"At the end of another semester of college, as I was bidding my classmates farewell for another summer, I began to reflect on this amazing life I am living," said Stegosaurus. "I know it does not seem like it, but soon I will be 140 million and 8! 140 million and 8! What a long time to be stomping around, you know?"

"I got to thinking, of all the mammals and other animals that have been around the last few million years... they're really nice and all, but I'm really starting to feel lonesome for somebody I can talk to, who I can relate to that isn't also ..... extinct. Today's animals are interesting in their own way, but I really don't know anyone today who is odd and prehistoric like."

"It took me a few days of thinking, 'Where can I find any kind of animal that is that suitably weird?' ... and then, it hit me. I knew: AUSTRALIA. Thus, I got on my raft and floated forthrightly first to eastern Australia, and then to Tasmania. Once there, within a short time, I met a nice fellow by the name of Platypus."

Platypus waddled up from the river to the shore in order to converse with Stegosaurus. He said, "G'day, friend Stegosaurus! What brings you all the way to Australia?"

"I got to reflecting," said Stegosaurus, "I thought as much as somebody who has a brain the size of a walnut can think, and concluded that I really hadn't talked to anyone who was odd and prehistoric like in a long, long time."

"Well, I am glad that you came to visit me," said Platypus, but you have yet some odd animals in America. What about the Horseshoe Crab? Or in the Indian Ocean, the Coelacanth? They're both older than you, I'd daresay, mate."

"True, true," conceded Stegosaurus. "But alas, they are seafaring animals to such an extent that they aren't around much for conversation."

"I see," said Platypus.

"While you yourself spend some time in water, you are also quite capable of living on land. Can't say that of Coelacanth, particularly. Are you suitably weird and prehistoric like? I hope so!" said Stegosaurus.

"It so happens that I pride myself on being quite odd," said Platypus. "Truth be told, my oddness seems quite normal to me. Perhaps other species of animals are weird and I'm normal."

" A very good point, Platypus," said Stegosaurus. "I suppose I really shouldn't point claws, being a Stegosaurus."

"No offense taken, friend Stegosaurus," said Platypus. "Let me tell you about my characteristics."

"Now when I do swim, I swim with my eyes closed, and use my bill to sense the location of other animals. It has electro - receptors which pick up the movements of those around me. This is a characteristic which is exclusive to me and my friend Echinda; we're a type of animal referred to as monotremes. If you'd like, I can introduce you to him. He's quite the pleasant chap. Another difference that monotremes have from other mammals is that My jaw structure and ear structure is different from other mammals as well."

"I usually dine on things like worms and shrimps. They are very delicious, I think, but I never dine underwater. I gather them in my cheeks, and then surface to eat my meal. My feet are webbed, like a duck's, but when I walk on land, I have a lizard's gait, not unlike you. I have some spurs on my back feet that contain a very strong venom. I don't kill large mammals with it, its just meant to hurt a lot. So don't upset me, otherwise you could be in a lot of pain for several months."

"I'll try not to," said Stegosaurus. "You give me the impression that you are quite mild mannered."

"Generally, I am, you just won't like me when I'm angry," said Platypus.

"Now us male Platypus have these venom spurs, but the females do not. Don't ask me why, they just didn't evolve that way. Our mating season is June through October, and the female is in charge of laying eggs and taking care of the young, which she cares for roughly four to six months. After two years, a Platypus is considered mature."

Then, Platypus paused for a moment and said, "Perhaps you remember my relatives from the Mesozoic, Steropodon, Kollikodon, and Teinolophos, We've been around for quite some time."

"The names sound familiar; I'm sure we've crossed paths at some point," observed Stegosaurus.

"Let me tell you something odd, I'm sorry to say that we Platypus don't care much for your native land America. We have a difficult time in captivity, and haven't really survived well outside of Australia. Nonetheless, there is a holiday started for us in America known as International Platypus Day. I don't have any clue as to why an American would do this, but let me tell you I'm quite flattered by it."

"I think we can agree that mammals are silly a lot of the time," said Stegosaurus. "We're going to get along quite well. You are perfectly odd and prehistoric like! I'm so glad to have made your acquaintance!"

Stegosaurus was so happy to meet an animal that was odd like him, that he decided to spend his summertime in Australia exploring and meeting new friends.