Tax

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

In celebration of the Christmas season, there's also a tax going on in my house and it is thus:  Every time Julian says the words "death" or "kill" he owes me .10.   He is a money-loving dragon so when I initially implemented this decree, and the first offense occurred and I called him out on it, he became very fearful and almost tearful so I let the first one slide. The second one, which occurred maybe 45 minutes later, was official, and I marked it down and told him he'd have to pay me at the end of the day.  He tried to fight me but nothing doing.  

Tears later he said to me, "so i have to pay you ten cents every DAY?"   And i said, "No, you have to pay me ten cents for every time you use one of those words. It might be much more than that."    He stormed up to his room, weeping and wailing and a few minutes later came down and slapped down a bunch of pennies on the counter. As he stormed back up the stairs I called after him, "you only gave me nine cents!"     He has since tried to barter and bargain with random junk from his room.  He's always trying to bribe me to call off rules and regulations.  Right now he's crying at the foot of the steps to where my desk is here and said, "Can't I just give you my whole ROOM?"  All of this is giving me such a warm fuzzy feeling inside.  Merry Christmas, everyone!