So, I've hit a road block in my Upper MG short story. There's a forty-year old inventor (Thomas) who has an 12-year old assistant (Barney) who lives with him. But how can I make Barney legally live with Thomas? Oh, also Barney turns into an alligator-creature when too stressed or mad. EDIT: Thomas found Barney five years before the story takes place. Also the story is Sci-fi
I want it to be that Barney had been the alligator-creature living in a swamp for so long that he's forgotten his birth parents. I also need it so that Barney and Thomas are not blood related in any shape, way, or form.
I though that maybe Thomas found Barney as the alligator-creature and took him in to fix him. He then made Barney his assistant. But someone pointed out that it is illegal for a grown man to find a kid and take him in.
My next idea involved the mayor of the town next to the swamp where Barney (as the alligator-creature) was living in. The mayor could let Thomas take Barney in to help fix him. Then, Thomas helped Barney and made him his assistant. But also I don't think this would fly with MG reader's parents.
My last and final idea is basically me getting lazy and throwing in the towel. I thought that maybe Thomas and Barney lived on a small island country that has different laws about taking in kids off the street than the USA.
What do I do? Do any of these ideas sound legal or like it would be acceptable with Upper MG reader's parents?
I want it to be that Barney had been the alligator-creature living in a swamp for so long that he's forgotten his birth parents. I also need it so that Barney and Thomas are not blood related in any shape, way, or form.
I though that maybe Thomas found Barney as the alligator-creature and took him in to fix him. He then made Barney his assistant. But someone pointed out that it is illegal for a grown man to find a kid and take him in.
My next idea involved the mayor of the town next to the swamp where Barney (as the alligator-creature) was living in. The mayor could let Thomas take Barney in to help fix him. Then, Thomas helped Barney and made him his assistant. But also I don't think this would fly with MG reader's parents.
My last and final idea is basically me getting lazy and throwing in the towel. I thought that maybe Thomas and Barney lived on a small island country that has different laws about taking in kids off the street than the USA.
What do I do? Do any of these ideas sound legal or like it would be acceptable with Upper MG reader's parents?
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