"I cook cause not all the kids in the house or cool like us. I try feeding Kian something frozen and the little b*****d scratches the s**t out of me." He grinned a little, lanky shoulders rising and falling in his excuse.

Then came the gift. His grin only grew, taking it and his hand gave Diacyns head a shiny, affectionate rub. "Yes. You'll be TALL. You better be. Or I'll chuck the mouse at you, ok?"

"Bye Taylor! And I will!" Another wave to Taylor and the woodpecker was gone. Whoopah!