Hoppo Bumpo (n): A children's game. Played by folding one's arms and hopping on one leg. Aim is to bump opponents, so that they lose their balance. Last person standing wins.


September 15, 2009

On lizards and other life lessons



Recently this little fellow turned up in our garden.

Apart from being sans tail, he was the most beautiful little lizard. He had lovely markings and sparkly jet black eyes. He stayed for a numbers of days, soaking up the sun and the warmth from some paving.

That was, until the fateful afternoon. The one when I found Argy and Bargy crouched over the lizard. There he was: lying prone; eyes shut tightly and mouth agape. Mum, look the lizard is sleeping. Now, admittedly my mouth tends to hang open like that when I am kipping, but it was clear that this guy had shuffled off the mortal coil.

Mum should we get him a drink of water? Or maybe put him in the sun? The boys proffered. How can we cheer him up?

Poor lizard. I wondered what had happened.

I took a breath: I knew I was going to have to explain death. I felt a pang of sadness, as another little piece of innocence was about to be lost. The conversation was short and factual. I don't think Bargy understood too well, but Argy was upset. A large tear rolled down his cheek as he realised that the lizard wouldn't be waking.

:: :: :: ::

Fast-forward to a different time and place - and a discussion about families. Argy was asking me about my grandmas and where they were.

Since we'd had the previous conversation, I thought I could gently explain that they had both died. You know, like the lizard.

Oh said Argy with curiosity ... Who stood on them, Mum?

Well, I guess that solves the mystery of how the lizard met its demise.

11 comments:

  1. Eventually all the mysteries of childhood are revealed to the mother.

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  2. LOL I shouldn't have laughed at that as much as I did :p

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  3. Oh, I'm having a big belly laugh at the same time as I am feeling mightily sorry for your reptilian 'guest'!

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  4. Life is full of tough lessons, isn't it? Poor little lizard never learned that vital one - not to play with toddlers....

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  5. I, too, hooted with laughter (despite the untimely demise of the lizard). Too funny!

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  6. oh, poor lizard, but it did make me laugh out loud!!!

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  7. It's amazing what you find out about events after the fact!! Poor lizard.

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  8. I am sorry about the poor little lizard, but oh my, you can tell a story and make someone laugh :-)

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  9. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm doing both as I type.

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  10. Oh heck. I'm crying on the inside for that lizard. But darn well laughing on the outside. Gotta love kids!

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