After Grandpa Spoon had that conversation with me I had a renewed interest in the world outside my sister's backyard. Was my situation more common than I was led to believe? I needed more information to assess the current situation and that requires internet access. I had several choices on how to do this. I could just ask my sister to use her smartphone to look for what i wanted to know, but I didn't want to let her in on my secret friendship rendezvous yet. She wouldn't care but its more thrilling if I hide it from her for now. I could ask Carlos, but he would probably tell Jessica he helped me and she would be annoyed I didn't just ask her to begin with. I could just borrow my sister phone with out her knowing. That could work, but she probably has a lockscreen. Caitlyn has a tablet she uses to play kids games but it would have a child mode filter on it. That could work. I'm not planning on looking up anything mature. I snuggled in my bed as I thought about my plan.

I awoke the next morning to Caitlyn knocking on my igloo's roof. Jesus, does the kid not have the subtlety to just leave the food by the door and let an armadillo sleep in? I roll over and see her crouched down looking at me through the door way with those doe eyes. I yawn towards her to attempt to frighten her with my teeth. She just furrows her brow continuing to stare at me. With that failing I exhale sharply at the end of my yawn to blow my bad morning breath into her face. It has the desired effect as she scrunches up her face and stumbles backwards. "You smell like doodoo!" she exclaims holding her nose. I lazily start to crawl out of my igloo. Spoon didn't keep me up that late last night did he?

After fully exiting my house I walk over my water dish. Looking at a small leaf floating in it I use my paw fish it out. Drinking some I notice the leaf left a nice hint of flavor in it. I slap a paw into the bowl and splash some on my face. Caitlyn giggles as i rub the wet paw across my face. Then I place my foot on the edge of the bowl and press down dumping out the remaining water. Pushing the bowl towards her I tap it's side like a drum while staring at her. She gets the hint and picks it up to get me a refill. It's surprising how much I order this kid around without actually talking to her. As she walks to the water sigot on the side of the house I use the time to eat a few bites of my breakfast. When she returns, walking slowly to balance the water in the bowl, she places it back where it goes. I slurp up some to wash my breakfast down.

Time for my plan. I sit on my haunches and raise my arms in the classic 'pick me up, mommy' pose. Caitlyn smiles glad that I wasn't just going to be a jerk to her today.  She reaches down and picks me up. Carrying me on her hip like a baby she walks to the house. I usually never ask her to carry me around unless I don't feel well. But I need the height to look around on the end tables and coffee tables for that tablet. We walk past Carlos sitting on the couch putting on his workboots. He gives me an unconcerned nod as we pass throught the living room. My head is swiveling around looking for the device. Passing through the hallway I begin to wonder where she was taking me. 

As the steps pass, I see we are walking into her parents room. Jessica is asleep in the bed, half covered by a blanket. Caitlyn walk up to her and pokes her arm. "Baby smells stinky Mommy." Jessica with her eyes closed scrunches her face up with annoyance and replies, "Well then just change her diaper sweetie." She says, "Okay Mommy!" I hope Caitlyn isn't now planning what I think she is. As I start to swirm in her arms she grips me all the tighter. I consider breaking my self imposed vow of silence to tell her to stop but I spot the tablet on top of her toy chest as she walks into her room. I cease squirming as she sets me on my back right next to it. "That's a good baby." she says at my sudden cooperation. I feel her eyes roam over my exposed genitals. Once she got her fill of my armadillo anatomy she reaches to the other side of me to a stack of baby doll cloth diapers. I consider my options as she lifts me up slightly by my thick tail. I could run away but my goal is right beside me. I'm sure she would be more willing to let me play with her toys if i cooperate with this current indignity. She slides the diaper under me with one hand and sets me down. She reaches for a pretend bottle of powder and mimes powdering my butt. I look at the tablet beside me. Maybe if I turned it on she would understand i wanted to use it. I rotate my front paw towards it as she folds the cloth over me. My tail is in the way so I fold it between my legs to help her. Caitlyn giggles as she pins the diaper closed.

Freshly diapered against my will, I roll sideways and grab for the tablet with my paws. I have already lost her attention and she is picking up another baby doll from the floor. "Olivia made a stinky, too." She sets the baby doll down on the spot i just occupied and gives a repeat performance. I nudge the power button on the side of the tablet and the screen lights up. A warning comes up on the screen '15% battery power left' I better make this quick. I tap okay with my claw.

Laying on top of the toychest in front of her tablet, I press the home button as Caitlyn merrily changes diapers to all her baby dolls. Selecting an icon the ubiquitous Google logo pops up with a flashing curser. I consider my options. My clawtip making a excellent stylus I type, 'Animal Transformation Registry Map' and hit enter. The first result was the sex offender registry map. Interesting but not what I needed right now. I scrolled down and the next result was exacty what i wanted. I clicked the link and a map came up. Centered around this street were two green circles and a yellow one. I tapped the yellow one and two pictures came up, an average looking hispanic woman and a redfox. Before and after pictures. Under it was a warning: must wear tracking collar at all times. I guess if you screw up being an animal they give you some leeway. Current alias: Miss Foxxxy. the three X in fox was a bit over doing it.

Clicking the green circle two pictures of me popped up. I scanned the information under my name. I was classified as harmless. I clicked the other circle and a familiar ghost faced opossum appeared beside a picture of a wrinkled old man giving a thumbs up. Name: Kevin Spooner. I guess that explains the silly alias. 

Out of curiosity I zoom the map out and the screen fills with dots I notice a cluster of red dots and click it. The first profile that pops up shows a skinhead with facial tattoos. The after photo shows a snarling polar bear covered in claw scars across his muzzle. I read the warning: Permanent Zoo Resident. I never went to zoos as a human. Are all the animals there former people? Did the zoo get converted into a prison for the dangerous animals or does he just live there of his own free will?