A/N I finally decided to write a story on Thrax's childhood. I'll also continue through "Almira's Story", showing his POV on meeting Almira. I don't own Thrax; he belongs to Warner Bros. I DO own his surname, his family, and other characters you don't recognize fromOsmosis Jones.

DNAngelFangirl: I like great timing XD Just joking.

Princess LaLaBlue: Thanks :D

Chapter 2

Thrax grimaced as he walked home. He was in deep trouble now.

At school, he thought it would be funny to trip the school bully, a big germ, as he went by, and then step on him as he walked away. He deserved it for those pranks he had pulled on him in earlier grades. Unfortunately, Thrax wasn't paying attention to who was walking by, and had stuck out his foot, tripping the history teacher, a grumpy rotavirus named Mr. Ryans. Needless to say, he had a one-way ticket to the principal's office. He already had a reputation as a troublemaker, so it wasn't as though he was a new face. The principal had glared at him, they exchanged some words, and he sent Thrax on his way after the secretary said she had called the virus's parents to tell them about what had happened.

Thrax could already feel his backside stinging, and he wasn't even home yet. It was a basic rule of the house that if Thrax got in any trouble that was worth a call from the principal, he got spanked. His father had a saying he often quoted when the situation called for it: if you're old enough to get in trouble, you're old enough to get spanked. And this was one of those times.

Somehow, the trip home took less time than it usually did. Licking his lips nervously, Thrax stepped inside, and was greeted by his father standing in the doorway, arms crossed, foot tapping on the floor, and a scowl on his face. Thrax shrunk down; his father never failed to scare him when he was angry. "Hi, Dad."

"What the hell were you thinkin'?" Joseph asked sternly. "Trippin' a teacher? Thrax, we taught you better than that."

"I was tryin' to trip that germ bully, Herman."

"Why?"

Thrax always hated it when his folks asked why he did the thing that got him in trouble. When he told them, he always felt foolish for doing it. "I thought it'd be funny...an' he deserved it fer playin' those pranks on me!"

"So why did you trip Mr. Ryans?"

"I didn't see him. If I had, I wouldn't have done it."

Joseph sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Thrax, how many times must we tell you? Don't fight back—"

"Unless yer in an actual fight." Thrax answered, having heard the family motto several times.

"Yes. Unless Herman had done the first punch, which he obviously didn't, don't do anything. Understand?"

"Yes, Dad." He nodded solemnly. "Are you...am I gonna get spanked?"

Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Should you?"

Thrax didn't say anything; he only gave a small nod. "That's right. If you're old enough to get in trouble, you're old enough to get spanked." On that note, Joseph sat on the couch in the living room and beckoned Thrax with his burner claw, which was on his left hand. Biting back a groan, Thrax set his book-bag on the floor and went to his father. Joseph pulled him onto his lap and said, "I am very disappointed in you."

That stung worse than the spankings.

Once it was over, Joseph sat Thrax next to him on the sofa. The young virus was rapidly wiping away tears of pain and guilt. "It's over, you little devil," Joseph said, rubbing Thrax's back soothingly. "I forgive you. It's over." He pulled his son into a hug.

Sighing shakily and sniffling one last time, Thrax hugged his father back. "Where's Mom?"

"In the kitchen."

Thrax got off of the sofa and went into the kitchen. He found his mom slicing carrots with her burner claw, which was on her right hand. "Hey, Mom." He said.

"Thraximus Red Muerja," She sighed, shaking her head. "What were you thinking?"

Her son flinched at the repeated question. "I was tryin' to trip that bully, Herman. I just...stuck my foot out at the wrong time."

"I'll say you did," Elaine sighed and gave her son the crooked smile he had inherited. "But it's blood under the bridge now, I suppose."

He just shrugged, grinning. "Anyway, your father and I have some news to tell you."

"I'm gettin' a pet?" He knew better than to ask that. He had been asking for a pet—namely, a dog—for as long as he could remember. However, Elaine was allergic to dogs, so no pets in the house.

Elaine just laughed and ruffled Thrax's dreadlocks. "No, something better." She smiled as Joseph entered the kitchen. "Hello, darling, I was just telling Thrax the news."

"What news?" Now Thrax was getting excited.

Joseph smiled at him. "Son, in a few months, you're going to be a big brother."

Thrax's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Not in a horrified way; a very happy, excited way. "Holy cr-"

"Thrax!" Elaine yelled. "Language!"

"Cr-cr-cow, then. Holy cow!" Man, that sounded stupid. "I'm gonna be a big brother? Sweet!"

Joseph laughed, patting his son on the shoulders. "Yup. Soon, you'll be Big Brother Thrax."

"Huh. I like the sound of that." He grinned.

A/N I figured spanking was a pretty usual way of discipline in most families. I made the saying, "If you're old enough to get in trouble, you're old enough to get spanked" on my own.

I know it seems illogical for a virus to be allergic to anything, much less a dog...cell? Germ? Whatever. But I needed a good reason for them not being able to get a pet.