Critters and a curious Lily

‘Come and look, come and look!’ said Lily urgently. I went off with her at once. She always has interesting things to show me. We went to the table at the back of the house where Lily has her food. It was just after lunch, and when Lily had brought a cloth to wipe the table after she had finished eating, she saw this interesting sight.

A small gecko was on the table, and it was drinking water which had been spilt. Its small tongue darted in and out as it took tiny sips of the water. We watched it for a while. It was an extremely hot day, and the poor creature was obviously very thirsty. It suddenly became aware of our presence and slipped under the table. It was the first time I had seen a lizard drink water, and I told her to call me again the next time so that I could take a photo or video of it.

She took this seriously. She would spill some water on the table and call me to click a photo of the little gecko when it appeared, but it always vanished in panic when it saw me. However, water left on the table would disappear after a while.

The gecko was obviously drinking the water in our absence. Lily began keeping a few grains of cooked rice near the water, and the lizard ate that, too!

She interrupts her job—washing utensils and sweeping and mopping the floors in our house—to give me regular updates on what the gecko is doing, which bird is defending its territory and which is trespassing, which animal (squirrel, mongoose or snake) is drinking the water meant for birds, which bird is nesting where, etc.

Thanks to her, I could observe different kinds of birds’ nests, like the upside-down one made by the little spiderhunter on the underside of a banana leaf, the neatly woven tiny basket-like nest of the common iora, and the tailored wonder that is the tailorbird’s nest.

I’ve been told that I should be “firm” with Lily and not allow her to waste her time observing creatures in the backyard. But she is in her sixties and has not yet lost her sense of wonder and childlike curiosity. I find this her most endearing trait, and besides, household chores are such a drudgery. She deserves breaks now and then. 

I fully agree with the words of Rose Miller when she says in her poem, Dust if You Must: Dust if you must/ But wouldn’t it be better to paint a picture, or write a letter/Bake a cake, or plant a seed, Ponder the difference between want and need?