Not long after they had stepped out of the apartment building, Gerald got the shock of his life. Both Maria and Shadow had suddenly disappeared from his sight.

'Shadow Maria' Shouted Gerald

'We're over here' Gerald heard Shadow call from a not very far distance.

Gerald glanced across the street, he saw Shadow and Maria waving and smiling at him.

'Shadow's shoes are so fast, you didn't even notice that we're had gotten away you' Cheerfully exclaimed Maria, waving and smiling

'I'm the fastest kid in the world' Shadow declared, racing across the street and grabbing Gerald by the hand.

He then ran back to Maria and stopped next to her with Gerald now by his side.

'Shadow you must not run across a busy road, You and Maria could've been hurt by the traffic' Gerald told Shadow with a hand on Shadow's shoulder

'I thought we're supposed to be faster than traffic' Shadow replied, pointing at the traffic

'Shadow, we need to look both ways while crossing the street; also we must always cross at a pedestrian crossing' Gerald replied, pointing to a crossing that was just ahead of them.

'What's a pedestrian crossing' Asked Shadow

'I Know, I saw one in a picture book, it's white stripes on the road like what Grandpa is pointing at' Maria answered, smiling at them.

'You're correct Maria, we must always use a pedestrian crossing to cross a road and also make sure all the vehicles have stopped or slowed down first. Sometimes pedestrians crossing can be controlled by traffic lights too, I will teach you about those another day. Gerald added, taking both Shadow and Maria by the hand.

He held each by one hand, while he crossed the road with them. The library was on the other side of the crossing. But before they could enter the building a young blond-haired boy no older than 5 approached Shadow

'I like your costume, I want a costume like that too. Responded the boy, smiling

'What's a costume?' Asked Shadow

'We not supposed to talk to a stranger' exclaimed Maria, pulling Shadow by the hand away from the boy.

'I'm not a stranger' declared the boy, he then reached for Shadow's ears.

'Don't touch my ears' Shadow said while pushing the boy's hand away.

The innocent Hedgehog was yet to be aware of his strength, he had accidentally hurt the boy's hand with his strength. Suddenly the child burst into tears.

'Mummy, he hurt me' Screamed the child, running over to a woman.

Gerald then grabbed both Maria and Shadow's hands again and walked into the library at a faster pace than usual. He then hurried them down to the picture book area of the library.

'I think it will be a good idea to only interact with me and Maria at the moment.' Gerald Informed Shadow.

'Why?' Asked Shadow, picking up a book with a picture of an ambulance on the cover.

'Because currently you're new to this universe and you look and are different to everyone else; One day you will be able to interact with others but at the moment it may not be a good idea.' Gerald responded, noticing another child approaching Shadow.

This Child was a young girl with red hair who looked no older than 3.

'I want that mask' declared the girl, walking towards Shadow.

This time Shadow knew what to do, he then turned his back and walked away from the child while still carrying the book he had picked up off the shelf.

'Sweetie, my boy is very shy, please don't go near him or talk to him' Gerald told the girl, standing between her and Shadow.

Gerald was starting to regret taking Maria and Shadow to the library, he hadn't thought about how others would respond to Shadow or how Shadow and Maria would be in traffic. Gerald sighed a breath of relief when he saw the young girl's mother take her by her hand and leave the library. He then looked over at where Shadow and Maria were. They were both sitting on large square-shaped blue cushions while looking at pictures in books. He was then able to relax for about a minute until he noticed Shadow had vanished from the cushions.

'Where's Shadow?' exclaimed Gerald.

'He's climbing that pretty tree' responded Maria, joining Shadow in his next round of mischief.

Chrismas was only 1 week away, in the library there was a green tree decorated in gold and silver tinsel with matching baubles of the same colours.

Shadow was now climbing the tree while Maria was pulling the decorations off the tree.

'Grandpa why has this tree been made pretty?' asked Maria, while playing with a gold bauble.

Shadow had now climbed off the tree, he was now playing with some tinsel like a kitten.

'It's Christmas next week.' responded Gerald while he untangled the tinsel from Shadow and placed the decorations back on the tree.

'What's Christmas?' Asked Shadow, forever asking questions like a curious 4-year-old.

'It's a time of year that you bake and decorate cookies, I remember tree-shaped cookies in a book about Christmas. Replied Maria, feeling important that she was able to answer a question for Shadow.

'That's correct Maria, but there's more to Christmas than just cookies.' Declared Gerald

'Like what? ' asked Shadow

'Can we bake cookies' Asked Maria

'Of course, we can, I will also teach you both about Christmas. Gerald responded.

He then found a few picture books about Christmas. He was also ready to get Shadow and Maria back to their current home. He had decided that it was best for both of them to remain at home currently over the holiday season.

'What's a cookie?' Asked the curious Hedgehog.

'Actually, I only know that we bake and decorate cookies. replied Maria.

'well, I will show you both later in the week. Let's return home with the books you've chosen now.' Declared Gerald as he walked to the counter with a pile of about a dozen books.

The professor used his library card to issue all the books since he didn't think it was best to get Shadow and Maria their cards yet.

'Your grandchild looks so adorable in that costume' Remarked the librarian while scanning the books.

'He never wants to take it off and he is a very shy boy. Responded Gerald.

Shadow just turned his back from the librarian, obeying Gerald's orders. The professor then got Maria and Shadow out of the library as fast as he could. He now remembered that he had to get some supplies from the local grocery store. He was dreading how they would both cope with being in a store. That was the least of his worries; suddenly a car beeped its horn while passing them, the driver was yelling

'nice costume!'

