Some time before...
On the condemned front porch of his dead friend, Joseph watched the autumn sunset with Betsy.
Olive green feathers with highlights shimmered in the gold and orange light. A contented rumble contributed to Joseph being at ease.
When he began affecting Abe's rustic accent, it sounded forced but now the lazy drawl made him a born-and-bred local who'd plausibly affirm his geneaology back to 1621. 1/x
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Embers scattered as he knocked his pipe. "Yanno Betsy, ol' Abe #instilled an 'preciation of the mary jahn." He packed the bowl. Sparked the bowl. Took a big hit then blew smoke at his scaly friend. First she snapped the air, but distant thunder caught her attention.
Over the dark treetops, heads of titanosaurs meandered south.
"Donchew get na idears, girly. They'sa soon be stompin yah a'fore ye be nippin' they ankles."
Another flame. A deep toke.
Joseph raised his pipe to Abe. 2/x
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"Youin' a right bastid, Gilman." Joseph recalled how Gilman caught him sneaking a toke only to be chewed out for not asking in the first place.
He smiled for his friend rounded him out as a human.
"Miss ya's sumptin' powa'fo, Abe."
Betsy stood, eyes flashed before dancing off into the dark.
"Doan go ta far, Betsy" he laughed, "I'm too stonedta chase ye doon."
Every limb was loose. He stared at the ceiling. A bird's nest stuck out of a hole. "Deya coman tomorra ta wreck the place." 3/x
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With the grace of a baby giraffe, he stood on a barrel and took down the nest, "Ah jeez, eggs."
He cradled the nest, "You kint stay heah, babies. And where's ye momma?"
He shut his eyes and sighed at the prospect of bringing the eggs to term alone. Then again, it was what Abe would do and it was still his land.
With care, he carried the nest home along the recently paved road. Two lengths back, Betsy shadowed her friend. 4/x
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Didn't take long for his eyes to adjust to the moonlight. He blew warm air on the eggs.
"Abe woulda wanted it this way" he whispered. "Ne'er met a critter he din't like. Reckon he'd also of liked ye."
It was a good life, even if it was going nowhere.
As much as he would dote upon these tiny eggs, his heart ached for someone to dote upon him. Looking up, he muttered "Someday." 5/5
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@tobadzistsini

"With the grace of a baby giraffe" 😁 Like that very much.