Snake and Me

“Carter, time to get your pet frog. The pet store is going to close in an hour,” my mom yelled from downstairs.

“Just double-checking if I have everything for the frog!” I yelled back.

As soon as I entered the pet store, I eyed the perfect pet! A red-eyed tree frog. He had red eyes, a bright green back, and a blue-and-yellow belly. I was so excited to finally have a pet. The frog still had his tail from being a tadpole, which was strange because he was done growing.

“I’ll call you Snake because of your tail.” I smiled as I held him with his bag of water. I put Snake in his tank as soon as I got home.

The next day I came home from school, and Snake had vanished!

“Where’s Snake?” I yelled. I searched everywhere. I looked under the couch, behind the television, on the floor, and in the shower. I started to panic. I never felt this worried before! If frogs don’t keep their skin moist, they could die.

I sadly dragged myself back to my dresser, where Snake’s tank was kept.

All of a sudden, I saw him in his tank! “Snake, there you are!” I smiled at him. I was pretty sure I checked his tank.

After soccer practice, I checked on Snake again, and he was missing! I left my room to check, here, there, and everywhere. After thirty minutes of searching, Snake had reappeared in his tank again!

The next day when Snake wasn’t in his tank for the third time, I grew suspicious. I left my room and stealthily came back. I then saw Snake on the miniature ficus leaves in the tank, where he seemed to blend in!

I was so relieved he was safe. He must’ve been camouflaged every single time I was looking for him. I was wondering how he had hidden so many times, because it may not be a coincidence. Maybe he was playing a game like hide-and-seek, or was he sleeping? Either way, I need him, and he needs me.