My Only Friend

My only friend is barely1 inch long and greenish-gray. His name is Pete or Subroto, whatever seems catchier to you. He used to be shy but now he darts brazenly out from behind the frig to try to eat the scraps from whatever delicious thing I happen to be feasting on at the minute. I try to consummate our love affair with a little tickle on his belly, but he is playing hard-to-get and darts back under the frig. He invariably waits until I go to my bed to lie down or the porch and then comes out to nibble again.

I used to have lots of friends in Yogya, or at least three. But my Indonesian teacher friend moved to Jakarta for a job. And my other friend is always busy with her own life. My friend Edo is sick with the flu and also recently got a job as a stockbroker/stock advisor. It still makes me laugh to see him in a button down shirt and tie but it doesn’t cure my boredom to have him working all the time. What’s he thinking, really, holding down a real job instead of gallivanting around with me?

So, I have to content myself with the glimpses I get of my little greenish-gray buddy. I know Pete will become my close friend in time. I have fantasies about him curled up next to me on my pillow. He is one sexy gecko.