A story I look back on fondly

When I was eight years old, the house I used to live in had a balcony. I'd face the way of the balcony during the night, and when I couldn't sleep, I'd watch the lizards that resided with us apparently. I tried to tell the adults in my life about them, but it didn't seem like they were listening. I should have talked about the lizards' tax evasion instead, I'm sure they'd have listened then.

At first, I noticed one large lizard crawling around. I was fascinated.

I saw it again the next night, but something felt different about it. I couldn't put my finger on it however. I didn't know it then, but that wasn't the same lizard. It was a different lizard. I had only pieced the pieces together when I discovered a tiny lizard.

When I became aware of the fact that there was a family lizard in my balcony, it was already too late, as one of the people living with me at the time was deathly afraid of lizards, and unfortunately had to encounter it.

The lizard had tried to bite her toes. I'm not sure why it went straight for the dogs, but then again, many things about the average lizard's behavior continues to be a mystery to me. Then, it crawled on the walls in the house.

The others residing with me tried to kill the lizard with a broom, but that didn't work as it just fell on the floor, and the uncertainty of its new residence made its existence even more worse for her. I hope the lizard started paying taxes at least.

(This story was set in East Africa, so if you're in the land of a thousand hills or near it, watch out for lizards!)