Later that evening, Brace told the boys about his adventures. The boys listened with great interest to the stories their ideal had to share. Soon, the day turned to night, and it was time for the boys to head home.

  “You really think what Brace said is true? I mean, are we unworthy of being his students?” Asked Spliff.

  The path to Axel and Spliffs home was lit by lampposts illuminating the blacktop and grass around them as they walked. The piece of the town was felt and shared with Axel and Spliff.

  “I dont know, dude. It's not like we would use what we learned for anything bad.” Said Axel.

  “I know, right?” Exclaimed Spliff, his friend understood the situation as he did. “He's just being too critical, but we'll get him to teach us one way or another. Anyway, I'm out of here. See you tomorrow, Axel!”

  “Ya see you later, Spliff.” Said Axel as he watched his friend disappear into the distance. He stood there for some time after Spliff was long gone and used the silence to think about Braces words and Spliffs question. Is messing around all the time really that big of a deal? I mean, it's not like I ever try to hurt anyone, so could I really be unworthy? Spliff says, "We'll, convince Brace to teach us anyway," but I im not so sure. Brace seems pretty serious when he tells us he won't.

  When Axel entered his home, he was surprised to see his mother standing in the living room.

  “You’re supposed to tell me if you won't be home before sundown, Axel.” Axel's mother was a single mother of one with long, thick black hair and light brown eyes. She was a cattle farmer — specifically, a farmer of a species called Chameleopuses, whose large eggs she would sell to townspeople for a living. The Chameleopus was a large reptile-type creature with a body similar to that of a Parasaurolophus, but with large chameleon-like eyes and horns.

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  “Sorry, Mom,” said Axel, who was telling the truth. He didn’t like to worry his mother and was aware she was more than fair with him. Always letting Axel and Spliff stay up late and have sleepovers.

  “Happy birthday, my son,” Axel's mom said, handing him a wrapped box. “Open it.”

  “Thanks, Mom,” Axel said, tearing off the wrapping paper. It was a Chameleopus egg. Something he'd see tens of thousands of times. It took Axel a second to understand what this meant, but his mother was allowing him to raise his own Chameleopus, and when Axel finally realized it, he couldn't believe it.

  “No way!” said Axel.

  “It's yours to raise on your own,” said Axel's Mother.

  “Thank you so much,” said Axel as he hugged his mom. “Can I go show Spliff?”

  “It's pretty late, Hunny. Why don't you show him at school tomorrow?”

  “Got it!” said Axel, looking down at his new egg with a smile. “Wait, Mom? How come you caged your mind? I mean, you told me last year I couldn't raise one.”

  “You and Spliff could use more friends. And god willing, this egg will hatch into something with enough sense to keep you and Spliff from getting in trouble all the time.” Axel's mom turned off the lights and walked away, but then remembered there was one more thing she wanted to tell Axel. “Oh, and Axel, you’ll need to raise it on your own; that means keeping it warm till it hatches, ok?”