It was quite the journey around and through the town, but Randall did eventually find the spot where he had left the backpack, coat, hat and bedding. He put the stuff on and he went walking through the town. Mardi Gra was still going and he even got compliments on his 'costume.'

He was heading back to the cop's house now, but it got dark out on his journey back to there. He spent the night in an old garage. Then he continued back in the morning.

Jason found no food missing the next morning. He was sure Jo had learned her lesson. She didn't need to make stuff up to say she was still hungry. But as long as she stayed here, he wasn't going to allow her to overeat either. She either ate what was served, or there was none. She was going to abide by his rules and she needed to stop making up stories about this make-believe lizard.

It was the month of April now. Jason knew that Jo needed to go to school, but with it being this late in the school year, Joanna was better off just holding off on school until the fall. A few weeks of school wouldn't be enough, but he knew of a home school lady who could get her started in school studies. This little girl was way behind on getting started. She should be starting 2nd grade in the fall, but that wasn't the case.

Jason talked to Jo about getting started on school for the summer so she could be more ready by the fall season.

"I know of a lady who does home schooling kids. She could start you over the summer so you can be ready for public school this fall." Jason said.

Jo thought about it for a moment, then replied, "I've always pictured it. Making friends. Getting out of the house for a bit every day. Mrs. Stone never let me leave the house. She had me more as a servant than a daughter." Jo said.

"Do you know why she treated you like that?" Jason asked her.

"No."

"She had some mental problems and she had drinking problems. She had an illness. I'm sorry that you had to be the one to experience it all the time." He said.

"I wish I could still have my real parents. They died in a car crash when I was three, so I don't remember them." Jo said.

"But then, how did you meet the man who saved you?"

"He broke through the window and helped to get Mrs. Stone away from me before she was trying to kill me."

"But, did he kill her?"

"No. I saw her slip and fall on the rock. Randall saved me. I know staying with him wasn't perfect, but he got me out of that bad place."

"He will be found sooner or later, especially if he keeps stealing."

Jo knew he was only stealing to live. And it was because he wasn't human.

"He does it just to get food and because he's not human."

Here she went again. The imaginary lizard.

"Do you know where he is then?"

"He was here yesterday. He followed me here. He left to go get the supplies he had to leave behind."

"Why don't you go play." Jason said. He was tired of talking about this.

Jo went outside to see if her friend was back to maybe get Jason to believe her. She called his name many times. But there was no answer. She wondered where he was. But he had promised he would come back. But getting back was taking its time.

Jason had to go back to work a day later and he dropped Jo off at the home school lady's house.

She was in her forties. She had taught many kids home schooling before. Her name was Mrs. Gonzalez. She was of Hispanic origin. Long black hair and darker skin. Dark, but kind eyes. She stood about 5'4.

Mrs. Gonzalez or Karen, was mainly being a babysitter, but she was going to start teaching Jo some school lessons. Jo did want to learn, but she still wanted to be back when Randall got back.

….

It had taken Randall two days to find his way back to Jason's house. He put the supplies out in the tree and went to check on Jo. He checked in her window and she wasn't there. He checked other parts of the house too and no one seemed to be home. He even tried the door and it was locked.

He was sure Jason might have taken Jo out somewhere. They would be back sooner or later. He might have taken her to work with him, but he just hoped he brought her back. He would check later on when the sun would be setting or after dark. For now, he would go back and rest in the tree he had selected.

For most of the day, he slept.

Karen showed Jo how to do some math, start her on letters, some fun science things, etc. She also read to her and played some games with her.

Jason got off work at five and got Jo at six. It had been a full day. They were back at his house by six thirty.

Jason made them up some pizza and some pudding for dessert. It was a large pizza so it would last them into tomorrow.

Later, when it was supposed to be bedtime, Jo heard a knocking on her window again. She went to see who it was, and it was Randall. He had come back!

She opened her window. "I hoped you would come back."

"Of course I came back." He said. "I tried to see if you were home earlier, but no one was home when I got back. I had a feeling to just wait until tonight."

"Jason made some pizza. Do you want some?"

"Sure."

Randall came inside. Jo led him to the kitchen and she dragged out the pizza.

Jason was just sitting in his bed reading and he was hearing some sounds out in the kitchen. Jo couldn't be sneaking food again. He had talked to her about this already. Or it could be someone trying to break in. He took his bat with him. He didn't want to risk hurting the child in case it was her.

The lights were still off, but there was light coming from the fridge.

Jason saw a child's shape by the fridge.

"Here's the pizza. It's pepperoni and sausage." He heard Jo say. Who was she talking to?

He turned on the light and peeked around the corner.

"Jo, I told you no sneaking anymore food-!"

Jason was shocked when he saw a taller form standing next to the girl and then suddenly vanished into thin air.

