Boy = Lizard, Just Goes without Saying

 So, ever since Spencer’s cousin got a Bearded Dragon (3 years ago), he’s wanted one to call his own. I wasn’t against the idea of another critter in the house, but at that time, I felt Spencer was too young to commit to the responsibility that goes along with caring for a critter… and I have enough poop to scoop as it is… thanks. ;) He’s brought the subject up a few times over the past few years, and each time… he’s trailed away with the same long face and dragging heals… trumped again, but patiently biding his time. ;) *sigh*

Then… not long ago, I asked Spencer if he’d thought about what he’d like this year as a passing gift… and he promptly replied “A bearded dragon?” *sigh* I hummed and ha’d… after all, he is twelve now… maybe he could handle it. So, in my infinite wisdom, I thought… “I’ll put him to the test; we’ll just see how serious he is”. I laid out a few pain-staking conditions, and if he could follow through, then he could have the Beardie. Sounds fair, right? One of those conditions was that he had to share the responsibility of cleaning the bunny litter, and cat litter. (Bonus for me… talk about win-win). hee hee 

To my surprise, the boy has kept his end of the bargain… not only that, but without complaint. (Anyone who has kids will appreciate what a gift that is in itself… “without complaint”… ahhh… music to thy ears). So, as time has marched on toward the end of the school year, I have been tucking the idea (and money) away… preparing for one more critter to come into our home. I would have a house full of critters if I had the room and money, so it didn’t take me long to warm up to the idea, and begin pricing out the details like… tank, lighting, sand… stuff like that. (Which by the way… equals a small freak’en fortune).

Then, last week… after going to the cheap theatre (I think it has an official name, but that’s what I call it… it’s the best thing since sliced bread!), we strolled over to the pet store. We do this quite regular… movies, pet store… it’s our thing. While I was chatting it up with an adorable black headed cacique (that’s a bird), Spencer had quietly made his way to the reptile section. The next thing I know, Spencer is calling out and slowly walking toward me, with a Bearded Dragon sitting comfortably upon his shoulder… both looking most content.  A nice lady wearing a green smock was trailing behind him (I think they were in cahoots)… she smiled… I smiled… Spencer smiled… (I think the Beardie even smiled)… I should have known something was up. ;) I asked her if it was okay for Spencer to be walking around with the Beardie on his shoulder. She smiled again, waved her arm and said, “Oh, this is everybody’s favourite Beardie! He won’t make any fuss at all, he’s used to be handled”. Smile… grin… smile.  She continued to explain that of the three adult Beardies they had in the store, this one was the most agreeable… and that everybody simply loved this one. That’s when Spencer chimed in and said, “We should call him Raymond!” (Like the show… “Everybody Loves Raymond”). The girl beamed and chuckled… brilliant!  “Yes”, she said, “from now on, that’s what I’m going to call him… Raymond”.  I beamed and chuckled too… so impressed with his clever little spin, I slipped.. let my guard down… and stepped right into Spencer’s sneaky and brainy little plan.

Now it had a name. Caving was inevitable. ;)

 Naturally… I got swayed into holding ‘Raymond’. He was softer than I expected him to be. I petted under his chin, and he closed his eyes as if to say… “Oh ya… that’s what I’m talk’en about”. 

Naturally… I got further swayed into letting him crawl up onto my shoulder… where he promptly (as though on queue) snuggled his head under my chin, and hunkered down, snug as a bug.

By now… Spencer was playing it cool… but I could hardly ignore the smile that was stretched from one side of his face to the other. He petted Raymond’s scaly-yet-smooth back and head, and said, “This is the one I want, Mom… I want Raymond”. *smile… grin… smile*

*sigh*

So… 1 40-gallon tank, 3 bags of sand, 3 food dishes, 2 logs, 1 heat lamp, 1 ubv light, 2 light mounts, one basking rock, and one container of super-worms (gross!) later… Raymond is now sitting very pretty at this very moment… in Spencer’s room. *smile* (No doubt, tittering at his own cleverness of how he wrapped one little boy, and one soft hearted mom around his scaly-yet-smooth little finger). ;)