn’t abandoned me overnight. On the contrary, she’d felt comfortable enough to rummage through my bag. My things were strewn on the ground with the food items piled to one side—the rest of my lucuma eaten—and everything else kind of tossed. At least as far as a five-pound lizard could throw. While she might be small like a kitten, she definitely weighed a lot more.
She also talked.
A lot.
As I repacked my things, except for some dried fruits and nuts I planned to eat for breakfast, she paced and waved her little arms, yelling at me.
Or so it seemed, which I know was me attributing human behavior to an animal. Still, she reminded me of Mama and my tías with the way she carried on.
I interrupted the harangue by crouching and saying, “So much to say, Pollita, and I would love to hear all your stories, but it’s time for me to get going. I wish you well.” It never occurred to me to take her. A wild animal belonged in its natural habitat no matter how tame it seemed. I took a few paces and heard a chirp. A glance back showed the lizard scurrying on her short legs to catch me.
“I’m going home, my beauty. Back to work.” And the lectures from my mother about the fact I’d yet to give her grandbabies. And my tíos asking me when I’d grow a set. And my tías claiming all kinds of ill omens. Exactly why did I put up with it? Oh yeah, because I loved my family, even if sometimes I really wished they’d focus on someone else instead of the only boy child in the family. My female cousins didn’t have to deal with this shit. Then again, Sophia and Emilia were married and had babies, and as for Lola, she might not be into men, but she’d made herself a career as a singer which apparently gave her a free pass.
To my surprise, the reptile reached up with her stubby arms just like baby Jacinta did whenever she saw me.
I arched a brow. “You want me to carry you?”
