Going out to the garden br this morning br to plant seeds br for my winter greens br -the strong, fiery mustard br & the milder br broadleaf turnip- br I saw a gecko br who br like the rest of us br has been br reeling br from the heat. br br Geckos like heat br I know this br but the heat br these last few days br has been excessive br for us br & for them. br br A spray of water br from the hose br touched its skin: br I thought it would br run away. br There are crevices br aplenty br to hide in: br the garden wall br is made of stones. br br But no br not only br did the gecko br not run away br it appeared br to raise br its eyes br & head br looking for more. br br I gave it. br br Squirt after br squirt br of cooling br spray br from the green br garden hose. br br Is it the end br of the world? br It seemed to ask. br This bliss, br is it Paradise? br br I bathed it br until we were both br washed clean br of the troubles br of this world br at least for this moment: br this moment of pleasure br of gecko br joy br as I with so much happiness br played Goddess br to Gecko.