Well at first, I wanted a dog when I moved to Texas, so I was looking around for one. My parents said since we travel a lot, we can't get a dog because we will be leaving it alone. So, I look for alternatives and found a ball python. I wanted it sooo bad, and I asked my mom and dad and they gave me the "OK" sign. BUT, unfortunately, my mom told her co-workers her predicament with me, and her co-workers told her horror stories of snakes smelling and when killing the rodents the rodents scream their heads off... then it was an immediate NO. It took me 1 year of trying to get my mom to let me get a snake, and then one day, me and my family were out grocery shopping and I ask to stop by the pet store. I then see the ball python that eventually becomes mine, and I begged my mom to let me get it. The worker at the time really convinced my mom in less than 10 minutes with the same info I have been telling her for 1 full year. Messed up right? But it doesn't matter, I got Al and I love him