Pet Paradise, Ganth Mall,
Iloth, Uranus, circa 3210
“Fetch! Good boy!”
“That’s when to start them,” Lord Veturan complimented the trainer/trader Daid-Et.
“Three-year-olds can be very trainable with the right routines.”
The little boy went over and sat at massive Lord Veturan’s feet, waiting for a treat. The Jarian Knight pulled out a thick cookie from a bag hanging from his side, and tossed it to the boy who deftly caught it with his mouth.
“Now off with you Ra Ra!” Daid-Et told the boy, as he skipped off with his cookie.
“What breed is he again?”
“Asian, my Lord. Comes from good stock. He’s got the blood of a couple of Chinese emperors of note.”
“But what kind of pet will he make?”
“A very entertaining one, My Lord, his breed is famous for their acrobatic powers and willingness to obey any command.”
“When will he be for sale?
“In one more year, great lord.”
“What else have you got that’s ready to go right now?” Lord Veturan inquired.
“Thank you for asking Lord. I have a set of twins from earth’s Zion Park in Utah, USA. They’re nine-years old and have had all of their shots.”
“Males, or females?”
“Males. They’ve were neutered two years ago and are very calm. They have good bone structure and will surely be very strong. Here’s their cage. Ne Ne…Obo…wake up! You have visitors!”
The two boys stood up while trying to wipe the sleep from their eyes.
“I see what you mean. Good bone structure. What kind of pets do they make?”
“The best, wise Lord. They’re known for their loyalty, strength, and playful disposition. As you know, twins are very hard to find these days.”
“How much?” Lord Veturan asked.
“For you kind sir, a mere 300 Uranium Qutreels.”
“You old bandit! Here’s 200 Uranium Qutreels. Have them delivered to my ship before nightfall.”
On the way back home to Saturn, Lord Veturan watched the two boys playfully wrestling over a toy he tossed to them. He thought about his wife and what a great birthday present he was bringing her.
He was hopeful they would live longer than the her last pet, who only made it sixty years. It was hard to part with the lovable beasts. They were almost like family.
As It Stands, humans could make good pets…with a little training.
The Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff 