The Lizard
He had a
stocky head that gave the impression of a young dinosaur. Dani was very certain
that the creature was a lizard, if not some kind of amphibian. She exhaled when
the immediate shock of him creeping on her had subsided. Things would have been
different if this tiny man had been a spider. As her father would have put it, Dani was afraid of
spiders, and seeing a huge one crawl on her arm would have been a whole other
story. Nothing special about this reptile. He was very adorable, frankly.
Lizard
friend
What truly
got Dani excited about her lizard friend (they were friends now, right? Dani
hoped so, lest she had to tell her parents that she was drenched and had a big
bite) was his eyes. With dark eyes, he looked at her almost intellectually, and
she assumed he was a guy. As if he knew they were in hiding and he needed to be
silent. With a little
squeak, he nuzzled her arm.
Sold
Well, Dani
was sold by that.
She had
always had a soft spot for creatures of all shapes and sizes, and if they
weren't spiders, she would try to pick them up when they allowed her to.
Dani realised she probably
wouldn't be able to retain him, but nonetheless, it was a great lizard to have
as a friend. She was unsure of his mother's whereabouts. She hoped that there
wasn't a massive lizard hiding beneath her, ready to bite her to protect her
young.
Are you
serious?
The water
balloon standoff came to an end five minutes later with a
"Seriously?" Maggie, who had stood tall for her entire seventeen
years, said that. "Come out now, Sheila and Dani, or I'll tell Mom!"
Heart thumping, Dani leaped out
of the tree and ran back. She felt she had left her friend the lizard behind.
Maggie stood by the hill, her expression irritated. Tommy, her boyfriend, was
accompanying her.
Well, I'm
Not Sure
Maggie
threatened to put Mike in a garbage can if he threw the water balloon at her.
"You little turd," Maggie said. Tommy gave a puzzled nod. Mike held
the balloon limp in his left hand, unsure of what to do. "Why are you
here?" Sheila probed. Maggie argued, "Get real. I noticed the bikes were missing and I
recalled the map thing. I suspected you two would come up with some ridiculous
concept like this. It took me about twenty seconds to realise what you were
doing."
We're
heading home
Maggie
remarked, "You're not supposed to be out here, and my mom is going to
seriously ruin my summer if she finds out that I gave you a map and let Dani
use my bike." So please, hurry up. We're going home. After being
reprimanded by the elder girl, Dani and Sheila left Mike and his pals behind
without batting an eye. Dani was happy to get home in secrecy. Tommy carried both of their bikes as
the party made their way back to the house.
A coup
After a few
more minutes of elder sister lecturing, Maggie ended her initial dressing-down
and informed the girls that she and Tommy had returned to the house to prepare
for the latter's Senior Night. Maggie must have been concerned that she would
be grounded for attending the event when she noticed the bikes and snacks
missing and went looking. Fortunately for everyone, Sheila's mother was soundly
asleep on the couch. Even
though Sheila's older sister had to save them, the girls thought it was a coup.
Forgotten
Before
Dani's mother arrived to fetch her up, the girls played in Sheila's room,
painting each other's nails and chatting trash on the boys. Dani had completely
forgotten about the woodland lizard. That is, until her mother ordered her upstairs to take a bath
later that evening.
Found Him
Dani
rediscovered her friend the lizard from Hollow Hill in the restroom. Dani had
no idea that he'd slipped himself into her denim shorts. Despite his diminutive
stature, he was not too heavy. He must have gone unnoticed by Dani in the midst
of the excitement. She
believed he was motionless for a horrifyingly little moment. She discovered,
however, that he was asleep. When she prodded him, he woke up and gleefully
looked up at her, as if he was wondering where he was going to bunk that night.
Child
Logic
Dani
whispered to him, "I'm not supposed to bring animals in the house. You're
not supposed to be here." Her tone was quiet and urgent. "My mom will
lose it, but my dad probably won't care." Adult logic instructed her to
return the lizard outside. However, child logic viewed him as a friend who wished to spend time with
her. Why couldn't I just let him stay over for one night?
