Sixth Book:
"Last year that kid came in here banged up something fierce. His eye was swollen shut, he was bleeding from the nose and mouth, cuts and scrapes all up and down his body and his clothes were a wreck." A older man who spoke with a thick Italian accent spoke enthusiastically as he sat across from Marge at the table. "Poor guy he was so scared that he dove under the first empty table he saw and wouldn't come out till Alessa coaxed him out with her garlic bread. No creature on this planet can resist my Alessa's garlic bread."
"Really? He never told me about that." Marge was interested. "But I'm starting to understand why he didn't come over to Karen's for about two weeks last year.
"He's a good kid, but he's kind of shy when he's hurt, he don't like a lot of people to see him that way. The old man smiled. "But you know, that kid's got some spunk too. Alessa took Big L. into the back, cleaned him up, and gave him a good meal. she even introduced him to Carin, my granddaughter. Alessa never cared too much for Carin's choice in boys, she's always trying to set Carin up with boys who come in here." The old man laughed. "Anyway, Big L. was in the back with Carin when her boyfriend came in causing a scene. He demanded to know where she was, and what she was doing, and he made all kinds of noise. Carin came out to defuse the situation, her boyfriend said something and went to hit her, and just like that, Big L. came out of nowhere and had that boy on the ground with a bloody nose. Mario pulled Big L. off Carin's boyfriend who got up, ran out the door, and never came back. He sent Carin flowers with a break-up note he was too scared to come see her in person."
"How did Dylan get the nickname Big L.?" Marge asked curiously.
"I'd never seen a stranger, much less one of his kind defend a human he barely knew like that, so I called him Big L. L of course for Leonardo." The old man said proudly. "Because he showed the strength of a lion."
"That's not what he told me." Marge gave a irritated glance at the front door before returning to the old man. "I wonder what's taking him."
"Sorry I'm late." Dylan's voice startled Marge.
Marge looked up to see Dylan dressed like a character in a James Bond novel. He offered timid smile and quickly took the eat across from Marge as the old man got up and moved aside. the old man whispered something to Dylan then headed off.
"Wow Dylan, you clean up real nice." Marge spoke first. "You're really cute all dressed up."
"You look great yourself." Dylan complimented. "Oh, I picked this up for you." He took a single orange rose out of his coat and handed it to Marge.
"It's beautiful. You didn't have to get it for me." Marge took the rose and held it.
"A gentleman always gives a lady a rose when he takes her out." Dylan bowed his head.
"Dylan, you don't have to impress me with all this, I like you for who you are." Marge shook her head. "Still, you're thinking of me and that's really sweet."
"Big L.! So the old man wasn't joking!" A rather large man came up to the table and patted Dylan firmly on the back. "You should come around more often, you know Ma worries about you."
"I know, I know Mario, I promise I'll come by more often." Dylan stood up. "May I introduce you to my date, Marge. Marge, this is Mario, he's the owner's son."
"You got yourself a lovely girl there." Mario bowed his head at Marge.
"It's nice to meet you Mario." Marge was polite and formal.
"I'll have the cook get right on your meal Big L., don't worry." Mario patted Dylan's shoulder, gave Marge a quick handshake, then hurried off.
"He's not going to ask us what we want to order?" Marge seemed surprised.
"Don't worry, everything here is good." Dylan assured.
"I'm going to trust you." Marge looked at Dylan a little concerned, but willing to try.
Later
"You don't have to do this." Marge spoke as Dylan walked along the sidewalk beside her. "My Dad tries to scare every boy I bring home, even the ones he knows are my friends."
"I didn't pick you up for lunch, the least I can do is see you home safely." Dylan shrugged.
The two turned up a sidewalk toward the front door of a middle class house. The walked in silence up the steps and hadn't even gotten to the door when it opened, revealing a middle aged man who recoiled at the sight of Dylan. Suddenly, the man started laughing. "You got me Marge!"
"Dad this is Dylan. I told you about him only a million times." Marge looked at Dylan with embarrassment. "He's the boy who took me out to lunch today."
"Come on in and stay a while." The man offered. "If you're taking my daughter out, I'd like to know little bit about you."
"What would you like to know?" Dylan accepted the offer, letting Marge enter the house first then following her inside.
"Have you had all your shots?" The man asked directly.
"Yes sir I just got my booster earlier this month." Dylan replied. "I'm clean, healthy, and contagion free."
"Dad, don't embarrass him!" Marge scolded.
"You're father is worried about you, it's normal." Dylan dismissed Marge's concern. "I'd be concerned if he didn't ask me stuff like that."
"You seem like you've got a good head on those shoulders Dylan." Marge's father stated, looking over Dylan closely. "You a tame lizard? Have you ever attacked anyone?"
"Sir, I'll only get violent if I'm defending myself or someone close to me." Dylan looked around the room nervously. "I don't just snap and start biting and clawing at random."
"That's good to hear." Marge's father continued to study him.
"Is that the boy you went out with?" A womans voice entered the room before the woman who'd spoken did.
"Yeah mom, this is Dylan." Marge introduced.
"Hello Ma'am, it's nice to meet you." Dylan lowered his head.
"Oh he's so polite it's adorable!" Marge's mother giggled. "You want something to drink Dylan?"
"Ice water would be fine, thank you." Dylan politely accepted the offer.
"We have some lemonade, soda and iced tea." Marge's mother offered.
"Ice water please." Dylan politely insisted.
"All right." Marge's mother disappeared again.
"You don't like iced tea or lemonade?" Marge's father asked.
"I had tea at the restaurant." Dylan explained. "I can't have too much the caffeine and sugar make me sick."
"Oh, I see." Marge's father scratched his eyebrow. "So, you're interested in my daughter huh?"
"Yes sir." Dylan answered.
"As disturbing as that sounds, I mean you are a big reptilian creature, if Marge is happy, then I'm happy too." Marge's father stated. "You are happy with him aren't you Marge?"
"Dad!" Marge's face turned beet red.
"Well, I should leave you two alone now, I think I've done enough damage." Marge's father started to leave the living room. "Dylan, you take good care of my Marge, understand?"
"Yes Sir, I do." Dylan affirmed. "It was nice to meet you."
"Same here." Marge's father stepped out of the living room.
"Don't worry about him." Marge said as she sat down on a sofa. "He's a little overprotective."
"I think I frightened him a little. I'm sorry if I did." Dylan sat down next to Marge. "I don't want to intimidate people, but I do sometimes."
"I know." Marge leaned her head onto Dylan's shoulder.
Later
"Oh that is so cute." Marge's mother stood in the doorway of the living room where Marge was still on the sofa leaning against Dylan. She was asleep, but Dylan sat there awake, not moving. She stepped into the room with a camera and indicated to Dylan not to move or make a noise. After taking a couple pictures, she put the camera away. "Dylan honey, you don't have to sit there like that."
"I don't mind." Dylan spoke softly. "She's tired. Old man Batali had us in the kitchen making pasta, bread and meatballs."
"Well, I wouldn't want you to get into trouble for being late getting home Dylan." Marge's mother indicated the clock on the wall.
"Oh, thank you for pointing that out." Dylan gently eased out from under Marge, slipping a pillow into his place. "Sweet dreams Marge." He stated quietly, then, with his stiff scaly lips, planted a kiss on her cheek.
"You really are a sweet one." Marge's mother smiled at him. "Hurry home."
"Thank you again Ma'am." Dylan bowed then hurried out the door.
