Stolen Package

An old Toyota minivan parked near the docks. Randy and Max looked out from the windshield and into the fierce Florida sunlight. Several ships slightly swayed to the gentle waves that refracted against the rocky shore. A white box plastered with blue labels perched precariously on the cupholder between their skinny teenage figures.

“We got a big one today,” said Randy, picking up the box and shaking it while putting it to his ear.

“Bet it’s some sort of electronic. Rich neighborhoods are always tech product heaven,” said Max.

Randy took a pocketknife from the glove compartment. The thin layer of beige packaging tape split in a quick movement of his wrist.

“I hope that house didn’t have a nest cam,” said Max.

“Stop worrying about that. I told you I checked.” said Randy.

He strained his arms and ripped open the top of the box. Packaging peanuts and newspaper exploded onto his lap.

“Well, it’s definitely not an electronic. There would’ve been a box,” said Max.

Randy stuffed his small spindly hand into the package. When he reached back out, a long and narrow white sack was in his hand.

“What on earth is that?” exclaimed Max.

“Maybe it’s a dildo,” joked Randy.

“Shut up Randy!”

The sack wriggled as Randy put it in his lap and opened the drawstring at the top. His hand went in. A sudden yelp followed. Randy pulled his hand out of the bag. In it held a small monitor lizard. The tiny creature flicked its long, forked tongue. Its fierce eyes glared at Randy.

“Whoa cool.” he said.

The lizard wriggled in his hands, pressing against them with its legs that were powerful despite its size. Its long back claws scraped Randy’s skin.

“Wow, those guys literally ordered a lizard! I didn’t know they even came in packages!” exclaimed Max.

Randy took a hand off of the lizard and chucked the box into the back seats. He opened the door and exited the car.

“Hey! Were you going?” asked Max.

Randy walked out onto the nearest dock and sat down, the monitor wriggling in his hand.

“I think these guys can swim, I got to check it out.”

Max got out of the car, walked to Randy, and sat down next to him.

“They can swim?” he asked.

“Their supposed to slither in the water like a snake. I’ve seen it on animal planet. It looks really cool,” said Randy.

He got on his stomach, both of his hands and the reptile hanging over the dock. The lizard broke free of his grasp and slithered through the clear, brackish water. Randy grabbed it before it swam too far. It desperately tried to slither forward as he restrained it.

“This guy could’ve escaped and practically live out here.” said Max

He put his hand in the water and stroked the monitor’s head. The monitor snapped around its head and sank its teeth into Max’s hand. Max hollered and yanked his hand up from the water, the monitor not letting go. Randy released his grip from the lizard and it hanged from the meat of Max’s palm. Max continued to yell in pain until the lizard opened its jaws and scampered down the dock.

Randy ran after it. Once he’d scooped it into his hands, he clasped it tightly so it could not move their head close enough to bite him. Max sat on the dock, holding his hand, moaning.

“Oh crap, this looks really deep!” he cried.

“These guys are supposed to get super aggressive when they’re older. I heard some even have saliva that turn your flesh into jello.” said Randy.

“What?”

“Some monitors have deadly saliva. I think a single bite can even bring down a wildebeest.”

Max looked to Randy wide eyed, then rushed past him to the car.

“Hey, what’s the rush?” asked Randy.

“I’m not letting myself turn into jello!” cried Max.

“We need to go back to the house and see if that thing is venomous.”

“Oh, come on, you’re overreacting. I’m pretty sure the bad ones only live in Africa or something,” said Randy.

“And how do we know it’s not from Africa!”

Randy sighed and walked back towards the car.

“We’re not going back to that house. I don’t want to get in trouble. Let’s just find what it’s labeled as on the box and look it up on our phones.”

Max slid into the car and grabbed the box. He dumped the peanuts and newspaper, fishing for a label. He then picked up the box and scanned it from every angle.

“No label.”

Randy grumbled and entered the car.

“Fine, well go back. But if anyone asks whose idea it was to steal a live monitor lizard, it was your idea.”

He put the key into the ignition and sped off.