Title: A Trip at the Zoo Author: Hikari E-mail: Rating: G AN: (10/16/2000) Hey Minna-san! I told you I'd sent out a short story this week, didn't I? See... I kept my promise and here it is! Straight from the cubord- um... (Did I just say that?) I'll start by my usuall short story warnings. (As if I've posted that many, ne?) Anyways... This story, as it will most probably be with any short story that I decide to write, is different from the way I usually write my chapter-type stories. So don't expect either the same style or story gimick (sp?), K? Now, If I haven't scared you off enough... Please go on and enjoy my narrative-short story: ~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~ A TRIP AT THE ZOO The Crossroads Elementary trip to the zoo was supposed to be the pinnacle of Serena's sixth-grade life. This had been the event that many of the kids had anticipated for a while. Everything, according to her, was going to be perfect. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* In six lines the children separated themselves as the teachers took attendance. Serena was the eleven- year-old girl wearing a blue and green dress that twirled when she spun, blue summer sandals and a red ribbon, which tied her short bouncy blond hair. In her hand she carried a brown paper lunch bag that her mom had packed her especially for today. After attendance was taken, the teachers debated on weather or not to separate the children into groups. Yet, seeing that the children where all ready in lines, they opted with just keeping the groups that were there. It was from this point on that Serena's world began to fall apart. Her plans of seeing the zoo in company of her friends and eating lunch together while they talked of trial things was squashed and instead, she was forced to wander around the zoo in company of strangers (more or least). *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* In keeping with the counselor's schedule, they would first see the monkeys, bears, lions, and tigers. Then, they would attend a bird show, eat some lunch, and afterwards, they would continue looking at the animals until the time to leave arrived. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* And so the group began to march along the paths of the zoo. They looked at the animals, wrote notes on where they were from, and took pictures of themselves making funny faces (the animals in the background). The walk was long, the sun was bright, and the pavement... scolding hot. It was at this point that Serena decided to take a break. Finding a bench, she placed her lunch to one side and sat down. Serena then took off her sandals and began to rub her sore feet. At this point she realized that maybe she *should* have taken her mom's advice and worn sneakers. Let's just say that in her opinion... sandals and long walks *don't* mix. Just as Serena began to feel better, she was surprised by how quiet the zoo had suddenly gotten (apart from the animals, that is). Looking around, she realized that her team was gone! Quickly grabbing her sandals, afraid that if she took any longer she would get lost, Serena tried to remember what her group's next stop would be. And then she remembered it would be the bird show. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Once she was finally able to locate the amphi- theater, Serena, noticing that she was late, quickly began to look for a seat. Yet, her quest was interrup- ted as the woman on stage called on her for audience participation. Having been given a push by one of the teachers, Serena could do nothing but smile as she placed her sandals back on and headed towards the stage. The performance, as explained to Serena, would consist of her holding a Condor on her leather-covered arm and watching as it flew off to an adjacent poll were it would bring back the ribbon tied to it. Plan seeming fairly simple, Serena agreed and the leather protector was placed on her arm. Then, the animal trainer placed the condor on her arm and told Serena to shake gently her arm in an up and down motion just to signal the bird to start flying off. Serena followed the trainer's directions perfect- ly. But it was after she shook her arm and awaited the bird to fly off and bring back the ribbon from the poll, that both she and the trainer saw how the condor dipped to Serena's head and mistakenly tied to take HER ribbon instead!! By the time when they finally got the bird into control, everyone was laughing... even Darien, Serena's two-year crush. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Aching and humiliated, Serena ran out of the show missing the announcement that told that a severe storm was headed their way. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Now with the rain pouring on Serena's head, adding water to her tears, every moment that passed seemed like an eternity. Her exhausted legs felt weak and frail from running, her stomach was growling with hunger... Serena's body could bare it no longer. With a slip and trip of her sandal on the slippery floor, her body gave out and collapsed. Serena awoke to the after rain drizzling gently on part of her face. She felt herself sustained by something or someone. With the strain of fatigue and her puffy eyes from crying, Serena could not make out the person that was holding her. Suddenly, she realized that the person that was holding, while at the same time trying to protect her with his jacket from the rain, was Darien. He smiled down at her, as his blue eyes shone with mirth. He asked Serena if she was all right or if she needed to be carried incase she couldn't walk. But just as she was about open her mouth to talk, her stomach answered him instead. Hearing that she was hungry, Darien bought her lunch and got some napkins so to that she could clean her scrapes and bruises. And, like a true gentleman, when his friends saw Serena's muddy dress and began to laugh and poke fun, Darien stood up for her. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* On the way home, Darien sat next to Serena on the bus. They talked all the way home getting to know each other better. When Serena got to her house, her mother saw her bruises and scrapes. Scared of what might have occurred to her daughter, she asked Serena what had happened to her. Smiling broadly, staring into the great unknown with a dreamy look, Serena sighed and said to her mother the only answer she could give: "THE BEST *TRIP* OF MY LIFE!!" ...The End... ~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~ Author's NOTES!! OH MY GOSH!! I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT TO MENTION THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AT MY TOP AN'S. I FORGOT TO REMIND YOU TO EMAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. (CAN YOU BELIEVE I FORGOT SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THAT? I CAN'T EITHER.) WELL, I SUPPOSE THAT YOU WERE PROBABLY ALREADY HITTING THAT EMAIL BUTTON TO GIVE ME YOUR COMMENT, NE? SO, I'LL JUST BE OFF TO WRITE CHAPTER THREE OF GEISHA, AND KEEP YOU GUYS HAPPY. (*AREN'T I JUST WONDERFUL?*) ATT: HIKA-CHU AKA: MACHI NO TENSHI EMAIL: