Tubby

Marjorie had the misfortune of finding a gecko in the bathtub the other night. The little guy lay directly in the middle of the tub with his hands folded behind his head. His eyes were closed, so he didn't notice her right away when she pulled back the shower curtain.

His eyes flicked open when he heard her consequent "eeeek," and one hundredth of a second later he was desperately attempting to scamper up the slick, bathtub wall. After sliding back down seven times in a row, he gave up, put his hands over his eyes, and began to cry.

Having recovered from her initial surprise, Marjorie took pity on the creature. "Don't cry, little thing." She sat down on the edge of the tub. "I'm not going to hurt you, though would you mind telling me what you're doing in my bath?"

With his hands still over his eyes, the gecko replied in a tiny, trembling voice, "You're always getting in and having a beautiful time, but I've never been so miserable. It's cold, I can't get out, and now you've seen me naked." He interrupted himself a fresh round of sobbing.

"Poor little fellow," said Marjorie. "I believe you have no idea you're a lizard!"

"Don't want to be a lizard," the gecko sniffed. "Want to be a you."

Marjorie was touched. She placed her hand gently next to him on the bathtub floor. "I'm afraid you can never be a me, but, I know what you can be."

He put his hands down from his eyes and stood there looking about as dejected as a gecko can look.

"You can be a friend," she said.

One hundredth of a second later, he blinked twice with pleasure and scampered on to her hand.

Marjorie named him Tubby, sewed him little gecko sweaters and little gecko pants, and is making him spaghetti tonight.