Folklore and Fairytales

'Beep, beep, beep.' Its that backup beeping of a truck and I know before I turn around that Wyatt's eyes are huge as saucers waiting to be whisked into my arms so we can check it out. I run with him in my arms to the front door and find an Emergency Rescue truck and two police officers climbing out. I explain that I am not trying to be nosey only that Wyatt has an insane fascination with anything that beeps. The one cop tells Wyatt he can watch the truck for them as they move down the street to our neighbors house.

Of course, I might pretend to not be nosey but I am. Conveniently, our new back deck gives us a clear view to the rest of the block. Rebecca, seated at the kitchen table, has been watching several people comment about something stuck in a tree nearby. Wyatt is more interested in the truck outside so I decide to wait patiently using the cover story of entertaining a baby. Finally, one cop walks back up talking on a cell phone, spots us, and gives me the one minute sign. He starts the conversation with "So, how well do you know your neighbors?"

"Well, they just moved in. They've got a lot of kids..." I return not wanting to gossip with authority.

"He seems to believe that there is a three foot Monitor Lizard in their tree. He's pretty convinced that its a Monitor but we can't see it and he can't find it anymore. I'm not climbing 9 feet to find out. Do you know of anyone that has lost a lizard or do lizards grow really big around here?"

"Umm, no. But if I saw a three foot lizard, I would have probably called to you too."

"I just wanted to let you know because you have a kid and some cats running around. Your neighbor seems really positive its there and is concerned about his kids." He shrugs

"Thanks for letting me know." I bundle Wyatt up in my arms and we wave as they pull back out down the street.

Typical story of my life: huge prehistoric beasts wandering around my normally peaceful neighborhood. After sufficient Googling, I have decided that I am terrified of three foot lizards regardless of what tree they are in. Every time I see even the slightest movement in the backyard I am convinced its that fabled lizard. I am confident that our cats can take care of themselves but Pup faced with that beast is definitely a goner. He won't go down the deck steps without an escort. Wyatt will probably want to befriend the beast and I will, guaranteed, be running in the other direction.