For a good long time, baby stegoceratops can't help but think things through. She's still disappointed about her failure, but there's something else troubling her. Why was it that Auntie wanted her to be like a two-leg stegoceratops? More importantly, what did this mean about her parents?

Baby stegoceratops knows that her parents love her. They are always there to feed her when she's hungry, heal her when she's hurt, and comfort her when she's upset. Baby stegoceratops is sure that Auntie means well, but her insistence that baby stegoceratops should be like a two-leg is troublesome.

It's true that baby stegoceratops has certain preferences regarding the shapes of her companions (black-and-white stegoceratops is her best friend, yet she would never, ever, ever like the scary thing), but the thought had never occurred to her that maybe her parents had preferences as well. What if they didn't like the way she looked? What if they hated four-legs?

No, that was impossible. Baby stegoceratops' mother is a four-leg, and everyone likes her just fine.

Even so . . .

Baby stegoceratops has noticed a habit of her mother's. She never really thought about it before, but the more she does, the more she wonders.

Her mother has a tendency to sit in front of the mirror for a very long time, not moving, and not saying a word. It's different from the other times she looks at the mirror, like in the morning when she's brushing her teeth or putting on her face-powder. When she gets into a certain mood, she'll sit very still and stare at her reflection for hours on end.

Once or twice, baby stegoceratops' father has caught her mother doing this. He usually guides her away from the mirror, and she gives him a smile that doesn't quite look right. It's all too complicated for baby stegoceratops to understand, but what she does know is that she's supposed to be the best daughter she can be. If something is wrong with her, she'd like to know.

Baby stegoceratops waits until Auntie is asleep. When she's snoring like a chainsaw, baby stegoceratops waddles into the house and climbs up the stairs. It's a difficult journey, but she needs to complete her mission.

Upstairs, baby stegoceratops finds her mother sitting in front of the mirror again. She is so wrapped up in whatever it is she's doing that she doesn't notice baby stegoceratops, at first.

Her mother doesn't move, but her eyes are wet. Slowly, tears slide down her cheeks and hit the floor. Baby stegoceratops flinches as one hits her nose.

When she puts her front foot on her mother's toe, she snaps out of her reverie. She looks down at baby stegoceratops with a strange expression. Not wanting her mother to be upset, baby stegoceratops turns to leave. Her mother picks her up, however, and holds her in front of her face. Baby stegoceratops places her front feet on her mother's beak. They stay that way for a very long time.

"Ma."

Her mother is surprised to hear baby stegoceratops speak. Baby stegoceratops, herself, is a little bit shocked. She did not think she was capable of such things.

Well, whatever the case, her mother seems to be better now. She has turned away from the mirror, and is rocking baby stegoceratops back and forth. She yawns and nuzzles up against her mother, who smiles gently.

Baby stegoceratops does not understand much about the world around her, but she knows enough to get along just fine. She can appreciate her black-and-white friend, she can put up with Auntie, and she can even tolerate carrots once in a while. There are many things that scare baby stegoceratops, but she can overcome them.

As long as her parents love her, nothing else matters.