“What? Is that bad??” I ask, looking up at him.
“I don’t think Pete is interested in smelling people,” he eventually says.
“So how do I let him know I’m safe? Should I just avoid wherever he’s hanging out?”
“Sit,” Magnus says.
I drop immediately, fortunately landing on the bench. I didn’t even think to look before following his command.
Magnus gently brushes the soil off Pete’s back. Pete swipes one of his hands across his face, wiping off the specks of dirt.
He holds his hand out flat in front of Pete, and I tense, preparing to pull Magnus away if it looks like he’s going to attack.
Pete slowly waddles over on his short legs until he’s in Magnus’s palm.
Magnus holds Pete up in front of me and says, “See, he’s harmless to humans. Pete usually comes out when I’m around, but he was probably nervous with you here and got startled when you touched his pot.”
He is less scary now that he’s dwarfed by Magnus’s hand. Pete is like 98% body, tiny legs tucked in close, really just a blob with eyes.
Pete stares at me.
I suppose Magnus is right, there’s no reason to be afraid. Pete moves so slowly and he’s so small and round, I doubt he can even jump. I’m sure I’d be able to outrun him.
“You can pet him to show you’re friendly,” Magnus offers.
I look at him incredulously, but he seems serious.
Pete’s mouth is tiny too, so heprobablycouldn’t bite me even if he wanted to…
I slowly reach for his back. When he doesn’t react, I carefully put one finger on him and stroke a few times before snatching my hand back.
Pete hasn’t moved, and I don’t know if that enamored me to him or not.
“Are you sure Pete is okay with people?” I say.
“Of course. The only creatures that need to worry about Pete are garden pests like stinkbugs and rats,” Magnus says.
“Rats!”
“Small rats.” Magnus nods.
Pete blinks in silent agreement.
Small rats. What the hell. Pete is like the size of a golf ball, how is he eating rats?
“Wait, why do you call him Pete?”
“It seemed like a fitting name,” Magnus says.
“You named him?” I can’t help the smile creeping over my face.
“Yes.”
I look down at Pete to hide my smile. It’s so cute that Magnus named this tiny frog blob, but I’m not sure either of them would appreciate me giggling about it.
“It’s a good name,” I say.
Magnus puts Pete back in his pot, and we resume our work while Pete lords over us as we tend to his garden.
