31 July 2021

T’was the day before summer camp and all through the town, a commotion was blaring, for there was shopping abound. For Nicholas McCowan, the energy in the air was all the more palpable, for this was a day of grand excitement and adventure. He was finally getting a pet, a late birthday present to make up for his first time celebrating the occasion away from his family. Naturally, when his mother had informed him that they would be going to London a day earlier than necessary for the summer camp in order to select a pet to accompany him for his second year at Hogwarts, his younger siblings had exploded into an uproar. Cries of unfairness and how they too longed for pets of their own had carried through the house for the preceding week, with little sign of stopping. But as had become custom, those complaints had swiftly been ignored and little credence given to tantrums.

The real takeaway from such bouts of complaining and childlike frustration was that they had not been permitted to come into the shop. They had instead been dragged away to explore some part of the alley that did not relate to picking out a newfound animal companion, their father tasked with keeping the three overactive preteens busy for long enough for his wife to assist their eldest son with the selection of his pet.

The shop was quaint, and the old couple who beckoned the nervous-soon-to-be-second-year and his mother had the kind of warm smiles that made it feel homely in a way. Despite the little store more closely resembling a zoo than someone’s residence, it certainly felt like the latter, creating an interesting dynamic and atmosphere that was both electrifying and comforting.

For quite some time, Nicholas found himself looking from animal to animal, taken aback by the adorable creatures that adorned the floor. A playful grey kitten caught his eye for a moment, it’s tiny face staring back up at him, before another set of creatures entirely dragged away his intention.

The lizards were tiny, almost certainly relatively newly hatched, and the boy couldn’t help but find himself enamoured. They scurried around the terrarium in which they were housed with the awkward movement and gait of toddlers, crawling over one another and regularly falling off of the little climbs and rocks that dotted the enclosure. Nicholas was hardly familiar with lizards, he knew barely anything about reptiles at all, but there was something about the strange orange creatures that drew him in. Whether it was the fact that they seemed entirely content to take care of themselves, or the way in which their little jaws made them appear far cuter than such a fierce name like dragon would apply. He was decided, he wanted a bearded dragon.

“Mum, I think I know what I want,” The announcement was hardly necessary, for the woman knew immediately from the way he was acting which creature he would be taking.

Within a few moments, the pair had departed the store, the terrarium and materials required to keep the lizard caried dutifully by Siobhan. She had insisted upon it, Nicholas needed to bond with his little friend after all. Always such a stern boy, perhaps the little lizard would bring him out of his shell somewhat.

For the lizard was little, the runt of those that had been on offer, certainly no dragon. It was only fitting that its name should suit it’s shedding of such a role, a slaying of tradition, if one would. That and a decidedly simple name like George was simply too funny to pass up.

605 Words

What animal do you wish to purchase? Baby Bearded Dragon
What do you want to name it? George
Is this a boy or a girl? Boy
What is your pet's date of birth? 25 June 2021

Congratulations on your new friend, George! Take good care of him, I'm sure he will make a wonderful companion.