Off to the pet store we went with a lot of uncertainty about what we’d be leaving with. Grayson had a big decision ahead of him, and an even bigger commitment. And this… this is how it went.
“Look at that one! It’s so colorful!” he exclaimed, his voice full of excitement and wonder.
The store clerk, a young woman named Six, leaned closer.
“That’s Kami. She changes colors based on her mood. Pretty cool, right?”
Grayson nodded vigorously, unable to take his eyes off the chameleon. A warm excitement bubbled inside him, a welcome contrast to the anxiety that had weighed him down for so long. This year had been different. He’d worked hard, overcoming obstacles that once seemed impossible. Now, getting a pet felt like the final touch on a year of growth and progress.
“Can I hold her?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course!” Six said, opening the cage and gently lifting Kami, who shimmered into a vibrant green.
“Just be gentle. Chameleons can get stressed easily.”
Grayson held out his hands, slightly trembling. Kami crawled into his palm, her scales smooth and warm. A wide, unguarded smile spread across his face.
“Wow, you’re amazing,” he breathed, watching her shift to a soft blue.
“Looks like she likes you,” the clerk said with a chuckle. “You ready to take her home?”
Grayson nodded, more assured this time.
“Yeah! I’ll take good care of her. I promise.”
After a quick exchange of cash and a few care instructions, Grayson walked out of the store, Kami safely nestled in her new habitat.
“So, Kami, what do you think? We’re going to have so much fun together!” he said, pausing. Then he laughed to himself.
“I guess you can’t really talk back, huh?”
Once home, he set her habitat on the floor, and we arranged the branches and leaves just right.
“Home sweet home, right?” he said, glancing at Kami, now a calm yellow.
Last night, I knocked on Grayson’s door to find him sitting on his bed, Kami perched on his shoulder as he read her a bedtime story. It was just the sweetest moment. I couldn’t be more proud of my boy.
As days turn into weeks, Kami will become a part of Grayson’s routine. He’ll talk to her, feed her, and begin to understand what it means to care for someone else. To show up daily. To connect.
Kami is the perfect addition to our family.
Sometimes, the best kind of healing comes from the connections we choose to make, no matter how small.
