Flashback:

This man had on some M.C. Hammer type pants that had lizards on them, a black Fanny pack, and a white t-shirt with a variety of insects on it with a pair of black Jordan's to complete his outfit. What the hell was this man wearing? I analyzed all of this when I saw Don talking to my parents while me and Tyson waited in the car.

"He talks a lot," I said.

When he pulled up to pick me and Tyson up at my house, my parents greeted him and began to talk for what seemed like hours as they got to know each other.

"He does but he's funny," Tyson said. He gave me a peck on my cheek and grabbed my hand. "Are you ready to have fun?"

"Why must he drive us?"

"He wants us to have fun. You'll enjoy the zoo today!"

"He is the zoo. I mean look at him!"

"Tia, it'll be okay. Relax and remember I'm right here."

"Fine."

Don and my parents finally said goodbye to each other and before I knew it I was at the zoo with Don being the tour guide. Forget about the workers at the zoo who actually work there being the tour guides: Don showed us where the gorillas were, how they ate, how they took care of their children, showed us a flock of peacocks hanging around near a merchandise stand, and continued to tell us about every single animal that we came across.

As the day went on, I began to relax a bit when Don started to crack jokes that actually made me laugh. I was really intrigued by his weird, odd, and off the wall sense of humor. He never stopped smiling for the entire day, even when someone accidentally ran into him with their soda and spilled some on his shoe. This was my first time meeting him and I really enjoyed hanging out with him, even if he acted like a tour guide. He did give me a hug and a present when he came to pick me up, fed me food (and junk food), and just had a jolly good time with me and Tyson.

Guess he's not so bad after all.

Present:

My dancers learned the routine I showed them quicker than I thought they would and even danced the entire choreography for me. They were doing great and I enjoyed watching them have fun.

"I want you guys to keep listening to the song we've been dancing to and practice at least once a day," I responded to them. "Remember to continue playing the song I picked out and practice, practice, practice."

"What if I want to listen to another song and practice the routine?" someone asked.

"Okay but just know that you'll still have to do the routine to the song selected for the dance."

"Cool. Alright, we'll let you get back to your vacation. Have fun and bring gifts," another person joked.

"You wish. Be good." I ended the call then looked at the weather on my phone. "Sunny outside today…"

The door to my room opened and in came T.J. with his teddy bear in hand and a tired look on his face. I picked him up, sat him on my lap, and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Good morning," I said.

"Where's Daddy?" he asked.

"I think he went for a run or somewhere with Uncle Don," I said.

"I'm hungry."

"What do you want to eat?"

T.J. didn't say anything at first, just sat in my lap quietly, and stared at his teddy bear for a moment until he finally responded.

"Egg," he said.

"Okay, I responded.

"Tyra is asleep I did not wake her up."

"That's okay. She'll wake up very soon."

I went to the kitchen to get breakfast ready, put on a pot of coffee, and fed T.J. eggs and fruit while he watched Sesame Street on my iPad. I wasn't expecting Don to walk into the kitchen but when he did he startled me when I had closed the fridge door and saw him waving at me, huge grin and his face and all.

"Good morning!" he said.

"Morning," I said with a small wave. "Did you sleep well?"

"I sure did. How's my little nephew doing today?"

"Hi," T.J. said but didn't look up from Elmo talking to him through the screen.

"Kids and technology," Don said. "What's cooking?"

"I'm gonna make some eggs, some bacon, fruit, and oatmeal."

"Sounds good. You need help with anything?"

"Umm…if you want. No pressure."

"Let me whip up some more eggs for ya."

For someone who was…out there…Don sure was quite helpful today. I was actually able to sit down and rest my feet while him and Tyson played with the children outside in the backyard. I did a quick FaceTime with my theatre crew and took a power nap…not once did anyone bother me as I enjoyed my hour to myself.

Until my husband crawled on top of me to start kissing me on my face until I opened my eyes.

"What do you want?" I said softly.

"You." His response was sweet and to the point.

"What time is it?"

"Time for you to tell me what you want for lunch."

"Turkey sandwich, sharp cheddar, Mayo, tomato….vinegar….banana peppers…"

"Noted." He didn't stop kissing me as I continued to lay in bed with my eyes closed. "I love your cheeks." He gently grabbed my face to kiss the side of my cheek then kissed me on my lips.

"Go get my food, dude."

"In a minute."

"Now. Oh: and get me a smoothie, too. Strawberry banana."

"Alright." He rubbed a hand over my boob then said: "I used to play with these."

"You're a weirdo. Get out of the room," I said jokingly.

"Be right back with your food."

When Tyson told me the next day that he wanted to take the kids to the zoo, I just had to ask Don about his outfit from the 90's that he wore when he took me and Tyson to the zoo. He proudly said he did and commented he should've brought it with him at the zoo which made me happy as hell he didn't.

The kids had a ball looking at the different animals that they couldn't stop waving at with pure excitement. Tyra took a liking to the gorillas to the point where she slapped the glass they were behind with her tiny hands and said "Hey!" to get their attention. One spotted her then began to make its way to her which made me a bit uneasy so I quickly picked her up but stood still so Tyra could wave at the gorilla. The gorilla gave Tyra a small smile and a wave then retreated back to where their family was. Thank goodness that went well but I told Tyra to not slap her hand on any windows and to just wave at the animals.

T.J. was excited to see the elephants and started numbering them when he got a good view of the beautiful creatures.

"One, two, three….four….five! Daddy, there's five elephants!"

"Good job! I'm gonna teach you a new word: zō. That's elephant," Tyson said to T.J.

"Zō," T.J. repeated. "Got it."

I thought Don didn't have any stories to tell about his experiences at a zoo but he did have something to say indeed.

"Remember when we were eating some pizza when I took you two to the zoo and the random peacock stood next to our table the entire time?" he asked me and Tyson.

"Of course. I thought the thing was gonna eat me and my pizza," Tyson said. "Let's go get some pizza and let's see if it eats Tia this time."

"Ha ha, very funny."

We ate pizza but didn't have to worry about any peacocks bothering us while we ate. Don offered to get the kids some cotton candy but when I told him that the kids didn't need any right now, Tyson insisted that we get it for the kids to try. I relented and let Don go off and buy it but I quickly voiced my opinion about Tyson overriding what I said.

"I know you want the kids to have fun and try a bunch of junk food, but the kids had ice cream as soon as they got here. I don't want the kids to eat all of the junk food here then get sick."

"The kids aren't going to get sick, Tia. You're overreacting. They had a little bit of ice cream today."

"And some ice cream last night."

"Let Don buy junk food for the kids."

"After this, no more. It seems like whenever I say something to Don you get offended or you act like I'm being mean to him."

"I don't think that way, Tia. But I will say you need to loosen up and not be so tense sometimes when it comes to the kids."

"Excuse me for not wanting the kids to get sick."

"You know what? Just drop it okay? I know how to father the kids and I know I'm not going overboard with the junk food"

"And as their mother I'm going to intervene and say relax with the damn treats after this, Tyson!"

"Fine!"

Once Don had returned with the children to the table we were sitting at, we had to make sure everything was "fine" indeed.