Page 57 of Tino

“We messed that up and got ourselves a huge snake instead.”

I gasped. “He’ll never forgive you if he heard you call him that! He’s a mighty serpent,” I said loudly. “The best there ever was, and ever will be!” That had Tair laughing louder.

“Fine! We got a big, strong, loyal serpent. And now we need a goat.”

“We’re so not getting a goat!”

“But that was our plan! He can live outside with Leon and King.”

“No goats! I want a dog.”

He rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, a collie and it needs to be called Chipper because it’ll make you chipper.”

“I can’t believe you remember that! I only remember I wanted a collie.”

“I remember more and more each day. Like, I wanted Kitty the cat to be a red tabby. So now we need a red tabby, just with another name.”

“And with Mr. Fluffy Pants already taken…” I trailed off, not as good at naming pets as I used to be. “Oh! Honey!”

“Yes?”

“Not you! We can call her Honey!”

“Oh! I like that!”

“Because you love honey!”

“Yes, I got that much, thank you.”

I laughed and he joined me. “Now we just need names for the other ten pets we agreed on back when we were kids.”

He groaned, then moved his body so he was on top of me. “No more talking.” Then his lips met mine and I was truly home.

The End