Godzilla
Dani
proclaimed, "I'm going to call you Godzilla." Her choice of name made
her laugh. She had covered her eyes in horror watching the new version of the
movie, which had seemed so cheesy in the previous one. This reptile moved more
at the speed of an old movie. Godzilla gave a small, appraising squeak (did
lizards ever squeak before? Dani pondered). The two became inseparable after that.
Not Your
Typical Lizard
Being a
veterinarian, Dani understood she needed to provide Godzilla with appropriate
housing. Lizards need a variety of gear, but Godzilla was not your typical
reptile. That much was true. He escaped when Dani attempted to put him in her
previous hamster cage. He desired to be tucked in on a pillow beside her on her
bed. In addition, he
consumed her food because he didn't want the bugs that Dani had laboriously
caught for him.
Humanlike
When it came
to urinating and other things, Godzilla used the washbasin, skipping from
Dani's bedroom to the bathroom that was next door whenever he needed to go.
Dani would discard his stuff. He was a clean, human-looking reptile. Even
though Dani was aware of how strange the situation was, she was too happy to be
concerned. She had read fiction books from the library that contained this
material, and now it was happening to her. Dani felt sad when he was sad. Dani felt glad when he was
content. He used to sit with Dani and watch Disney and Nickelodeon when she had
screen time. Dani swore
she heard him chuckle once or twice at Spongebob.
Not a
Pet, But a Friend
For a month,
everything went well, and Dani felt like she was doing a good job. Godzilla
appreciated her offering to spend time outside, even if he never attempted to
flee. He was genuinely her friend, yet she took care of him like a pet. Her
parents were not aware of it. Although Dani spent a lot of time in her room, it
was usually tidy and she didn't exhibit any problematic behaviour. Dani deliberately stayed inside the
lines in order to protect Godzilla's secret.
And after
that
And then
everything fell apart one day. Dani returned to her room after playing at Sheila's (she hadn't revealed
Godzilla to her buddy out of caution—sheila might be a bit of a blabbermouth).
There on her bed, stretched out to a full four feet, lay Godzilla. Dani's heart
fell, and she drew back in terror, but then 'Zilly gave her a glance.
Overnight, he had grown, but he remained the same.
What's
happening?
"What's
happening? What happened?" muttered Dani. "A month has passed.
Yesterday, you were the size of my hand." He also appeared more menacing
now. The ridges on his back gave him the appearance of a little dinosaur, and
his stocky head was now a boulder. Godzilla gave her a sheepish glance in return, looking more
like his namesake than ever.
Pay
attention
To her
credit, Dani made an effort to conceal Godzilla. She and "Zilly"
managed to make things work for a few days until Dani confronted him with the
truth. However, it was nearly hard to share her bed with a massive lizard, and
Dani was running out of food at this point. She went without food, slipping him
her meals since she didn't want him to go without. Her parents were becoming
aware of it and were becoming concerned. Dani said, "Listen, I have to tell my dad."
Godzilla cast a wary glance in her direction.
Need Help
"He's a
vet", Dani said. "No, no. He is genuinely kind. He never gets furious
at me or punishes me. It's my mother who is strict. He'll attempt to help if I
tell him." Godzilla put his head back. Dani gave him a tight hug and
kissed his scaly nose. "Trust me, it will be fine." She went downstairs and asked to talk
to her dad, who was seated on the couch.
Dad's
Help
"Honey,
what's going on?" Dani's father inquired, putting down his work. "I
need you to come up to my room, but you can't tell mum," stated Dani.
"There is an urgent situation. Will you make good on your promise?"
She extended her pinky. Dad was sceptical, but he gave it a pinky swear. Dani
hoped he would honour his word and not cheat as other grown-ups did. With a knot in her gut, she escorted
him up the stairs to her room.
Introduction
Her father's
first words during the introduction were, "Stand back! What is that
thing?"
"No,
Dad! He is my friend", Dani declared. "His name is Godzilla.” To his credit, Godzilla made an
attempt to resemble a smile with his reptilian features, maybe to calm Dani's
father. With tears streaming down her cheeks, Dani told her father the whole
tale, starting with her trip to Hollow Hill.
