After the Big Bang

MONSTER MASH

 

The earth shakes. Roaring lions run thru the blue white clouds. I walk behind my father knowing I am safe. Pink  and white clouds float aimlessly toward the snow-capped purple mountains. It is a calm, lovely day until a bolt of silver lightning zig zags over the eucalyptus trees. In one big flash flames engulf them. I believe I hear them crying as they disappear in black dust. The Lightning God is pleased.  My father is not. He has his big eyes on those trees, turns his giant horned head to be sure our tree lunch is gone. I almost frozen in fright. I scratch the earth with my small horn . Rex, the Mighty moves on with me trying to go faster.

 

My father is our leader. He is the oldest, biggest, strongest of our family. I am the youngest, weakest, still suckling my mother. His one tooth is much bigger than I am. My mother walks with the other lady Rexes while my father sinks his teeth into a lepidoptortist, slays it with one vicious bite. He eats almost the whole thing but leaves two hind legs for my mother. With that short rest, we trudge on. My father is still hungry. He is always hungry. He leads us down toward the river. The sun is still warm.

 

The earth shakes again. My father is still hungry. We plod through rocky places, wet and treeless places until he sees a baby mononykus, grabs it in his mighty jaw and swallows it whole. Two more don't see what happened and walk right into Rex's mouth. They disappear except for the feet and leg bones that are left for later or until my mother can get them.

 

The red sun and the shiny moon watch us. Animals run when they hear from far away Rex 's jolting steps. If they can run, jump they do but 20, 30, 40 steps are not as big as one of my father's. There is less and less to eat. He can smell food. We wander. A few baby Rexes, about my size, disappear. My mother, the one who still cares for me, feeds me, has moved on. Where she used to be behind Rex, only I walk and have to climb over bones that may be my mother's. I am thirsty. I am hungry, see no food, taste no mother. My father's big head looks behind him, sees something to eat.  He is not particular.

 

What he sees is me.