"We're taking you to the zoo!" Bonni and Max announced in unison.
Allie and CJ's eyes lit up. Their parents were right. In their thirteen years on Earth, they had never been to an actual zoo. Sure, they'd see hosts of their favourite shows at them but never had they been themselves. It was their dream to see wild animals up close and personal. This was one thing they had in common.
"Best birthday present ever!" CJ said, hugging Max.
"I love you!" Allie excalimed, hugging Bonni.
The partyof five headed out the door and into the car. The car ride was long, and probably boring for Lilah, who'd most likely been to the zoo over ten times. CJ would name an animal he'd like to see and Allie would write it down in a notepad. They planned to get a viewing of all of these animals. They arrived at Heathvale Zoo and walked in the entrance.
"So here we are, what would you like to do?" Max asked the children.
"We have a list!" Allie stated, holding up the list she formed with CJ in the car.
First on the list were the gorillas. They saw five gorillas in the cage. One had even come real close and they got their parents to take a photo of them with it. Next on the list were elephants. The twins waved at a certain elephant that was learning to paint. They had their parents take a photo of Allie as an elephant connecting the freckles on CJ's face in front of the painting elephant. Next up were the seals, which they saw balancing a ball on their noses. The twins clapped their hardest. By the middle of the day, they had got through half of their list. Their parents had decided they needed a rest, so they stopped at a restaurant in the zoo to have a bite to eat. Allie had ordered the Flamingo Fancy Feast and CJ the Slimy Slug Slurps.
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"So, how is it?" Bonni asked the twins.
"The food or the zoo?" CJ asked, stuffing his mouth.
"The birthday" Max told them, grinning widely.
"This is amazing, Mum and Dad" Allie replied between bites.
"Yeah, thanks, guys," CJ added, "Best parents ever"
"We still have at least ten more animals to go" Allie said, scanning the list.
She'd been crossing off each one as they'd seen it.
"I have to do the turkey dance first" CJ said.
Their parents understood CJ's crazy language and Max stood up, only to be pushed back down by Allie.
"Stay, Dad," She said, "I'll look after him"
"Are you sure?" Max asked.
"Mature choices and all" Allie replied, smiling at her father and walking to the restrooms with CJ.
"What about you, Lilah?" Bonni asked her daughter's friend.
"Hm?" Lilah looked toward Bonni from staring out the window.
"Are you having fun?" Bonni asked her.
"It's Allie's birthday. If she is, I am" Lilah answered.
Bonni wasn't sure of that answer but before she could ask for the truth, the twins had arrived back.
"The giraffe are next" Allie said with excitement, reading her list.
The five of them left the restaurant and headed for the giraffe enclosure. A giraffe stood in the middle of the enclosure, staring at them, as if this were a zoo full of people for it. Next on Allie's list were the frogs. CJ's idea, of course. He admired every kind of frog in their casings. He also got a glimpse at a few snakes and bugs whilst theyw ere in the Reptile House. He got a photo with the cockroaches. They took a detour through the Butterfly House to get to the next animal on the list's enclosure. A butterfly had landed on Lilah's head during this venture and the twins laughed it off. Lilah, however, stood frozen in fear, waiting for the butterfly to move.
"They're harmless, Lilah" Max stated.
"Yeah, come on, they're beautiful, too" Allie added, taking some pictures.
Lilah scowled at her best friend. They left the Butterfly House and arrived at the next animal's enclosure, which were the baboons. Again, CJ's idea. Allie found the sight of their red bottoms hideous, as did Lilah. CJ, however, tried mooning them but his parents stopped him before he could pull his pants down.
