Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds.

"Did you ever notice when you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you? But when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window?" – Steve Bluestone

o o o o

25 July, 1988

Spencer Reid looked around the pet shop at all the different animals littered around in cages. One wall held fifty-two different types of fish. And twenty cats stared at him haughtily from their beds. Twelve puppies wagged their tales enthusiastically and seven parrots continued on their dialogue like he wasn't there.

"Any one you like, Spencer," Diana Reid smiled down at him. Spencer smiled back. "It's your birthday. Maybe a cat? Or a dog? You only turn seven once."

He followed his mother over to the cats. Spencer reached out to a small ginger kitten. The kitten sniffed his hand and then hissed at him. Spencer jerked back, bumping into his mother.

"Try a different kitten." At Diana's encouragement, Spencer reached to another cat. He pulled his hand back just before the cat could bite him. "Maybe not a kitten. How about a dog?"

A black lab wagged his tail as Diana led Spencer over towards him. As soon as Spencer got close enough, the lab barked twice, his eyes trained on the seven year old. Spencer backed behind Diana and peered around her to see the dog still staring at him. Diana encouraged him towards a cute little Westie, but the Westie growled before Spencer could get close enough to really see the dog. The parrot bit his head, the rabbit growled and thumped it back feet, the gerbil jumped off his hand and hit the tile floor hard.

"Mom… Can I just have a book?"

A/N:

This is a flash-fiction one-shot (flash-fiction is 250 words or less; I started counted after the date) for my friend who won it by naming the right CM episode with the picture I'd posted over on my Facebook. Well, at least I think that's how she won it. I really don't remember. haha She wanted something about the Reid Effect and Diana. I think. Again, I really don't remember. I was about half way through it a few weeks ago when I got distracted. Maybe it was supposed just to be the Reid Effect and I added Diana. I have no idea. YAYYYY. I hope you liked it, hun!

Thanks for reading and, please, tell me what you think - good or bad!

Love, Thalia