Iguana's tail missing!

As my boyfriend and I stepped through the large glass doors of the local mall, we had a lightness about us. We were on a mission. I needed, okay - I wanted a pet... and in no way did I want it to be the normal cat and dog or even bird or ferret. This had to be original, because afterall... I am an original! The pet store was heard much sooner than it was seen, with the oohs and ahhhs of the shoppers just as much as the yips from puppies and shrieks of birds. Finally, we rounded the corner, and I was face to face with my new pet. I could feel it in my bones as I stared in to the slightly odd eyes of a very moderate sized iguana. He seemed as nervous as I was at forming this new relationship. The lady working at the store carefully removed him from his tank and held him as she
gave me my instructions. I was in no way, shape, or form to grab him by the tail. Easy enough! My boyfriend held him first. Cradeling his long body in one arm and gently stroking him with the other hand.

They looked so calm and cute that I was just shaking with anticipation. The moment of truth.. it was my turn. As he handed him over, the iguana shot off.... jumping like a skydiver - with
his graceful tail flowing out behind him. I did it. It was just a reaction. I grabbed onto his tail - but he kept going - destined to hide in the store, while I held the wiggling tail in my hand. I still believe it marked me for life. I'm still horrified when I think of the severed tail laying on the floor in spasms with no iguana securely fastened to the end of it. It took about an hour to get
him back, and that's with the store employees, my boyfriend, and I blocking exits to the rest of the mall and chasing after him. I did end up taking him home. I figured that one, I owed it to the little guy, and two, if he has that much spunk - he was destined to be in my family.