I was brought along for the baptism the following week, watching from Joan’s arms and remembering my baptism at the same church… in this life, of course, not my last. I recalled spitting water after some of it accidentally got in my snout. This time, the Priest literally just plops Olivia into the bowl. I freeze up, yet all of the adults look on as if nothing was out of the ordinary, even the Halfords themselves, smiles on their snouts as they watch from the side. It took me a moment to realize that Olivia was fine… better than fine in fact and actually swimming around in the bowl as her tail paddled and splashed water. She then approached the edge, nubby claws grasping onto the metal side as her constantly warry eyes seemed to scan the gathered folk, giggles and laughter breaking out amongst the crowd before the priest picked her back up. Guess this meant she was holy now or something, I don’t know. But I also guess, that most importantly, it meant that Edward and Joan were officially Olivia’s godparents now. Achievement Unlocked Potty Trained. Fucking finally. But that was old news, a year having gone by already. I’m 2 years old, close to 3, having joined the ranks of being a proper kid, able to walk around the house without too much supervision. But I don’t put that privilege to use at the moment, instead using my time to sit on the couch and enjoy family movie time with Edward and Joan… School of Rock on DVD, about a pudgy caveman teaching a bunch of kids in a strict school to play music. It was a good movie, with a happy message and a happy ending. Embrace your talents. Overcome your insecurities. All the students go back to their proud parents. Alive … Why the hell was it bothering me so much? I must have made my displeasure known with the turn of my head when the credits rolled in, Edward taking notice. “What’s wrong, Buddy? You didn’t like it?” “I-” I paused, realizing it would be better to just lie to avoid any more discussion about it. “It was good.” He paused for a moment, before placing a gentle hand on my shoulder… and as if on instinct, I reacted by slowly leaning my head against the side of his torso, feeling the soft gaze of Joan to my right. Maybe it was from all the time I had already spent with them, maybe I was just fooling myself… But I guess, in a way… I really liked being their son. The Agos’s were caring and kind and didn’t just treat me like an extra mouth to feed and a future projected cost, but actual proper family. It made me think… think about my decision back in the hospital. Was I really going to repay them by being a child that would amount to nothing? I closed my eyes, letting out a soundless sight from my snout. I had to. I just had to… for everyone. Another year, and I’m 4 years old now. So far I’ve spent the start of it wasting away in preschool, sticking to my own and getting a feel of being unseen. The only times I ever really try to ‘participate’ is when the teacher puts all of the gibbering and excited dinokids in for a group activity, just to at least show that I was socializing and didn’t need any special treatment… But as of now, I’m currently spending it in the back of our family car, buckled tightly in a child safety seat. “Where are we going?” I ask as the car rumbles, the plains of the Dinofornia desert racing past the window. Joan looks back from the passenger seat. “We’re going to see my uncle.” She then emphasized, “Your granduncle, Frank.” Frank… that therizinosaur from the party, who also had cops apparently called on him in the past. I tilted my head, deciding to exploit the typical childish naivety of asking rude questions. “Why?” “Because he’s having a fun gathering at Joe’s garage.” My mom answered, “And since I noticed the address was close to the Halford’s, your father decided to invite them as well.” Edward nodded behind the wheel before pausing, “By the way, Joan…” He briefly peered, “Who’s Joe?” … Oh, man. Edward was 20 years too early, otherwise, he would have gotten absolutely fucking destroyed by a modern-day 12-year-old for asking that question. We finally reach the suburbs after a couple of minutes, cookie-cutter houses whizzing past the window before we come to a stop, arriving at the clear destination with a multitude of cars parked out front. I unhook the seat belt harness on my own, clambering off the chair just in time for my mom to open the door, allowing me to drop down and land on the road, walking beside the two of them. Joan reaches for my claw… and I grasp it, approaching the driveway to see it filled with dinosaurs, all milling about with red cups, and a few boxes of pizzas on a nearby table with a couple of quarts of beer, the open garage- I paused. There was a band in the small garage, the drum set literally smushed up beside an antique-looking car with a mashed-up door, a cheesy little amp at the forefront. Frank was leaning off the side of the hood of the car, testing the tuning of his age-old-looking guitar, almost looking as if he had fished it out of a bargain sale back in the 80s. He then noticed my mother approach, beak curving into a smile. “Joan, good to see you.” “Fraaank.” She happily greeted as the two