The Thing Down the Road — T.L. Smith

Del detested these roadside displays of hapless creatures, mangled by fate or bad DNA, but it's the only way to quiet his restless children. They stop to see “The Thing”, but what he discovers in this cage exceeds his expectations as a Xeno-biologist. Del rescues the creature and is taken on a harrowing tale of the lengths a man could go to, out of love, compassion, and insanity. He befriends this strangely charismatic captive, and sympathizes with the captive's motives, fears, and final act of humanity.