"So all these people are waiting for a doctor?" she questioned as George earnestly tried to protect his place in line against queue-jumpers. Normally, one of his greatest pleasures was correcting people, however George had been pointing out her inaccuracies all morning, and was growing tired of it.

"He's a scientist. A noted paleontologist. In fact, THE most noted paleontologist, some might argue..."

She stood up and peered over the crowd. "Why is everyone dressed like they're going on safari?" George decided not to dignify that with an answer. He adjusted his fanny pack.

The loudspeakers crackled to life and the crowd grew hushed. A disembodied voice echoed throughout the convention centre: "Ladies and Gentlemen… the man you've been waiting for… Dr.Albert Baker! LET'S HEAR IT FOR HIM!"

The crowd roared to life with a wild applause and George was unable to contain himself. "Oh my word…" He exclaimed breathlessly, trembling in anticipation.

Maggie rolled her eyes. "I'm going to the candy machine."

George had been waiting months for the annual dinosaur convention, always the highlight of his year. Now that it was finally here, he thought he might burst. Usually an unabashed miser when it comes to his allowance, George was even willing to shell out a little more money this year to get the DinoCon "Super Fan" Package - and was thrilled to receive his souvenir ticket and lanyard, water bottle, T-shirt, and canvas outback hat.

For the past couple of years, George had noticed that it was harder and harder to find someone willing to join him at the DinoCon. He guessed that a gentle bribe might do the trick, and thankfully, Maggie was a pretty easy mark. Paying for her admission and buying her an extra-large bag of Sour Gators was enough to get her on board.

"Dr. Baker, sir!" George sputtered as he approached his bearded and distinguished idol, who was seated at a small table, pen in hand.

Dr. Baker and George locked eyes. A shaky, awe-struck "Hello friend…" was all George could muster before he froze up entirely. He wanted nothing more than to have a grown-up conversation with his idol, to wow Dr. Baker with his extensive knowledge of all things prehistorical. But now, stricken with a case of "the panics", George was at a loss.

He thought back to his speech therapy classes, and the words of his teacher:

"Speak slowly… enunciate… think of the word you want to say before you say it…"

George took a deep breath. Dr. Baker stared quizzically at him from behind his tiny gold-rimmed glasses, his hand outstretched, waiting to be handed something to sign. George slowly began to speak.

"I truly admire the work that you do. I one day hope to work alongside you in the field of historical discovery. Also, I noticed a handful of grammatical errors in your most recent research paper, which I would be happy to point out to you, if you have a moment or two."

Dr. Baker's eyes narrowed. He snatched the headshot from George's hand, and quickly signed the photo. He then passed it back to George, who was subsequently asked by security to "kindly move along". George drifted away from the table in a haze. Maggie elbowed her way through the crowd of people, and stood alongside him.

"Candy bar?" she offered. But George wasn't listening. He was too busy visualizing where to display his newest treasure, the signed photograph of his hero, Dr. Albert Baker. With his bedroom already a virtual menagerie of meticulously organized role-playing game pieces, science toys, and "interesting finds", there was little room left for one more thing.

"I'll think of something…" George muttered, still in a daze, as Maggie chewed her candy bar loudly in his ear. She waved her hand in front of George's face. No reaction. She shrugged, and shoved the empty candy wrapper into George's pocket.

He didn't notice.

She smiled.