hugged, guitar still hanging by a strap from his shoulders. I wasn’t sure about this anymore, something unsettled in my chest as I looked at the crowd and at the instruments… a strange feeling itching beneath my scales. Frank then moved on to my father, shaking his head with a smile on his beak, “Thanks for coming, Ed.” He then looked down at me, “Oh man, you’re gonna outgrow me, little guy.” “... Hope I do.” I reply, not even in any joking sort of way, knowing the height of the typical compsognathus… “Ha! You’re real funny lil’ Anon.” Frank then turned toward the door that led into the house, “Here, come along. Joe and I set up some stuff in the dining room for the kids to play around with until we got ready.” “Oh, you didn’t need to do that for us.” Joan gasped. “It’s fine. Figured I would since that Halfords were also coming with their own kid.” He grinned, “Gotta say, Olivia is a real central scrutinizer. Think I was just about to spill the beans on the location of my LSD st-” He then stopped, “Oop, sorry. Forget I said anything.” … I guess I found Reed’s spirit dino. The four of us entered inside, a chipped dining table in the center and a lamp with a broken bowl hanging from the ceiling up top. But other than that, the place looked nice and tidy, the Halfords were sitting on the other side as I lifted my snout to spot Olivia sitting between them, torso level with the table after being given a bunch of cushions to sit on top of. She had grown up a lot since I last saw her, no longer a baby but a kid like me now, wearing a short sleeve with blue overalls and now with short green head-length hair, her gold-grey eyes completely engrossed on the piece of paper before her. The small baryonyx was drawing, a few colored pencils scattered on a portion of the table, her tiny claws occasionally switching out a pencil before continuing, completely focused on her own little word. That must’ve been nice, to just forget about the real one… the one that doesn’t give a shit about you. We greeted the Halfords and exchanged pleasantries, Mr. Halford marveling at how much I had grown since they had last seen me, Mrs. Halford lightly and gently pinching my cheek. Finally, we all sat down, except for Olivia, who had remained seated to continue drawing, Frank digging through a box of random musical equipment. Mrs. Halford looks to Olivia, a smile on her snout. “Olivia?” Olivia looked up, eyes half-lidded with suspicion as if already knowing what her parents were going to ask… and having decided that she wasn’t going to like it. “Why don’t you show what you’re drawing to-” Olivia suddenly clutched the paper against her chest, vigorously shaking her head and rustling her hair. “No!” She yelled, an angry frown on her snout and face. Well, that answered that. The adults smiled as Joan waved a claw down. “Aw, she’s shy!” “Yeah, stubborn too.” Edward smiled, looking at Mr. Halford. “Just like her pop.” The male baryonyx laughed out, his snout curling into a grin. “Ha! You fu- I mean-” The murderous glance of Mrs. Halford seemed to remind her husband to watch his language around the children, even though I already knew what he was about to say. “Er… good observation, Ed.” Olivia seemed to suspiciously regard the adults around her, trying to suss out any ill-intent before stopping to scan me for a moment, the only other kid in the room. My snout was shut closed as I stared back, a second passing before she finally seemed to release her frown, returning back to her paper to draw upon it. A definite sign of a future introvert in the making. Not that I would be any better… “Ah, found it!” Frank exclaimed, “Hey, Anon. Got something for you.” I turn my head. And freeze up. It’s a tiny acoustic guitar, meant for the claws of a kid, the wood slightly scratched it but otherwise fine as Frank smiled, the edges of his beak tilted. “Found it on the side of the street the other day. You wanna try plucking a few strings, Anon?” No. No, I didn’t. But any word I was going to say got stuck in my throat, snout shut tight as my parents answered for me. “Why of course, just to have him try it!” Joan excitedly says, looking at me. “See if you can use it dear.” ALERT ALERT ALERT And yet, I was given no reason as to why, why my entire body was in sudden alarm and completely locked up, frozen as cold as my scales. It was like never before too, deafeningly loud as my parents, the Halfords… and even granduncle Frank were tuned out, their voices like water in my ears as the world outside kept moving on. The guitar is suddenly placed against my chest, my shaky claws grasping onto it, my tail pointed straight up in agitation, the tip bumping against the cross rail of the chair. Fine. I could do it. Just pluck a string and give it back. Just pluck a string. Just… You wanna try? Something bangs against the ground. I blink, the guitar no longer in my claws… but clattered face down against the floor and underneath the table. Everyone is looking at me, even Olivia who had been startled by the noise, having ceased her writing to stare at me with a raised eye. I feel a warm claw on my shoulder, somehow not flinching, seeing the suddenly concerned look of