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I was just minding my own business, slowly crossing the path, when . . . THUD, THUD, THUD! Could it be an earthquake? No, just people. They are everywhere, absolutely everywhere! Walking their dogs, riding their bikes wearing strange coverings on their faces. I can’t work out why, don’t they usually have somewhere else to be? Suddenly, a huge, trembling hand plucked me off the ground and lifted me into a container that felt smooth and slippery. What was happening? I quickly retracted into my shell.
When I dared to peek out, staring at me wide-eyed was a friendly human face. She looked really excited. ‘I’ve been begging mum to get a pet in lockdown and she keeps saying no. No dog, no cat, no rabbit, no guinea pig, no bird, no turtle no lizard, no fish. But she reluctantly said ok to you. So, Shelly welcome to our home and I promise I’ll look after you!” she said smiling. Shelly?! Was she referring to me?
The next morning the nice girl appeared with someone else smaller than her. “Meet Shelly!”. The little sister looked cute and friendly too. That afternoon they transferred me into an enclosure much nicer than the plastic container I had spent the night in. I had dirt, leaves, rocks, dish with water and fresh lettuce leaves. I had never tasted anything so sweet and delicious, what a treat! They moved me to a few places around the house but finally settled on the sideboard. It’s a lovely spot, next to pot plants and near the glass doors so I can see what the weather is like. I’ve always wondered what the giant people do behind those big doors on the street. Now is my chance.
The curtains are opened in the morning and sunlight floods in. They eat at the table then the big girl and dad sit in front of a computer to do school work. This is usually calm and quiet but occasionally they raise their voices at each other. The mum leaves and sometimes doesn’t come back till the sun goes down. The little girl plays by herself a lot, and I often hear her call out “I need to go to the toilet!”. They all disappear in the afternoon for a while after lunch and the house goes quiet. The girls come back excited and need a drink after riding their bikes or going to the park. In the evening the curtains get pulled closed then after dinner the strangest thing happens. The grandparents’ faces appear on the phone and they talk to them about being separated in lockdown. I wonder if I could speak to my family that way too?
I do miss my old life in the garden on the nature strip and I wonder if I am in lockdown too. But I’ve been well looked after here, all the crispy vegetables, no possums to hide from and welcoming family. I quite like my new place!
When I dared to peek out, staring at me wide-eyed was a friendly human face. She looked really excited. ‘I’ve been begging mum to get a pet in lockdown and she keeps saying no. No dog, no cat, no rabbit, no guinea pig, no bird, no turtle no lizard, no fish. But she reluctantly said ok to you. So, Shelly welcome to our home and I promise I’ll look after you!” she said smiling. Shelly?! Was she referring to me?
The next morning the nice girl appeared with someone else smaller than her. “Meet Shelly!”. The little sister looked cute and friendly too. That afternoon they transferred me into an enclosure much nicer than the plastic container I had spent the night in. I had dirt, leaves, rocks, dish with water and fresh lettuce leaves. I had never tasted anything so sweet and delicious, what a treat! They moved me to a few places around the house but finally settled on the sideboard. It’s a lovely spot, next to pot plants and near the glass doors so I can see what the weather is like. I’ve always wondered what the giant people do behind those big doors on the street. Now is my chance.
The curtains are opened in the morning and sunlight floods in. They eat at the table then the big girl and dad sit in front of a computer to do school work. This is usually calm and quiet but occasionally they raise their voices at each other. The mum leaves and sometimes doesn’t come back till the sun goes down. The little girl plays by herself a lot, and I often hear her call out “I need to go to the toilet!”. They all disappear in the afternoon for a while after lunch and the house goes quiet. The girls come back excited and need a drink after riding their bikes or going to the park. In the evening the curtains get pulled closed then after dinner the strangest thing happens. The grandparents’ faces appear on the phone and they talk to them about being separated in lockdown. I wonder if I could speak to my family that way too?
I do miss my old life in the garden on the nature strip and I wonder if I am in lockdown too. But I’ve been well looked after here, all the crispy vegetables, no possums to hide from and welcoming family. I quite like my new place!