At Christmas time, Stegosaurus stomped forthrightly to Culver City, California in order to visit his elderly friends Dimetrodon and Nyasasaurus for the holidays.

"I really feel it most prudent to check up on the welfare of our elderly, throughout the year of course, but especially at Christmas time, when they may feel the most lonesome," said the kind, altruistic plate lizard. "This visit will be a complete surprise to my friends as I usually visit my own cousins or they visit me, over the holidays. But, this year I want to do something different, something special for my friends. It is an added benefit that I will be in the warmer climate of California. The weather of California is much more suitable than Colorado in the Christmas season."

When Stegosaurus arrived at the Dinosaur Retirement Home complex of caves Nyasasuarus was outside , and indeed surprised when he saw Stegosaurus arriving.

"What a surprise to see you, Stegosaurus! " exclaimed Nyasasuarus. "What brings you to visit? I hope you are well .... I hope you have good news!"

"I am not the bearer of bad tidings, friend! Indeed, I have come for a surprise, and my cousins all agreed that I should do it, and that was to stomp by and wish you and Dimetrodon, and, well, everyone at the Dinosaur Retirement Home community a blessed Holiday Season."

"This will get you some well earned points from Stegosaurus Claus," said Nyasasaurus.

"Perhaps so," said Stegosaurus, "But that alone is not the reason for doing it. I am genuinely concerned for you and the welfare of the good dinosaurs who live in this community."

"How kind you are," said Nyasasaurus. "Please come in, Dimetrodon is inside his retirement cave now. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you and wish you a Merry Christmas."

"Thank you," said Stegosaurus.

"Now I can tell you we have a surprise for you as well." said Nyasassaurus.

" How nice !! I will be content to rest my weary claws and visit with my friends."

Stegosaurus entered Dimetrodon's cave and was indeed immediately surprised.

"Hello, Dimetrodon! Are you surprised? I wanted to surprise you with a visit at Christmas time."

"Hail, Stegosaurus ! Nice to see you! However I feel the surprise is on you, for I am not Dimetrodon, though I look like him a lot !!"


"Well, I am pleased to meet you ~~ you look like a Dimetrodon, so the surprise is indeed on me. Who might you be?"

"I am Dimetrodon's slightly younger cousin Edaphosaurus. I am about 303 Million Years old, and because of what you did for Dimetrodon, the Dinosaur and Mythical Creature Screen Actor's Guild Local 14065 has allowed me a cave in the Retirement Home, just as they did for Dimetrodon's friend Moschops. We are so grateful to you for what you've done for us."

"It was the least I could do," said Stegosaurus. "Now if you are not Dimetrodon, where is Dimetrodon? I hope he is well."

"He is," said Edaphosaurus. "He has gone with Moschops to the beach. He enjoys the beach life, and since his retirement, dining on a surfer or two."

"Oh, that's nice. I can't say I share that particular interest, being a herbivore. But I have been to the beach and had some interaction with surfers in the past. I find them to be nice mammals, and I hope you will not hunt them to extinction."

"Fear not for surfers," said Edaphosaurus. "There are many of them, and Dimetrodon, Moschops, Nyasasaurus and I have not made them a steady diet."

"May I suggest that we all stomp down to the beach and visit with Dimetrodon and Moschops?"

"What a good idea! I would love to join you," said Nyasasaurus. "But I want you to go with Edaphosaurus while I work on surprise for you, in honor of your Christmas visit."

"You are too kind, Nyasasaurus," said Stegosaurus.

"It is the least I can do, in gratitude for all you have done for us."

As Nyasasaurus remained behind, Stegosaurus and Edaphosaurus stomped forthrightly to Marina del rey Beach. It was easy to see Dimetrodon and Moschops when they got there; it is hard for animals so large to hide, of course. "Hail !! Dimetrodon!" said Stegosaurus.

"Hail, cousin!" said Edaphosaurus.

"Greetings, Edaphosaurus!" said Dimetrodon.

"Stegosaurus !! What a nice surprise! Happy Holidays to you!! What brings you to sunny California ?"

"I come to visit my friends this Christmas Season. So nice to see you!!"

"A pleasure," said Dimetrodon.

"I was told there were surfers. Where are the surfers?"

"We ate them. I'm sorry," said Moschops. "Come, let us rest our claws in the water."

Stegosaurus and his synapisd friends went into the water and there happily rested.

"So, Edaphosaurus, tell me about yourself. Where are you from, originally?" asked Stegosaurus.

"Originally I was discovered by Professor Cope in Texas in 1882; but I have also been found in Ohio, West Virginia, and parts of Germany. Not sure how I ended up in Germany, but I do enjoy that place quite much. My name means "Pavement Lizard."

"You say you were discovered by Professor Cope?"

"Yes, I know the great rival of your father Professor Marsh."

"Fear not; I will not treat you with animosity. As a general rule of their nature, mammals thrive on competition; such has always been the case. I hold it not against you."

"How kind," said Moschops. "You have always included us and been socially tolerant of our differences."

"Stegosaurus is very kind. He is among the kindest of dinosaurs." said Dimetrodon. "He does much for his friends and is the most altruistic I know."

"My friends .... you will swell my horse sized head much beyond the size of brother horse's." said Stegosaurus.

"It looks like we have scared away the surviving surfing mammals," observed Dimetrodon.

As if on cue, Moschops burped. "Excuse me," he said. "It is a shame; I meant to save one and bring it home for Nyasasuaurus."

"Let us return to Dimetrodon's cave, and see what surprise that Nyasasaurus has for our generous visitor." said Edaphosaurus. "I'm sure he's prepared and is ready for our return now."

"Agreed." said Dimetrodon.

Stegosaurus and his friends left the beach and returned to Culver City.

"Welcome back!" said Nyasasaurus. "Come in, Stegosaurus. I have prepared a surprise for you. Just for Christmas."

To Stegosaurus' great surprise, Nyasasaurus had gathered for his visiting friend a nice helping of Marina arbutus, Albizia julibrissin, Bauhinia variegata, and Calocedrus decurrens.

"Enough to last you through the weekend, should you choose to visit us that long. And if you'd like to stay til the New Year, I do not mind going out to find more for you."

"One kind deed deserves another," observed Dimetrodon. "We here at the Dinosaur retirement home wish to show our gratitude to you for your help and kindnesses, especially in this most sacred Season and Holiday."

"You came here to surprise us, and we are so happy to see you that we wanted to surprise you and give you a gift in our own way." said Nyasasaurus.

"Carnivores also have a reputation of cruelty that herbivores do not share; We want to be sure that we break that stereotype today. Not just because of the significance of this Sacred Day; not just because it will put us on good terms with Stegosaurus Claus; but rather even in spite of our fangs and tendency to eat meat, we are also capable of kindness and gratitude," said Edaphosaurus.

"What an exemplary example of Christian Charity," said Stegosaurus. "I thank you most kindly, you did this for me even though you are not plant eaters. Bless you all."

"God bless us, everyone," said Edaphosaurus.