Chapter Text
Prompt 1:
The miniature pet elephant became the envy of the neighborhood.
"I really don't get it," Oscar commented, observing the crowd from afar as they gathered in Beth's yard.
"Where's the mystery?", Rachel replied, preparing lunch for her roommate. "Small animals are cute. Small versions of big animals are cuter. Ergo, a pocket-sized elephant is bound to draw attention."
"It's not that," came a somewhat frustrated response, "it's just I wonder why there's so many of them now."
Rachel passed him a soda as she carried her turkey burger to the dining table. "I hadn't noticed," she said idly.
Oscar sipped from the bottle and joined her at the table, sitting opposite from her as the elephant began to play tug-of-war with the neighbors.
"First there was that sneezing baby panda," he recited. "Then there was interview with the baby rhino that became a meme. Then there was that 'Moo-Dang' baby hippo, and now there's a frikkin' dwarf elephant next door!"
He threw up his hands in exasperation. "What's next?! Pygmy giraffes driving a bus? Someone lets a baby zebra explore a children's hospital? Private pool party with a pocket sperm whale?!"
Rachel chuckled at Oscar's exaggerated response. "I think you're blowing it up a little bigger than it actually is," she replied between her laughs. "Ever since humans have first domesticated wolves, we've obsessed with small or baby animals. It's always been a thing, we're just more exposed to it thanks to the internet."
"I guess," her roommate admitted, taking another sip. "I dunno, I just think maybe it's a bit much, isn't it? I can't be the only one who's wondering why they're suddenly so much more frequent, can I?"
"Eh, maybe," Rachel answered. "I still think it would've happened sooner or later, all the same. Telecommunications are a curse as much as they are a blessing, I suppose."
She took a bite of the burger, chewing it a few times thoughtfully. "...did you cook these all the way?"
Oscar shrugged. "I cooked 'em the same I cook normal burgers. I have no idea, my first time grilling turkey."
"Hmm... maybe we should try leaving 'em in for longer next time..."