This is adapted from a recent Shoe cartoon (January 2000), and posted with permission.

If you like snakes, lizards, turtles, and such creatures, there is a chain of stores in Austin called Herpeton. Patrons can go in to be delighted by the contents, or they can bring in their spouses to be horrified. It all depends on the point of view and the inherent state of one’s salvation.

Recently, a particular disease was epidemic in this pet store. All of the animals became very torpid, they went off their diet, they could not be aroused, and if untreated, they eventually would die. Fortunately, the business was saved. Nowadays, we have very effective medicines for reptile dysfunction.