Soul of a Girl

A New Life

Once the bright sunlight of the early morning filled the forest floor below the wild songs of the creatures living in it created a kind of natural symphony. It was a regular cue that singled to me it was time to for me to head to work. With a mix of excitement and regret I sad goodbyes to my friends as I left the window open in the Reptile House in order for my friends to come in go as they pleased although they all usually came back before I arrived home. As I headed back outside to the bridge connecting the Reptile House to the Main house. It was rather small about 400 square foot. It had a nice, yet simply kitchen that opened up to a small living that had a wooden chair and a small shelves filled with my favorite books. Then closed off from the kitchen/reading room was my bedroom that contained all I need which was a bed, nightstand and a battery powered fan. Lastly the house contained a small bathroom that was attached to my room all it contained was an incinerator toilet and sink. Since all my water came from the frequent rain it was held in a cistern on top of the roof the water was fed downward and therefore my shower was located outside on my balcony located behind a bamboo fencing.

After I had taken a quick morning shower I put on my light brown shorts and matching shirt, along with my hiking boots, compass necklace, and watch. I looked at my watch, 6:40. I had to be at work by 7:45 in order to be ready for my first tour group at 8:00 and it took about 30 minutes' drive to make it down the mountain and in too the local town of San Isidro and another ten to my job at Los Quetzales National Park. I decided to skip breakfast, just grabbing a banana and my car keys to my green Jeep. I ran down the stairs two at a time. As I made my way to my car a heard I loud thud hit the ground form the trees overhead. I kept walking un fazed as I open the car doors getting into the vehicle and staring the engine. When I checked my rearview mirror to back out of the driveway, I saw a medium size green iguana in my backseat.

"Casta!" I said excited. "I thought I heard you."

Casta smiled as he climbed up my seat coming to a stop as he rested on my shoulder as usual. Most people at work had become accustomed to Casta's presence on my shoulder and the tourists on my tour group always got a big kick out of Casta too so my boss Gustavo let's Casta come with me to work every day for the publicity. I was grateful to Casta too, although I got along well with everyone at work and was well liked, Casta was really the only person or rather creature I felt truly comfortable with, so I enjoyed his presence.

"Hola mi amiga" Said Casta "¿Como estás hoy?"

"No está mal." I said smiling, as I back out of the drive way to the main road down the mountain.

"Did you have the dream again?" Asked Casta in his thick accent.

"Yes and I think the outdoors will do me some good."

"Sí!" "I find that going outside into the jungle always clear my cabeza." Said Casta

"Casta you live outside, you're in the jungle all the time!" I said smiling

"And look at how wise I am chica !" He said smirking.

The trip down the mountain into town was quick with Casta's conversation, and shortly I pulled into a parking space at Los Quetzales. I checked my watch 7:40, five minutes to spare! When I walked into the front door. I bell ranged single to my other coworkers I was there. I was met with serval "Buenos Dias" and "Hola, Elizabeth" I made my way to the back to grab my clipboard to see how many tours I had today. "Tres" I said outload. That meant I wouldn't be getting off early as each tour lastly three hours, but I didn't mind I loved my job and pointing out different animals especially the reptiles as they were the only ones I could understand.

No one knew about my gift other than the animals themselves. I didn't know why I could understand them all I know is one ever since I was little I could hear the little lizards scurrying across the hot sidewalk of my childhood in Florida always saying the same things, "Please don't step on me or Ouch Hot!" I never told anyone about my ability because up till first grade I assumed everyone could understand snakes and lizards, even the baby gators that swam in the nearby lake in my backyard. It wasn't in till the incident in first grade that I realized only I could understand reptiles and after that experience my parents put me in therapy. My therapist never believed what I said and eventually diagnosed me with Schizophrenia and gave me a bunch of pills that made me sick and confused. And since no one wants to be friends with the "Weird snake girl" I never was invited to anyone's birthday party or games at recess.

I remember one day at lunch at bunch of girls invited me over to their table only to wait till I sat down to poor water on my pants and then they told they whole lunch room I had peed my pants. Once the situation at school got to out of control they sent me to Boarding school at age 14. At least there I wasn't forced to take my pills and my head was able to clear up and focus. That's one things did get better no one there knew my past and I could be myself minus the part where I told people I could talk to reptiles. Everything was starting to look up till I had the bright idea of confiding in my two friends and roommates of my gift. The same scenario happened all over again I was humiliated and teased. The worst happened when I found a dead snake in my room and I started to cry uncontrollably. I remember them laughing saying "What was he your friend?" I left after my second year and returned home that fall. I was tutored by private teachers at home and my parents spared no expenses as I was thought everything from mathematics to social studies. That is where I learned Spanish, French, Germen, and even some Chinese although I was a bit rusty in it, but I knew enough to get by.

And although my parents never treated me horribly they also were not proud of me. Once I turned eighteen they kicked me out of the house I figured I may as well get as far away from everyone as possible and moved to Costa Rica to study Herpetology. That was over a year and a half ago. I used to write my parents every week and call them from work every day, but they never wrote back and never picked up the phone so I stopped trying. The only gift they gave me was the money to move to Costa Rica and build a decent house. My father had become an oil tycoon from Texas so they had enough money to buy the world and still have millions left over. I always tried to look on the bright side though. It could have been a lot worse for me in reality and although I would have to save my money to achieve my dream of attending University of Miami to earn a degree in Zoology and Herpetology. At least I was free and had a dream job!

"Resting on the job I see?" Came a voice behind me, I looked to see Ricardo my tour partner and my closest friend that was human.

"Huh?" I said coming out of my thoughts.

"It's 7:55, we've got a big group of turistas waiting for us to start." He said smiling as he came over in scratch Casta under his chin. "How are you today amigo?" Ricardo sat. Casta staring to wiggle excitedly he loved being the center of attention so he couldn't wait for the tour to start to receive even more.

"Oh!" "I nearly forgot!"

"that is what I am here for, to keep you on track." "Now vámonos chica!"