The Pet Dinosaur
My name is Atlas. Willow Atlas. And I'm one of the few, or perhaps the only one, with a pet dinosaur. But, hey, dinosaurs disappeared a long time ago, you might say. Maybe.
But if you haven't noticed, look around me. This isn't a normal house. And I'm not an ordinary being. I'm the witch's son.
And this is my mom, the great witch of the north, the famous and powerful, rigorous Audrey Willow.
— Ha! The golden frog! It disappeared in 1989. Look who's back! Hee hee hee!
Yes. My mom has a strange passion for collecting creatures that have recently or centuries ago disappeared.
— Atlas! What are you doing with the great Uck? Don't you prefer a penguin? — But Mommy, he's so cute! — Son, he's a fossil now, long dead. — But he's alive! — Yes, because I went back in time and brought him here. Like all the animals here. One day I'll have my own sanctuary of extinct animals. And someday it will be the greatest theme park! Ha ha ha!
— But Mommy! — Ah, silence! Now I just need one creature. The biggest, the fiercest, and the most beautiful of them all.
— Um... a dinosaur, Atlas! A dinosaur! — But Mom... Ah! You should stop disappearing in the middle of a conversation! Ugh!
So, as you can see, that afternoon, while I was playing with my shadow, Mom appeared happier than ever.
I wonder if she was just as happy when I was born.
— Atlas! Look what I have here!
And then I saw it. The dinosaur egg.
— I stole it right from under the T-Rex mom's nose! Hee hee hee!
— Huh? T-Rex? — Oh, you caught on. Nothing better for my exotic sanctuary. Ha! — Mommy, it's starting to crack! — I see it! Abracadabra! Ee-ya, ee-ya, ee-yo! Inside!
And then I saw him for the first time. Like a bird hatching from an egg. And, oh my, he was adorable!
— Oh, look at him! He's so... — He's a predator. That's all. Don't get attached. — But what should we call him? — A T-Rex. That's all. Now study your potions. — Atlas! Now! — Ugh, yes, Mommy.
That evening I couldn't concentrate at all. My potions had become frightening.
— Oops! Excuse me. — Bless you. — Quiet!
I just wanted to see the poor little guy. So I snuck into Mom's lab and tiptoed towards the cage.
— Hey, little one! — Grrr! — Oh, look at you. Do you miss your mommy? Grrr! — Are you hungry? Grrr! — Here, take this. Grrr!
— Atlas! — Huh? — What do you think you're doing? — Um... I was just checking on Dino. — Dino? Since when do we call him that? — Um, I mean T-Rex. — Hm. Go to bed. All the carrots must be picked and washed early in the morning, before classes. Understood? — Yes, Mommy. — And Atlas, don't get too attached to these creatures. Especially the T-Rex, because he won't stick to you. He's a dangerous being.
— Huh? Dangerous being? That little one with such adorable eyes? Dangerous? Mommy really doesn't know anything.
The following week was ordinary. I woke up, washed the carrots, and then studied witchcraft. I watched Mom feed the animals like they were her own children. Except they were terrified of her.
As usual, I worried about Dino. I wished I could do something for him. And then...
— Take care of the house. Feed the animals. Don't take them out of their cages, no matter what. I'll be back in two weeks. Can I count on you, Atlas? — Yes, yes, Mommy. — Good.
When Mom left, I wandered around the house all day. Fed all the animals. Except Dino. He wasn't eating.
— Come on, Dino. Carrots are healthy. They're rich in fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants. — Grrr! — Oh, you want to get out of the cage, don't you?
And then I did it. Hoping nothing bad would happen and Mom would never find out.
— A duo! — Grrr! — Good boy, Dino.
It was wonderful! Me and my dinosaur.
— Dino, where are you? — Grrr! — Dino, no, we don't! — Huh?
I didn't realize that in just 12 days Dino had grown enormously.
— Dino, no!
Then I realized that Dino was no longer my dear T-Rex. And he had become a predator. I had to lock him up again. Mom had been right. She always is.
— I'm sorry.
That night I slept feeling guilty. But I was glad Mom would be there the next day. But my joy didn't last long.
— Huh?
And then I experienced the fright of my life. Dino had broken the cage and gotten out. His menacing predator eyes fixed on me.
— Di-di-Dino, no! Boy, no!
I thought that was it. I was done for. Then I found my wand.
— Huh? Abracadabra, ee-ya, ee-ya, ee-yo!
Then I did something really silly. It was close. I said Abracadabra, ee-ya, ee-ya, ee-yo again and wow!
I was, I was in the Mesozoic era. The period when dinosaurs grew and ruled the earth. About 60 million years ago.
And the boy was fascinating. For a moment I had forgotten I was in trouble. At that moment I was completely amazed.
— Wow!
And then suddenly...
— Huh? Di-di-Dino? Di-di-Dino little boy? — Yes, it was him. And his rage hadn't passed yet.
I swallowed hard, not knowing that something bigger was behind me. It was, it was the T-Rex mom.
— Oh, my! Oh, no!
I froze on the spot. I couldn't escape this. The son approaching from one side, and the mother from the other. Was this how I was going to end up 60 million years ago?
— Go back!
— Mommy! — Calm down, my child. Your mother is here. Calm down. — I'm sorry, Mommy! I didn't listen to you. I thought I was... — No, no, son. It's my fault. I should have known. Bringing a T-Rex wasn't a good idea. Also, I put the spell on your wand, fearing the T-Rex might threaten you and you'd send him back in time. I didn't think it would take you too. — No, Mommy! I pointed it at myself! — What did you do? Atlas! I was thinking of your well-being. Do you know how risky that was? I blame myself!
So yes, this is the story of me and my pet dinosaur. Well, dinosaurs can't be pets.
We must know that an animal's temperament cannot be changed. So, let's leave them in their habitat and not try to perceive them as anything other than what they are.
You see, Dino wasn't a bad guy. He was just a T-Rex. And a part of me still misses him. Maybe I'll go there again? What do you think?
— Atlas! — Yes, yes, Mommy!
