“Call the doctor! Quick!”

Sophie’s head bounced up as her brother’s shriek pierced through the house. Clenching her teeth, she growled, “Harrison Floyd, the next time I have to visit a bitten relative in the hospital, I’m going to...to...”

The words “be nice” floated through her mind as she squeezed her eyes shut and let out a moan.

Whispering over and over to herself, “I should be kind and loving. Kind and loving,” Sophie galloped down the stairs and entered the living room. Most people would have been shocked at the sight before her, but Sophie was used to it. She attempted to look annoyed and not angry at her brother, but that was hard, because she was deathly afraid of his reptile.

“Harrison, put that thing back in its cage this instant!” she ordered in a motherly manner. Ever since their mother had died two years ago, Sophie had taken on the responsibility of taking care of her younger brother. 

Acting beyond her years of thirteen, she ran to the kitchen and grabbed a pile of towels. She dragged them to the disaster area, and began to wrap them around her Aunt Emma’s wounded arm.

“I’m so sorry, Aunt Emma. Harrison knows better than to let Rosepetal out of her cage. I don’t know why he does such things.”

Wincing, her aunt managed a moan. “Ohhh, get me to a hospital.”

“Yes, we most certainly will get you to the hospital.” Sophie’s icy tone satisfied Emma, and she immediately calmed down.

While they were settling into the family’s mini-van, Sophie’s conscience struck at her. You shouldn’t be mad at your brother! He’s just a kid, he doesn’t know better! She nervously looked out the window so that no one would notice the confusion on her face.

How can I love my brother when he lets that...that...monster out of her cage? People are getting hurt because of his careless habits! Am I still supposed to love him, even when he’s wrong?

*****

An hour later, Sophie and her family had returned home, but she still couldn’t shake off the bitter feelings towards her brother. “I just can’t believe Harrison! Why does he always let that thing out of her cage?” While thoughts swirled in her head, she strolled past Harrison’s bedroom door, which was open a crack. 

Knowing that Harrison was downstairs getting a lecture from their father, Sophie tapped the door open with her foot, and then cautiously peeked in. It looked the same as always, except for a nibbling sound. 

Startled, she looked around. “It sounds like a rat, or a mouse, or...” Her whisper stopped when she saw the glass cage on Harrison’s dresser. “Rosepetal!” Her eyes grew wider as she watched the petite, vicious lizard crawl up the glass walls of the cage! Sophie’s breath was ragged as the lizard crept up and pushed open the door at the top.

Sophie gasped. Rosepetal was on the top of her cage!

Instantly she slammed Harrison’s door closed and dashed into her room. When she could think again, guilty thoughts poured through her. She’d blamed Harrison for letting Rosepetal out of her cage. Now it looked like the lizard had let herself out!

Sophie began to pace, and then chew on her nails. Oh, no. Now what am I going to do? She thought.

Suddenly, she heard a soft voice in her head. “Quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Sophie stopped. Of course. That had been her mom’s favorite phrase. And it was true.

“I guess Harrison’s not so bad after all. He is only nine.” She sighed. It wasn’t his fault that Rosepetal, despite her lovely name, was so brutally into biting people.

Sophie hesitated, but she knew what she had to do. Dashing down the stairs, she arrived out of breath in her dad’s office.

Panting, she scurried over to Harrison and poured out her heart. “I’m so sorry, Harrison. I always thought that you purposely let Rosepetal out of her cage, but I just saw her climb out on her own. I know you didn’t mean to hurt Aunt Emma, or anyone else your lizard has bitten in the past. I’m really sorry. Can you forgive me?”

A grin crossed the little boy’s face. “Sure. I never told you I didn’t do it because I knew you wouldn’t believe me. Plus, I didn’t know how she was getting out either. Guess I better go catch her now.”

Tears shone in Sophie’s eyes, and she scooped the little boy into her arms for an embrace. To think, she’d lost precious time with her little brother, all because of a lizard!