Right of Passage

"When I was your age, my pet was alive, not these damn robots," he eyes the barking, tail-wagging machine suspiciously.

"I've heard this story a hundred times, Gramps! Why choose a pet that's just going to get old and die? And why not a dog?"

"Real dogs were outlawed. I'm lucky Dad found that legal loophole. You may think it's silly, but I even had him leash-trained!" The grandson rolls his eyes.

"Never could get him to lay eggs, though. Found out later, he was a boy. Best friend I ever had," sniffling. "I really loved that stupid organic chicken!"