Page 53 of Pinch

I always knew you were a rebel. What is it?

Haddy

An axolotl.

Gavin

WTF is that?

Haddy

Only the cutest little sea creature ever to live! Google it. I’ll wait.

I do wait.

Gray dots float across the screen.

I wait a little longer, then his answer appears.

Gavin

It’s smiling… Is that for real? That’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen. Is it a lizard? What is it?

Warmth floods my insides, and I’m grinning as I reply.

Haddy

It’s a paedomorphic salamander.

Gavin

Okay, smarty pants, WTF does that mean?

Haddy

Paedomorphic means it retains juvenile features. Basically, it’s a cute little salamander that never grows up.

Gavin

Is that bad? It seems really cute.

Haddy

I don’t think it minds being a Peter Pan lizard

Gavin

Are those little things around its head whiskers?

Haddy

They’re gills. It never grows out of them.

Gavin

And you got this because…

Haddy