Meet Leon

This week Garrett's teacher told the students that they were going to be giving away the pets they have been caring for since the start of school. The initial shock and disappointment quickly turned to excited jitters as the kids learned that they would have the opportunity to take one of the Chameleons home. Of course, their parents would have to send in a note saying it was okay for them to have one and then the interested student’s names would be put into a jar and drawn randomly.

Garrett didn’t even make it through the door after school that day before he started pleading his case. After an hour or so of talking (and a little begging!) I agreed to write the note. Then came the waiting.

The kids were told about the “chameleon exit plan” on Monday, but the drawing wasn’t until Friday. What torture! Over the course of those four days Garrett prepared a home for his prospective new friend. He cleaned out one of the gallon size pickle jars and lined the bottom with dirt, grass, leaves and twigs. He had Dad help him poke air holes in the lid. He even decided where in his room the jar should sit for maximum safety.

This morning when he left for school he was totally psyched. He was SURE he would be bringing home his buddy the chameleon. I, on the other hand, was thinking about the pickle jar and how sad he would be if it remained empty after the drawing.

No need to worry though. There were enough little lizards for all the students whose parents were brave enough to write the note, so Garrett proudly carried his new friend through the front door grinning ear-to-ear.

Here he is . . . Meet Leon.