Object of Desire - 3BG

Surprisingly I'm not talking about one of the many pretty girls in 3BG (1959/60) -
although at 13 years of age I had definitely started to notice them. No, in this
instance the object that I coveted above all others belonged to my friend and
classmate Royce Dugan. Royce owned a chameleon that I believe his Dad had
brought back from a trip to North Africa.

The chameleon lived in Royce's desk and was brought out at lunchtime to be taken
down to the wasteland beyond the tennis courts and fed on small grasshoppers and
other unfortunate insects.

Chameleons are truly amazing creatures. This one anyway seemed completely
unconcerned by being handled and would act as if it was the most natural thing in
the world to be hoisted through the air as it was passed from hand to hand and boy
to boy. Once on your hand it would grip your fingers with its odd, two toed feet and
swivel it's independent eyes slowly around, taking in it's surroundings.

It really did change colour too. Placed on sand it would slowly change colour to a
very plausable mottled sandy colour and, given time, it could manage a very
impressive dark green to match the shiny leaves of the shrubs that grew around the
school. However, by far and away it's most impressive feat was the way it used to
catch and eat live grasshoppers.

Watched by a circle of saucer-eyed boys, Royce would place his chameleon on the
ground. After swivelling its eyes around a bit, it would move slowly forward, lifting
each foot high in the air as it moved (it was like watching an ultra slow motion
video). In this manner it would approach to within perhaps 6 inches of its prey.
Both eyes would then swivel to focus on the unsuspecting creature and it would rock
slowly backwards and forwards to accurately gauge the distance. Without warning
and faster than the eye could follow, its long pink tongue would flick out and back
and the grasshopper would be in its mouth to be slowly crunched up and swallowed.

Royce, if you read this - do get in touch!