Reptile Freak Out!

I was sitting here on the couch on the lap top earlier and Lucie was napping on the chair. I hadn't seen Rosie in a while but Rupert had come out earlier when I was trying to get Lucie's attention. When he realized I didn't have any cookies or catmint, he left.

All of a sudden, here comes Rosie, power-walking into the living room followed by Rupert close behind. It's not a walk, it's not a run, but it's a jaunty trot that should have clued me that something was up. She got to the end of the carpet and did a U-turn and Lucie popped up, interested. That is when I saw the giant lizard body swinging from her mouth. It was definitely not a plastic lizard toy because it was floppy. It wasn't a snake because I could see limbs dangling. Rosie did her power-walk march out, followed by Rupert and then Lucie with her fluffy tail in full flag mode.

My heart raced and I started totally freaking out. Here she comes again, power marching (yeah, that's better) with her two followers and the lizard dangling. Another U-turn and out they go. On the third time through, my cell phone rang. WHAT?

It was Petunia's school, I HAD to answer. Guess what? She didn't pass 8th grade, she failed science. Well, thank you very much for waiting until the 2nd week of summer vacation, after the "promotion" ceremony, to inform me. I'm sure I sounded like I was high (which they all think I'm a pot head thanks to my Green Man shirt). I was informed that Petunia had to fill out a work packet that was to be picked up today and she had to turn it in Friday for her to pass and be able to go to 9th grade. I promised that Sharky would be there on his lunch break.

Meanwhile, the terrible trio and the lizard have made a few more rounds.

I called Sharky, no answer. I sent him a text to call asap, which he did. Unfortunately, I found out that our truck broke down (either the starter or the battery) and he couldn't do it. Thank goodness, Mr. DW had not dropped Petunia off yet, so I called and asked them to pick up the packet. He was very nice, he always is, and they did.

I hadn't seen the parade in a few so I turned on lights (didn't want to step on anything) and went looking. Found all three huddled by the credenza in the dining room, staring at the space between it and the wall. No lizard in sight, so I assumed it had gotten away. Still freaked out though - it's still here.

Petunia got home, with a bag of ice (thank goodness!) and her homework. I thanked Mr. DW profusely for helping us out. (He paid her $55 for painting his fence! Now she has more clothing money for school.) We went into the house and I warned Petunia about the lizard escapee.

Walked into the kitchen and found my trio of hunters in the middle of the room all staring at the BIGGEST SKINK I'VE EVER SEEN! It was a good 4-5 inches long, not including the tail. It didn't have a tail but it was a dark stub, not bloody, so it might have lost it a while ago. Petunia saw it and clapped her hands over her mouth and started jumping up and down squealing and moaning. I thrust the bag of ice at her and told her to put it away.

I bagged my hand in two plastic grocery bags and ran to the skink and snatched it up and ran out the front door. I shook it out on the ledge and surprise, surprise, surprise, the damn thing was still alive. It took off running.

Dumped the bags into the recycling bin and came back inside and found the terrible trio incredibly pissed off at me for taking away their toy.

*phew* Thank goodness that is over with.