Both Shadow and Maria covered their ears and jumped up in the air. They had been startled by the sudden sound.

'I don't like that sound' responded Maria still covering her ears.

'Don't worry, you will get used to it' Gerald reassured, putting a hand on Shadow and Maria's shoulders.

'I want to go home' responded Shadow.

'Just one more place and you can stay home for a while.'

'Where are we going next?' Asked Maria, starting to skip

'We're going to the grocery store to get more supplies. Replied Gerald.

'What's a grocery store?' wondered Shadow.

'It's a store where we buy food and household essentials.' responded Gerald.

By now they had approached the grocery store, at the front were silver steel trolleys with red plastic handles bars. Maria then approached one and climbed inside the trolley.

'Look, I found a car.' excitedly exclaimed Maria.

'I will drive the car' declared Shadow pushing the trolley.

'Maria, you don't sit in trolleys they're for food. Informed Gerald, lifting Maria out of the trolley.

'But Grandpa, that boy is sitting in one' Maria declared, pointing to a trolley that a woman was pushing with a toddler sitting in the child seat.

'Small children who are younger than 5 sit in those seats, because they might get tired walking around the shop. Gerald replied, noticing that Shadow had climbed into the seat of the trolley.

Shadow was now sitting in a children's seat on the trolley, while Maria pushed the trolley as long as Shadow remained in that seat. Gerald was not concerned, he had also noticed that since taking Shadow on this outing that he was mentally at a 3-year-old level. Also due to spending her 1st 12 years in space, Maria wasn't too much ahead of Shadow mentally. He wasn't sure how long it would take Shadow to develop or how long Maria would take to mature as well. It had been 3 months since was created, he was just like a newborn at the beginning. He had so far learnt to walk and talk in that time.

Maria had now pushed the cart into the shop, but she stopped and waited for her Grandfather to approach them before moving any further. They were now in the fruit and vegetable area of the grocery store. Shadow was eyeing the apples, he had mistaken them for a bouncy ball, like the red bouncy balls they owned on the Ark.

'It's a ball' declared the curious hedgehog, leaning out of the trolley.

He then grabbed an apple and through before Gerald had any time to react. The apple then hit a woman's leg.

'Oww' screamed the Woman, glancing over at the trolley.

Obeying his creator, Shadow kept his lips sealed and just looked away from the woman.

'Can you please at least apologise Demanded the woman, approaching the trolley?

'Please excuse my son, he's very, I swear it was an accident and we're very sorry' Gerald apologized, rubbing the back of his head.

'Your child looks feral anyway wearing that costume in public and throwing fruit at strangers.' muttered the woman, walking away from Shadow and the others.

'What's feral?' Asked Shadow.

'It's nothing really, let me explain to you both what apples are.' Said Gerald, changing the subject.

Since being on the Ark Maria had only eaten dried or canned fruit and vegetables. Shadow had refused to eat any of the fruit and vegetables on the Ark, he had only tried powdered milk mixed with bottled water. Shadow didn't need to eat as much or even drink much fluid as other lifeforms, but Gerald wasn't sure if bad nutrition could lead to him getting weaker over time.

'I know what apples are, it's a sauce that comes in a tin.' Declared Maria, remembering the canned apple sauce on the Ark.

'That's correct, but apple sauce comes from this fruit called an apple' Replied, placing half a dozen apples in a paper bag.

After only choosing one fruit, Gerald had decided to move on to the next aisle, to avoid another million questions and more awkward behaviour. The next aisle was the aisle he now regretted going down. In the aisle was a fridge with chilled products, including Shadow's only choice of nourishment; milk. Before Gerald could react Shadow reached for a bottle of milk, he then removed the lid and started to drink it. It also only got worse, because Maria had joined Shadow in this round of Mischief.

'Look, this milk is brown' excitedly exclaimed the girl removing the lid and drinking out the bottle.

'I want to try brown milk' announced Shadow grabbing a bottle, then removing the lid and gulping out of it.

'Stop' exclaimed Gerald, taking the milk of the mischief-makers.

'We need to pay for items before we try them. Gerald informed then, putting the lids back on the milk.

'What's pay?' asked Shadow.

'I will explain it all to you when we get back to our apartment. Gerald grabbed the trolley and pushed it towards the checkout.

After this trip to the grocery store, Gerald had decided to get the groceries delivered to the apartment, he would take them out shopping again once he had explained to them about money and paying for everything they need or want. His plan was now to get them home as soon as possible. When they approached the checkout, Shadow and Maria noticed the colourful packaging on the boxes and bags of candy.

'What's this?' Asked Shadow, reaching and grabbing a bag of M and Ms.

'Those are delicious candy, we will buy them if you promise not to touch anything else.' Answered Gerald.

'OK, I promise not to touch anything else' Promised Shadow, handing the bag of candy to Gerald

'Grandpa, can you buy these for me and Shadow?' asked Maria, placing 2 cherry-flavoured lollipops into the trolley.

'I saw a girl carrying one of these in a picture book' Added Maria.

'I will buy you both these treats just this once today' Gerald responded.

'These are sometimes foods' Gerald, quickly putting all the groceries on the counter, including the 2 half-full bottles of chocolate milk and the 3 quarter-full bottles of milk.

Gerald got them out of the grocery and hurried them back to the apartment. He knew that for the rest of today he would be teaching them about money and the names of fruit and vegetables. This would be the 1st lesson in his new course, called; newcomers to Earth life skills.