The light coming on had spooked both Jo and Randall. Randall instantly vanished.

"I wasn't sneaking food. Randall's here. He's hungry." Jo said.

"I just saw something that disappeared."

"That's him. He can disappear when he wants to." Jo said. "Randall, it's okay. He didn't believe me about you. He needs to know you're real."

Randall had backed away for his own safety, knowing the adult humans were far more dangerous. He could make out the man had a weapon in his hand.

Jason looked around warily.

Randall was only going to reveal himself when the weapon was out of his hands. He snuck over and tripped the man over with his tail. He fell on the floor, but he didn't get hurt. But falling over did make him let go of the bat.

Jo knew it was Randall who did it.

Jason was terrified. But then, a noise was heard in front of him and a giant lizard materialized right in front of him. He was shocked. It was a purple lizard with four arms crossed in front of him, standing upright on four legs. The lizard glared down at him.

Jo came over and stood beside Randall. "This is Randall. I said he would come back."

"He won't try to hurt me, will he?" Jason asked.

"Only if you don't try to hurt him." Jo said.

Jason continued to take in the sight of Randall. He had never seen such a lizard before. He finally tried to stand up.

"So, Randall, how long have you known Joanna?"

"A few weeks." Randall replied, glaring. At first he had thought to play the silent animal, but then, the human would never understand if he remained silent.

Jason was also shocked that he could talk too.

"I'm not your ordinary lizard creature. Don't try to hurt me and we'll get along just fine." Randall said. "I can also be your worst nightmare."

"Don't try to hurt the girl."

"I wouldn't hurt her. I saved her from that bitch, Mrs. Stone, after all. She was going to kill Jo. I stopped her."

"Did Mrs. Stone slip on the floor or did you kill her?" Jason demanded.

"She slipped. Wet floor." Randall knew he had pushed her, but he knew what trouble he could be in. He had been invisible at the time, so what the humans didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

"Alright, Randall. I guess you can stay here as long as you don't cause trouble. But I am in charge of Joanna for the moment, until she's found a more different foster home."

"And I promised her I would find her a home. I intend to keep that promise. She was the first person I had been able to talk to in a long time." Randall said.

"It's just unusual that I hear of a lizard that's taking care of a human child. I know they usually don't even take care of their own babies." Jason said.

"I'm not like those lizards. Let's just say I come from a special place." Randall said.

"Do you still want some pizza?" Jo asked.

He glanced down at her. "Yes. I would." He replied while watching the man warily.

Jason let Jo give her friend the rest of the pizza.

Randall hadn't eaten much in two days. He had stolen food on the go, but not much. Now he had time to get more food into his system.

Despite the food that he did eat, Randall was still very thin.

Jason slowly approached. He was still wary of this giant lizard. Randall glanced at him too, warily.

"Looks like you've been on the run so long that you haven't had a proper meal in a long time." Jason said.

"Yes, that would be the case. It's hard to come by good food in that disgusting swamp!" Randall said.

After he had finished the pizza, Jason said it was time for bed.

"I've been sleeping all day. I'm ready to be up." Randall said.

"If you're going to stay here, you're going to have to adjust. I have to take Joanna to home school tomorrow. She needs to learn how to do what human kids are taught."

"I know how important school is. If you can pay for it, let her get the best education possible." Randall agreed. "I also have something for you, Jo, that I'll give to ya later on."

"What?"

"Surprise."

"Can Randall come with me to school tomorrow?"

"No. He needs to stay here. Pets usually stay home."

"I'm NOT a pet!"

"No, but if you want to remain with her, if I let you go with her, you would have to take on the role of a pet lizard. Otherwise, it's better if you remain here. You can guard the house." Jason offered. "Us humans just have things we have to do. I have to go to work being a police officer."

"I know how busy it is to have a job during the day. I worked once myself, but what I did is my business only." Randall said. "Everything about me is my business only. I'll tell only what I feel comfortable telling about." He knew better than to reveal information about his former world to an adult human that he didn't trust. But then, he hadn't even revealed to Jo either much about his other world.

"If you're going to stay, let's get you settled. You'll have to adjust your sleep schedule."

"Daytime usually is more my time to be awake, today had just been something different."

Jason let Randall sleep on the couch. Then he took Jo back to bed again after she hugged him goodnight. He went back to his room after. He still didn't trust this lizard completely.

Jason liked to be in bed by 10 usually because his day started early in the morning. He would have to drop off Joanna by eight in the morning. It was bound to be another busy day tomorrow.

It was hard for Randall to sleep when he had slept all day, but he managed to find it after keeping a lookout for awhile. He knew this adult human and himself would need to find some common ground. And with him being a cop, if he saw fit, he could even get Randall in trouble with scientists and who knows what else.