When it comes to picking the perfect dinner spot, humans aren’t the only ones tangled in a web of indecision. Meet Jack and Julie, two lizards locked in a tail-twitching debate over Ray’s backyard buffet. It’s fly vs. flower, mealy bug vs. romance—and things are about to get reptilian.
Going out for lunch or dinner date with a friend or partner is fraught with multiple decisions. Each person has his or her preferences. One has to consider the food, atmosphere, price, inside or outside dining, and what to wear. These few decisions are only scratching the surface. The negotiations can become intense with each side digging in to their positions before the final decision is made.
I think the same issues confront our friends in the animal world. Consider two lizards (male and female) discussing their decision on where to dine. I’ll call the male lizard Jack and the female lizard Julie.
Jack: “Where would you like go tonight?”
Julie: “I don’t know, what do you think?”
Jack: “I like Ray’s patio. I usually can nab a few flies and a spider. I never leave hungry.”
Julie: “We’re always going to Ray’s patio. It’s so boring. I wish he’d update it.”
Jack: “How about the cement slab by the air conditioner?”
Julie: “That will be in the direct sun. And it’s not a good look when my green skin changes to brown.”
Jack: “It doesn’t matter what color your skin, you always look beautiful to me.”
Julie (rolling her eyes): “What about dining by his cactus plants. My skin will be a perfect green and we’ll have a bit of shade from the sun.”
Jack: “I hate the food there. All we get are those mealy bugs. And, I don’t want to deal with fire ants.”
Julie: “I will not go back to Ray’s patio. I’d rather go hungry..”
Jack. “Well I won’t go to the cactus.”
Two minute pause.
Julie: “I have an idea?”
Jack: “What?”
Julie: “Ray has two potted plants just off his patio. I’ll go in the plant with the most green and pretty flowers. You can have the other one, one of his herbs.”
Jack: “Now I know why we got together. You’re beautiful and brainy.”
Julie: “You just might get lucky, you hunk.”