Dad
Dani peered
intently at her dad's reaction, hoping without hope that, like many adults, he
would not write her off as a simple-minded, nutty child. After all, she hoped
he understood that she was being honest. Her father was her friend, always. He
had an open mind. He worked as a veterinarian. He was a good man, even though
he swore during football games and sneakily had a second beer despite her
mother's warnings. He
was going to help Godzilla and her. She was certain he would.
He Is
Friendly
His gaze
never left Godzilla while he listened to her tell her story in its whole. He
moved forward and held out a hand as she was about to finish her story. He gave
Godzilla a forehead pat while joyfully closing his eyes. Dani's father looked
shocked. After Dani had finished speaking, he remarked, "Well, he's
certainly friendly. But I'm not entirely sure what he is." "He is not a lizard. Never one
that I have ever seen.
Take a
look
Dani's
father said, "I'm going to look at him. Come on, then." Godzilla
leaped off the mattress. When Dani's parents hurried to the shop, he had
previously seen the house, but not in such detail. Dani was led down to the
living room by his father. Dani's father reassured her, "No matter what
happens, you can keep him; he just can't reside in your room anymore. He is
excessively large.” "And
it appears like he will grow bigger."
The Exam
Godzilla
crept up behind Dani's father. He was not up to any shenanigans, just
exceptionally courteous and friendly. Even though he still appeared shocked,
Dani could tell her father was changing his attitude towards him and that he
seemed to want her dad to like him. Godzilla's weight was verified by Dani's
father using a luggage scale. Observing his mouth and eyes, he remarked,
"Considering what you've been feeding him, he looks healthy." Dani responded, sounding a little
defensive, "I tried to catch him bugs and stuff, but he wouldn't eat
them."
Is He
Mine to Keep?
It was
finally necessary to pose the question.
"Is he
mine to keep?" said Dani. With a sigh, her father studied the reptile for
a while. Godzilla grinned toothily at him once more. "All right...He grudgingly
answered, "Yeah, but your mum needs to, too. "You must look after him
and provide for him with a portion of your allowance. And he needs a suitable
place to live.
Mother
Dani was
certain her dad would accept. She started screaming the moment her mother got
home. She initially said no when Dani and her father spoke with her. Godzilla
won her over. At last, Dani's mother reluctantly said "yes." Dani went to bed that night feeling
elated, amazed at her own good fortune. Godzilla slept on a bed that her mother
had made up on the couch.
Not a
Secret
Even though
Dani cherished Godzilla, it was a relief to no longer have to hide him. He
required a place to stay because he had grown from a tiny to a gigantic size.
Fortunately, her dad had a soft spot for stray animals and a backyard shed that
served as a temporary home for these misfits complete with blankets, water, and
a heater/air conditioner. Sadly, a massive reptile would have to share that
space with the neighbourhood’s stray cats. Dani hoped it wouldn't bother them.
A secret
Godzilla
appeared to enjoy his shed, but he frequently returned to the house and garage
in search of companionship. Not even Sheila had been informed about him by Dani
and her family. It was as though they had a tacit understanding to keep 'Zilly
a secret. After all, he was a gigantic lizard. Dani understood her parents
couldn't keep him a secret forever when she occasionally heard them talking
minutely about him. Though they all recognised he was different, they were all
attached to him. The
O'Leary family had a guest one late summer night following the Fourth of July
fireworks that evening.
A
knocking
Knock,
knock, knock
It was
exactly two in the morning. With heavy eyes, Dani sat up. She had secretly
brought Godzilla inside, fearing that the fireworks would frighten him, and he
was now four and a half feet long, curled up on a blanket on the floor. The
loud, persistent knocks were coming from the window outside of Dani's bedroom.
Scared
Terrified,
Dani sat up. With glowing eyes in the darkness, Godzilla also sat up. 'Zilly
stayed out of the blankets while Dani cowered down in fear. She heard him bolt
from her room, waddling swiftly down the steps and out the enormous cat door
her father had installed for him. "Dammit," Dani muttered. Although she wouldn't
speak a swear word in public, the circumstances demanded it. Not wanting
Godzilla to suffer in the dark by himself, she trailed behind him.
Darker
Than Normal
Outside, it
was darker than normal.
