Chapter 5:Monkeys
Everyone followed. They paid to get in and headed straight for a nearby cafe. Jack and Katie got soft pretzels, Sam got popcorn, and Teal'c and Jonas both got hamburgers, onion rings and milkshakes. They sat down at a table to eat. Jonas plunged an onion ring into his milkshake and ate it. Jack's eyes widened in horror.
-That's disgusting!!!
Jonas responded by putting another ring in and gobbled it down. Sam turned to Jack.
-Have you not seen him do that before?
-No, no, I think I would remember that.
Katie laughed.
-It was in Steveston, Oregon when dad wasn't there.
-Figures. Did anything else exciting happen in Oregon that I should know about?
Jonas turned to Jack.
-Did you know Major Carter could pick a lock?
Jack raised his eyebrows and turned to Sam.
-Is this true?
Sam nodded.
-So Sam can pick locks and Jonas boxes. What else don't I know about you guys?
Katie, Sam, Teal'c and Jonas all looked at each other and shrugged, as if not sure what to say. Jack sighed.
-Boy, just when you think you know somebody...come on, let's go enjoy the zoo.
They threw their trash away and started walking toward the animals. They came to the monkeys first and discovered they were Katie's favorite. She sat down on a bench, entranced by their playful antics. Jack sat down by her and sighed again.
-Figures you're a monkey person.
She looked away from the animals and smiled.
-I told you I love monkeys, just not the Monkees.
-How can you not love them? Not love Davy?
Katie put her hand on his shoulder.
-I know it's hard for you to accept Dad, but when they sing I think they sound like
dying hippos.
Jack put his hand to his heart as if shocked.
-Oh Katie...at least I know how you feel now.
He pretended to sniffle away tears. Katie slugged him.
-Ow. I wish you'd stop doing that.
-It's just too much fun.
She looked over at Sam, who was laughing hysterically.
-I bet you wish you could slug him.
-There are days...
Jack stood up, feigned being hurt.
-Jonas, Teal'c...what say we leave these two monkeys behind?
Teal'c frowned.
-I believe there are in fact 12 monkeys, O'Neill.
Jack sighed. Jonas laughed.
-I think he means Katie and Major Carter.
-I was not aware that they had become primates.
Jack smacked himself in the head.
-Well Jonas, it looks like you and I are the only sane ones here.
Katie walked over as if to punch him again. Jack smiled.
-It's okay you little insane monkey. You're welcome to join us, if you'd like.
-Gee thanks.
With that Katie and Sam took the lead, arm in arm, apparently having formed some sort of bond. Jack sighed.
-Well, I wasn't prepared for that.
Jonas walked up beside him.
-It was bound to happen eventually.
-I know, I just wish it wasn't so soon.
-Come on, we don't want to let those monkeys out of our sight.
Jack laughed.
-You're probably right.
Teal'c, Jack and Jonas followed Sam and Katie who were, by now, laughing like schoolgirls. They stopped by the amphibians and reptiles, but nobody was particularly interested in them. They had been walking now for half an hour and were tired. Teal'c and Jack sat down on a bench.
-O'Neill, what is the purpose of this zoo.
-Well, it's for people to see all the animals.
-So, these creatures are incarcerated against their will purely for the enjoyment of
spectators?
-Yah, pretty much.
-This is indeed a strange world.