The Words of Agur, son of Jakeh. An oracle. Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise… the lizard can be grasped in the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces. (Proverbs 30: 1 + 24 + 28)

…the lizard is also found in schools, like many other exceedingly wise creatures.

Last week, I arrived at my school early. Instructors have to be on campus by 8am. Most days, I arrive just a few minutes before the deadline. But on this day, I arrived a whole 20 minutes early, at 7:40am. I didn't sleep well and woke up at 6am. Since there was nothing else to do, I was one of the very first people in the building.

And it’s a good thing I was. Sitting on the main stairs, without a sound, in the worst spot for delicate creatures, was a cute baby gecko. White skin hued blue, her scales translucent enough to see her blood. She was a Mediterranean House Gecko (Hemidactylus turcicus) very far away from her homeland.

She doesn’t move as I walk up. I fear she had been stuck inside the building for a while and might’ve died there. Then she sees me, flinches and flicks her tail. Prepared to scurry away from an overhead predator.

I put down my scholar’s duffel bag and wrangle her into my cupped hands, careful not to scare her too much lest she drop her tail. It’s only about 10 seconds to secure her and calm her down.

She becomes still again. Not afraid, but definitely curious.

I walk back out the security door I had just walked through.

We go across the small parking lot, passing my car that’s still exuding warm air from my daily 1-mile commute.

My school is across the street from a historic neighborhood, so we instantly arrive at an overgrown alleyway piled with leaf litter. The perfect spot for a variety of small critters, including baby geckos.

I crouch down and open my left hand to let her go, not realizing until my hand is opened that I should’ve taken a picture.

“I should’ve thought of that, but it’s fine.”

Except she doesn’t run. She’s taking in the morning leaves.

I reach down with my right hand into my pocket and jostle out my phone. It’s whatever to her.

I aim my camera. She even stays long enough for the camera to focus.