Tears came to Sue’s eyes Maybe the poor little liz ard got frozen she wailed Pete lifted him gently from the top of the pineapple and said the reptile was still breathing He put him on a chair near the kitchen radiator Ricky dropped to his knees intently studying the strange visitor Pam meanwhile hurried into the living room for a book on reptiles She returned reading it What are you looking up Holly asked her Pam said she wanted to fi nd out whether the liz ard might be poisonous After reading a few minutes she shook her head Th e only poisonous ones are the Gila monster found in the American Southwest and the Mexican beaded lizard she reported Sue dried her tears and said Th is lizard isn’t wear ing beads He’s all right Oh Sue you’re a case Pam told her with a chuckle Suddenly Ricky shouted Look Th e lizard’s moving Th e heat had had its eff ect and the tiny traveler be gan to stir his stubby legs Quick Let’s fi nd a bed for him Holly said excit edly She ran down the cellar steps to locate something in which to put him Pam continued to read about lizards Th e one in front of her apparently was an iguana whose home is the Caribbean islands Th e article says they’re friendly and playful Pam said May we keep this one for a pet Mother Of course dear 11
Holly soon returned with a large plastic beach pail which she had used the summer before A little sand was still left in the bottom of it Shall I pour the sand out she asked Oh no said Pam Lizards like sand But I think you ought to add a bed of paper shreds so the lizard can keep warm Mrs Hollister suggested In a few minutes the children had cut up a sheet of newspaper into small bits and put them on top of the sand Th en the lizard was put into his new home He likes it He’s blinking his eyes Sue said jump ing up and down with excitement What shall we call him Holly asked How about Lucky Pam suggested He certainly was lucky to survive the trip all the way from Puerto Rico Th e others agreed this was a good name and they all watched closely as Lucky became more and more frisky May I pick him up Sue asked wistfully Mrs Hollister said she might if she were careful Sue gently lifted the lizard and set him on the back of her hand Lucky blinked his beady eyes and looked about then began to climb up Sue’s arm She giggled so hard that Lucky nearly fell off Each child took a turn playing with the new pet Th en as Pam put Lucky back in the sand pail the children heard the family station wagon come into the driveway Daddy’s home Holly exclaimed and hurried to open the back door for him 12
Mr Hollister was a tall athletic man with a jolly smile Th e minute he stepped inside the house Sue jumped into his arms and gave him a hug Th en holding her daddy’s hands tightly the little girl did an upside down fl ip-fl op and landed feet fi rst on the fl oor After Holly had kissed her father she exclaimed Daddy come see our lizard His name’s Lucky Mr Hollister admired the new pet then asked where the children had bought it Lucky came free said Holly and showed her father the pineapples Sue crowded in Daddy do you have a lizard friend in Rico-Rico she asked Mr Hollister chuckled and said he knew no one who lived on the Caribbean island I’ll phone the express offi ce and see if it has a record of the sender he off ered But the clerk in charge said the bill of lading did not state this So we have a very kind unknown friend Mr Hollister declared Pete had gone to the kitchen door in answer to a whine and a bark outside When he opened it the Hollisters collie Zip bounded in Take it easy Pete warned Yes said Holly Don’t you hurt our new lizard Pete led Zip to the sand pail and let the dog sniff and gaze Th en he patted him It’s okay old fellow Th at lizard has a right to be here Satisfi ed Zip trotted off He went at once to his feed bowl and waited until Pam put food into it 13
