“I’m bored.”
Todd turned towards Greta as he rebuttoned his pants. The 6 year old croc girl was now sitting in a chair, swinging her legs underneath her as she gazed around the janitors office. Todd rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he looked her over. Greta seemed to be reverting to her childish personality quicker than he had thought. Gone was the girls gruff exterior replaced now with the childish annoyance. Todd now curiously looked at Greta, scientific curiousity was outweighing his desires. He wanted to know just how much of her adulthood she remembered, if any.
“Gretta can you tell me about the cage your in,” Todd asked.
Gretta frowned as she now looked towards Todd. The girls expression was absolutely adorable as she furrowed her brow. “I don’t like it,” she pouted. “All the monkey kids touch me all the time, it’s scary.”
Todd nodded, Gretta couldn’t remember the pen she shared with her mate Fred. “So your in an open pen,” Todd asked. Gretta nodded her tiny head, sighing as she now thought of her home. “Yeah,” she groaned. “I see all the monkeys like you come in all the time with the smaller monkeys. They’re loud and scare me all the time.”
“So you don’t like it,” Todd asked. Gretta shook her head, shivering slightly. “It’s scary,” she whimpered once more. “All these monkeys keeping poking me all the time. My skin is really, really ticklish, not like grown ups. All those hands poking me hurt me.”
“Sorry Gretta,” Todd whispered. The tiny croc girl could only nod, hanging her head shyly. Todd had never considered what a terrifying experience a petting zoo must be for someone so young. The girl sat in an open cage as children poked and prodded the girl all day. He could understand why the adult Gretta would be so grumpy, ever since her childhood humans had not treated her kindly. Slowly approaching the young girl Todd now patted her head.
“I’m sorry all those people scared you Gretta,” he said softly. Gretta seemed comforted by Todd’s gesture, raising her head and giving Todd what he could only assume was a smile. “Thank you,” she said meekly.
As Todd stepped back Gretta began to hum as she swung her small legs. “Can I ask a question,” she asked sweetly. “Of course,” Todd said. Gretta looked up at Todd with a quizzical look. “Why do the big monkeys carry the smaller ones on their shoulders?”
“What do you mean,” Todd asked. “Well,” Gretta sighed. “I always see the big monkeys carrying the little ones on their shoulders. I don’t know why but the little ones always look like they are having fun. Is that something fun that monkeys do?”
Todd was confused for a moment before it dawned on him what Gretta was talking about. “Oh a piggy back ride,” he exclaimed. “Yeah parents do that for their kids all the time.”
“Why,” Gretta asked curiously.
Todd shrugged, how could explain this to someone that wasn’t human. “Well Gretta,” he said stoically. “Parents like to do that for their kids because they love them. Kids love to be picked up all the time by their parents, it makes them feel safe.”
“Oh,” Gretta said quietly. The 6 year old croc girl now remained quiet as she seemed to ponder what Todd was saying. “Can you pick me up,” she said timidly. “Are you sure,” Todd asked, slightly surprised. Gretta nodded quietly, turning her eyes up towards Todd. “Yeah,” she said. “I want to feel safe.”
Tod approached the young girl slowly as she gazed up at him. Carefully he now cradled the girl, hoisting her up onto his shoulders so that she now sat perched upon them. Gretta gasped, throwing her arms around Todd’s head as she tried to gain her bearings. After a few tense moments, Todd could feel the croc girl begin to relax. “How you feeling Gretta?”
“Wow,” she whispered. “This is nice....and fun.” Todd heard the girl giggle softly as she now balanced herself on his shoulders. Todd grinned at this childish display, it seemed like Grettas mind had completely reverted back to its childish mentality once more. “Gretta how old are you?”
“I’m six,” she said, still holding onto Todd’s head tightly.
“Weren’t you older?”
“Your being silly monkey man,” the girl giggled. “I’m six, I’ve always been six. You ask really silly questions, now can we go have fun or get something to eat? I’m hungry.”
“Sure Gretta,” Todd said softly. A small childish hooray escaped the croc girls lips as she hugged Todd’s head tightly. Todd for his part was amazed. Gretta had mentally regressed to her six year old personality. Gone was the grumpy croc woman who had endured years of abuse, instead replaced by an innocent croc girl, scared of people but not filled with the type of hatred the adult Gretta was. Todd now wondered what to do with the young croc girl, let her experience some fun or return her to her adult form.