The Last Dinosaur on Earth
Diocesan Girls’ Junior School, Faddis Jasmine, Fiction: Group 2
I
worked as a miner in Gobi Desert. If it wasn’t for the income, I wouldn’t have been a miner.
My parents and I barely had enough to survive. I worked long days and felt lonely and
miserable. The other miners were indifferent, and we seldom talked about ourselves. One day
something peculiar happened.
We were digging a new mine when my shovel hit something hard. I picked it up. It looked like
a chicken egg but was much bigger! I hid it in my toolbox and continued working.
Night came. I quietly snuck the toolbox back to my shabby home. Although I was exhausted,
the queer egg kept me wide awake. I shut all the windows, making sure that no one saw it. I
examined the egg—it had little patches and dark green spots. “Hmm…strange egg…” I thought. As
I held the egg cautiously in my hands, I felt its warmth. I put it close to my nose and sniffed it. “It
is just an ordinary egg,” I yawned. I put it aside and went to sleep.
One month passed and winter hit the desert again. It was a bleak winter’s day and the biting
wind had forced the mine to shut down. I was tidying when I heard a cracking sound and spotted
the wobbling egg. Suddenly, a small head poked out! It had two horn-like things on its head. “A
dinosaur!” I cried excitedly. I decided to call it Jade because it was green. It looked at me with
big round adorable eyes. I found some milk and fed it. Jade gulped it down hungrily. Jade had
invigorated my solitary life.
Every day after work, I would sprint home to feed Jade. I would make sure that the door
and windows were shut so as not to scare my neighbours. Spring came and it became warmer. I
surreptitiously looked around the house and decided to let Jade enjoy a bit of sunbathing.
“Good lord! Is…is that a dinosaur?” I jumped to my feet at the voice. I swiftly hid Jade behind
my back, but it was too late.
“It’s …it’s just...a pet!” I replied apprehensively.
“Can I hold your …‘pet’?” asked the man anxiously. I hesitated. He looked very rich, wearing
a black belt decorated with precious stones. Warily, I handed Jade over. He squinted at Jade and
examined it as if he were a professional.
“Young lad, where did you get this Allosaurus from?”
“From the mine. How’d you know it’s an Allosaurus?”
“I’m a zoologist. In fact, I’m a collector of rare animals. The desert isn’t a suitable habitat for
the Allosaurus. Why don’t you sell it to me? I can provide it with a suitable home. Say, for ten
thousand dollars?”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Really? Are you sure?”
“Of course!” said the zoologist, “This species is one of a kind!” I put Jade into its cage and
handed it to the zoologist. He gave me a huge wad of money. “Thank you!” He snatched the cage
from me and drove off.
Staring at the bundle of notes, the thrill disappeared. What if the zoologist didn’t know Jade’s
special diet? What if Jade refused to eat and starved? After much pondering, I decided to return
the money in exchange for Jade. I hopped on my motorbike to catch up with the zoologist.
The zoologist had stopped in a dark wet alley. I hid behind a lamppost.
“Such a fool that lad is! This Allosaurus will definitely bring us a huge fortune!” the