Edward… “Anon? Are you-?” “Toilet.” “You want me to-?” I immediately hop off the chair and rush to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and turning on the lights, the momentary pause allowing me to hear Frank’s muffled voice speak up outside. “When you gotta go you gotta go.” I could hardly reach the sink, but that didn’t matter, collapsing to a kneel as my claw reached my chest. My heart was beating like a machine gun, my snout struggling to breathe in air. Come on- What is- I swallow, gritting my sharp teeth and getting my thoughts under control. What the fuck was wrong with me? This had to be some side effect of being a kid again, surely? After all, this-... this had never happened to me before, not once… And yet… Why did I get the feeling it was going to happen again at some point? A knock on the door almost makes me jump, my mother’s voice calling. “Anon, Dear? Are you alright in there?” “M’fine.” I answer, too quick and too instant to be anything but. Fortunately, my mother doesn’t pick up on it, pausing for a few moments before speaking up again. “Frank wants to show us and the Halfords around the place. Do you want us to wait for you?” “No.” “... Are you sure? “Yes.” “Okay, Dear. You can stay inside with Olivia while she draws.” I then hear her move away from the door, walking off as the voices outside begin to disperse. After waiting for about half a minute, I finally gathered the nerve to open the bathroom door, peering outside to make sure all the adults had left. Air escapes my snout through a heavy sigh, slowly exiting back into the dining room, Olivia pays zero attention to me, still drawing on her piece of paper, making me wonder just what she was making that her so focused. … The guitar is by my chair, prompted up against it after someone had picked it up from the floor. That cold feeling beneath my scales returned, my instinct and thoughts urging me to turn away. If it didn’t make me feel good, then wasn’t the best option to cut it out of my sight? To cut it out of my entire life? I didn’t need this… And yet… My eyes narrowed, snout tightening, tail furiously waving. I was just really tired of letting it. Before I knew it, my claw had grabbed onto the neck as if I intended to choke it before tugging it into my chest, turning it sideways and sitting off the side of the chair. And then I furiously strummed, tail wagging in metronome. Something simple! Something confident! Something random! Simple! Confident! Random! Simple. Confident. Ran- Somewhere I realized… strumming those three notes… Those three had been the catalyst of Fang’s aria. For just a single moment, I wasn’t here, but back there, in her room, as she taught me to strum, her warm claws guiding my own from behind and head beside mine, an unconscious smile on her snout. I pause my strumming to blink away tears from my eyes, the tick-tock of a nearby clock on the wall reminding me where I actually was. And just like that, the world had already moved on. I was back in the depressing ringer that was reality as a salty droplet trailed down to the beginning of my snout. It was over. I bring a clothed arm up to wipe my eyes, resisting the urge to sniffle before lowering my arm. Olivia is standing right in front of me. Shit! I almost fell off the chair, the kiddy guitar meeting another unfortunate trip against the floor and producing a clattering bang, potentially earning another scratch on the wood. Olivia is staring at me… but not with the suspicious narrowed look that she seems to give most folks… but something else, her gold-grey eyes open as if analyzing me with thought. A few tense seconds pass as I remain clutching the arms of my chair before she produces something from her overall pocket, holding it out. It was a piece of paper, ripped from a greater sheet. Did she want to ta-? She tilted her head back, opening her snout as if to let out a frustrated sigh, only that it was completely silent, before outright plastering the paper against my chest with a shove, my eyes wide as I fell back and tumbled right off the chair. I land on my butt, snout curling with pain before hearing something. “Pfft-!” It was from Olivia, her snout shut closed yet cheeks inflated and eyes wide, claw at the end of her snout to keep it closed. It took me a moment to realize that she had almost burst into laughter at my brief slapstick and misfortune, her eyes wide before normalizing as if remembering she was meant to be angry. “There!” Olivia scoffed before turning away with an annoyed harumph, murmuring to herself as climbed back up onto her seat. I look down, opening up the ripped sheet. … It was a green dinosaur, me I figured, sitting with a guitar and surrounded by floating green musical notes, one of the quarter notes patting my shoulder as if to offer comfort if the motion lines indicated anything. But most surprising… There was a smile on my snout, my eyes gently closed. A three-year-old drew this? It actually looked genuinely good, not disjointed or wildly disproportioned like the typical kiddy drawing, with even details like my small shirt and pants put on instead of some featureless body. I stand up atop the chair, looking at