Clara kept on driving undistracted until she saw the exit sign she was looking for.
"Hamlin, New York, Next Exit"
Clara exited looking for a lodging place where cabins were supposed to be for rental close to the shore of lake Ontario. Tiredness was getting the best of her because she had driven for almost 8 hours straight.
Finally she stopped at a place where cabins were for rental. She estimated that the shore of the lake was not far away.
Carlos had not spoken much during the trip except for mentioning the weather or an isolated comment about the freeway. Aurora hadn't stopped cuddling Lyle who looked a little better although it seemed he could hardly move. Hector fell asleep on his seat holding Hank in his arms. Finally Luis and Alba exchanged some sentences during the trip, when they paused talking they sometimes found themselves staring at each other which caused them to blush, however, after a few seconds they looked to the front again like nothing had happened. Anyway, Luis felt upset with Carlos for being yelled at before.
Clara stepped out of the car and went to the manager's office. Inside his cabin Clara found out that he was a grumpy and untrusting person. He would try to look over Clara's shoulder toward the car.
- We are 4 adults. – said Clara.
- Certainly. – said the old man handing the check in book to Clara.
Clara signed up and got back to the car after receiving the key for the cabin she had rented. She had to drive the car down a steep road to reach the cabin that was in the middle of a clearing. The Swiss style cabin was rustic and quite small.
Everybody stepped out of the car to get indoors. Clara and Hector took all the grocery bags inside with the supplies they had bought on the way. Aurora stepped down quickly holding Lyle in his arms to seek shelter. Alba ran swiftly inside the house to avoid being seen while Hank dragged himself on the ground in a very carefree way. Finally Carlos stepped down and walked toward the door of the house, Luis was pacing behind him.
- Carlos…….- he said with a pathetic little voice. – I'm sorry….
- What? – replied Carlos turning around looking at the sad looking creature.
He approached him and kneeled before him placing his hands on his shoulders.
- What are you sorry for? – asked Carlos a bit puzzled.
- You are mad at me because I ruined your life…… I'm sorry about it…- he said in a pitiful tone.
- Wait…..you're wrong…..If I was mad it was because I was hurt. In fact, I think you're the coolest thing that has ever happened to me in my life; and, you know what? I'm really gonna miss you when all this is over.
- Really? – said Luis with a light of hope in his eyes.
- Yeah…… so, we're gonna continue with this together. Do you agree?
- I agree buddy! – said Luis shaking Carlos' hand and following him to the house with a big smile on his face.
Clara had unfolded the map on the living room table. The grocery bags were on top of the counter next to the kitchen.
- What do you think. – said Clara calling the attention of everybody. – Do we eat now?
After they agreed they fixed supper. When they decided to start eating their meal Luis, Alba and Hank stepped closer timidly
- We……uhhhhh….would like to take a bite too.
- So you made up your mind. But why? – asked Carlos.
- Well, we had never tried out sleeping before and when we did interesting things happened. So we thought that we could feel something interesting if we eat. – explained Luis while the other two nodded their head in approval.
- Ok, … then table for three it is. – said Clara handing over three new plates for three new patrons.
- Wait….! And Lyle….? – interrupted Alba.
Aurora stepped closer holding Lyle wrapped in a blanket.
- He wants something too. – she said cheerfully.
- Ok, then give him something mild. – replied Clara handing over to Aurora a bowl of soup.
So, very slowly Aurora, using a spoon, started feeding the soup to Lyle who seemed to get a little stronger.
Everybody else found the food so palatable that they gobbled it up. They even went for another plate, to the extent that the groceries they had bought ran out by the end of the evening.
- I liked you better when you didn't eat. – said Hector mocking at the monsters.
Everybody laughed with the comment and finished their supper. Then they split up to do different things.
Carlos and Clara sat on the leaving room to analyze the map to figure out a way to get across the border. Hector went to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with water so Hank could splash right in.
- Hey! This is fun!!! – yelled Hank as he squirmed around the small bathtub splashing water all around. – I never though I would see water again!!
- Just don't splash me. – said Hector sitting close to the bathtub.
Aurora found a small plastic baby bathtub and filled it up with warm water. She placed Lyle gently into the water up to the neck and began rubbing his feathers softly while she hummed a lullaby.
- That's very nice……..- he whispered opening his eyes slightly.
- Shhhh…… don't talk….- continued Aurora while she continued cuddling him. – When I had temperature, mom used to sing that song to me while bathing me in the bathtub to make me feel better.
- Thanks Aurora. – said Lyle.
- No. Thanks to you…… - said Aurora putting the tip of her finger on the tip of his beak.
It was dark outside and Luis and Alba were sitting one next to the other on the steps to the entrance of the cabin.
- You know? I think I have enjoyed having human sensations. – said Luis staring at the dark horizon.
- You mean like eating?
- Well, that's one thing….. but also the sensation of friendship and trust.
- Do you think we'll have enough time to experiment something else? – said Alba who blushed as a tomato when she noticed that Luis was staring at her listening attentively.
- What happened? – asked Luis very concerned.
- Well……… is that…… I am…….
In that moment Carlos and Clara had stepped out interrupting the moment when he cleared his throat.
- Well. I think is time for you guys to come inside. – said Carlos.
- Ok. – replied Luis entering the house with Alba following close behind.
At the end of the night they organized the places to sleep. Aurora next to Lyle in one bed, Clara in the other, Hector on the living room sofa, and Carlos inside a sleeping bag on the floor.
The creatures gathered on the beds of Clara and Aurora.
Although their journey had been long, they suspected it was about to become even more complicated.