A Sad Day For Garrett

I was sleeping rather well when Garrett touched my arm. With a quiet voice he said "Mom. Are you awake? My lizard is dead." Now I'm not much of a morning person, especially when I get woke up unexpectedly. But I could hear the hurt in my little boy's voice. I sat up and reached for his hand, trying to decide how to respond to the situation. Garrett is an extremely loving boy and I knew his sensitivity would show itself today. He climbed up in the bed with me and snuggled under the covers for a couple of minutes. Then he got up, looked at me with his deep, brown eyes, and said matter-of-factly "It's time to bury him now."

Garrett went upstairs and took Leon out of his pickle-jar home and gently placed him in the jewelry-box I gave him to use for the burial. I wasn't really fond of the little lizard (or any other creepy-crawly thing) but I had to hold back tears when I heard Garrett saying "Good-bye" to his reptile friend. It was clear from his words that he had a bond with the lizard that no one else could understand. He never cried (atleast not in front of me), but he was somber and serious about his task.

He walked past me without saying a word and with the jewelry box in one hand and a kitchen spoon in the other he chose a final resting place for his departed friend. I watched through the kitchen window as he carefully dug a small hole under the bush near the fence; hoping he wouldn't bend the spoon but not daring to say anything about it. He finished the hole. Placed the "coffin" inside. And covered it with dirt. Then he placed a large stone on top.

I'm not sure what he was saying as he stood there with his head bowed, but I'm sure it came from his heart.