Olivia, noticing the piece of paper she had been working on now missing a ripped portion, clearly being where she had drawn me. Her eyes briefly peered up at me peering back down, focusing on her drawings. I sit back down, staring at the paper, the tick-tock of the clock still going on. But the drawing… That remained the same, an unchanging piece of art that would remain the same even after time went on… Because someone who cared had made it. And for the first time ever since I was reborn, I thought about before… of the good times that were had… Of Fang. I smiled… because it had happened. Suddenly, I heard another door in the house slam shut, my parents and the Halfords moving with urgency as Frank followed behind them at a casual pace. “Come on, Anon. We gotta go.” My father hurriedly said, an anxious look on his face and snout. I blink, “But the piz-” “We’ll get pizza on the way back.” He assured. I clamber off the seat, wondering what the rush is before hearing it. There were Police sirens outside, a loudspeaker calling out and muffled through the windows. “ This is the police! Give yourself u- ” Holy fucking shit. Grandpa wasn’t lying. I didn’t even know what Frank might have done to incur a raid on the house, if anything, it seemed it was just a common occurrence. Regardless, I wasn’t going to stay and find out, booking it alongside my parents through the backdoor. Mr and Mrs. Halford had picked up Olivia, who through the whole ordeal, was still trying to draw on her paper, squirming uncomfortably in their claws. Frank waved with his sharp claws as we ran, a smile on his beak. “See you all next time… once I’m out of prison again.” We get back to our cars just in time, thankfully not parked near the driveway as mom loads me into the child seat, buckling me up before pausing. Slowly, a smile rises on her snout. “You brought the guitar Anon?” I blink before looking to see the kiddy guitar firmly grasped in my claw. … Yeah, I guess I did. Year 5 of being a dinosaur. I don’t know what I’m doing. “Okay, now try this.” I don’t know how I’m doing this. “Good, good. Now strum.” I don’t know why I’m doing this. “You’re a natural Anon! Now just repeat it for the magic 3!” But I’m learning to play guitar… for real this time, after mom and dad set up some afterschool programs, using the exact same beaten-up kiddy acoustic to practice and learn. Maybe I just figured that I had nothing else better to do with my time. Wasn’t like I was learning much in class, except for the Einsteinian equations of 2 + 2 = 4… My tutor, a lambeosaurus wearing a tacky t-shirt, looks super impressed. “Let’s play ‘Old Man Hammond Had a Park’ again? Whattya say?” I nod, resisting the urge to roll my eyes before we start, able to keep up with my teacher pretty well despite my small claws, attuning to the general rhythm while my tutor shows off with a multitude of single notes and plucks to emphasize the song. Once the lesson’s done, my mother comes over to pick me up, moving through the parking lot as I bring my guitar. “How was the lesson today? Did you like it?” Joan asks “It was good.” I simply answer, leaving it at that as we arrive at the car. She was just about to unlock the door before receiving a call, reaching into her other pocket to produce a flip phone, briefly checking the number before answering. "Hello, Ed-... Wha-?" Joan paused again, freezing up as I looked up at her, my mom slowly raising a claw to cup the end of her snout, stifling whatever sound she was going to make as her tail rose up in alarm. “-Oh… O-Oh my god… Are they-... Yes, I’m bringing Anon back right now… Okay, I’ll see you soon.” She hung up, closing the phone before quickly opening the door to the back. I looked up at her, tilting my head as I asked. “Mom? What’s going on?” “Just- Just some bad news, don’t worry dear.” Joan explained it off, urging me to climb up as I did so, buckling myself in. By the time we got back, it was sunset. Our car pulled into the garage before coming to a stop. I unbuckled and climbed from the seat to open the car door, closing it behind me as my mother waited by the entrance. We both enter. The house is silent, the only noise being the tick-tock of the clock on our dining room wall. Dad is sitting in the living room, staring at the screen of the inactive TV. The shades of the windows are closed, leaving lines of orange light to slightly illuminate the dark area. I noticed the house phone on the side table was unlatched, constantly beeping from a deadline. “... Ed?” My mother asks, her voice growing shaky. Edward is facing away… but I can see the bare trace of a reflection on the TV screen… a blank, dead expression on his face and snout. He responded. “Just got the news.” His voice is hoarse. “They're both gone, Joan.” Another second before his shoulders slouched, slowly doubling over as air seemed to try to escape his shut muzzle, my mother rushed forward to the couch before hugging him tightly from behind. And I just stood there… watching as the world went on. It was later that night that I learned that the Halfords got into a horrible car accident. Olivia made it out with a scraped knee. Mr. and Mrs. Halford didn’t.