Though it
being a holiday, the streetlights wouldn't be completely out due to the late
hour. They were out, though, and the darkness was pitch-black. As she left the
kitchen, Dani reached for a torch and hoped the batteries held. In the garden, she caught a glimpse
of Godzilla, his shadowy shape amidst other shadows. There was a short, thin
man wearing spectacles with him.
Roland
Redding
Dani took a
deep breath of the warm, delicious Maine summer air to calm herself. She
questioned with authority, "Who are you?" (she was almost ten years
old, after all). She illuminated the man with the torch. When she talked, both
her light and her words seemed to disappear into the deep blackness. With
trepidation, she glanced up at her parents' room, hoping they would still hear
her. The man introduced
himself as Roland Redding and said, "Well, hello, young lady. Who do we
have here?"
Go away
"I'm
not telling you that," declared Dani, who was wise enough not to reveal
her name to complete strangers. "It's private property here. You must
leave." She called upon the same voice she had heard her mother use the
previous July Fourth, when teens had broken into their garden. Roland remarked,
"Now, there's no need for that; I'm just a travelling man who has come to
see Windsor and your pet." Dani yelled, "Go away, or I'll get my dad."
Unfazed
"See, I
don't know if you know this, but your pet actually belongs to me," Roland
said, unfazed. His eyes turned into two white lights and his balding hair
looked like an oil slick when the torch bounced off his glasses. Dani felt
uneasy about this man, like if he were in a scary movie. He stood out in the
darkness like an anomaly, somewhat like Hollow Hill. Simply wrong. Godzilla reared in response to
Roland's claim, a sound Dani had never heard him make before. She trembled.
When they fled from a predator through the forest millions of years ago,
cavemen would have heard that growl.
White
Teeth
Dani
remarked, "He seems to dislike you, and he's mine." Roland studied
Godzilla. Something he said sounded like a coughing fit. Godzilla growled once
again and raised himself up onto his back legs. This time, he drew himself up
to full height and gave a growl. The light fell on two black voids that were his eyes. He had
a terrible appearance. Dani thought she was about to pass out when he showed
her his white teeth.
Hiss
That's when
Dani realised Godzilla wasn't a reptile. She was unaware of his identity.
However, he exuded terror and anxiety, as to something that had emerged from
the forest to inhabit his domain. Right then, she was terrified of him. Could
she ever stop being afraid after this? With his fangs gleaming in endless rows,
he parted his lips and growled at Roland. His breath had a strong, pungent
fragrance to it in addition to salt. Roland stepped aside. A hint of panic was visible on his
face.
Have it
your way
"Go
ahead and live with these people," he mutely instructed him. "I will
return with the group, so we will discuss what you have to say then." A
tingle went up Dani's back. She yelled at the man, "Leave now!" Godzilla hissed again, so
strong and foul-smelling that Dani nearly passed out.
Vanished
Roland
Redding had disappeared as oddly as he had appeared. Godzilla was back on all
fours in no time. He gave a delighted huff through his scaly muzzle as his tail
flicked back and forth. With a naive expression, he glanced up at Dani, causing
her recollections of his dread to gradually fade. She too began to forget Roland. She
was exhausted, but she had no idea what she was doing outside.
July 5
The
following morning broke beautifully. It was July 5th, about a month past summer
break. Looking at Godzilla, who was cuddled up on her extra pink comforter,
Dani sat up. She guessed that they would play together today and wondered if
her mother would prepare pancakes for them. She was aware that they couldn't
hide Godzilla for ever, but that wasn't a concern right now. Her father intended to refer to 'Zilly as an
Asian Water Monitor who has been spared from the trafficking of exotic animals
by his office. It was
worth attempting.
The Man
Was Coming Back
There would
be a man returning. Godzilla felt sorry for Dani as he watched him devour
pancakes (Dani's mother had given him roughly six whole to eat). He was devoted to the O'Learys,
particularly to Dani. However, he was aware of the man's intentions and what he
desired.
Everything
That Was Important
Godzilla
would be ready when he returned with the rest of them, the aquatic ones.
Compared to Roland's thousands of years, he had been around for millions of
years. It was never appropriate for him to associate with that huckster in the
first place. But that was all irrelevant
for the moment. It was a
gorgeous summer's day, and he was with his family, after all.
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