Persephone
III
"Gray look out the window," I encourage the young boy. He's excitedly vibrating in his seat rattling off a million facts about dinosaurs. His eyes immediately go to the window and he gazes at the magnificence of Costa Rica.
Beside me, Zach is sleeping while listening to loud music.
"Zach?" I nudge the boy but he barely moves. "Zach wake up, we're about to touch down." Still nothing so I grab his shoulder and shake it. "Zach!"
"Phonie!" he yelps as he jolts awake.
Zach has two nicknames for me: Stef and Phonie. He calls me Stef normally and Phonie when he's upset. Both are names I never let anyone else call me; everyone else calls me Perry.
"Phonie? Aw Zach, have you woken on the wrong side of the plane seat?" I coo in a mocking tone.
"Shut up," he grumbles.
"You know I can't do that. Now look alive we're landing."
Zach rolls his eyes, he is unimpressed by the Airlines Boeing 757 landing on the Costa Rican tarmac.
III
It takes two hours of wrangling luggage, asking for directions, and corralling Gray for us to finally get on the ferry for Isla Nunbar.
The ferry itself is plastered with Jurassic World logos.
"How big is the island?" Gray inquires as I usher him onto the ramps for the ferry.
"Big," Zach answers absently.
"I'm sure we'll find out at the visitors center," I say.
"But how many pounds? Will they have that in the visitors center?" Gray prompts and I furrow my eyebrow in confusion. How would one know how much an island weighs?
"That doesn't make sense," Zach grumbles but Gray remains optimistic.
"Come on Perry lets get a spot at the front!"
III
The ferry sails across the water sending wind rushing past us in the nicest way. Gray and Zach are by my side holding to the railings as well.
"When they first opened, they had eight species. Now they have fourteen herbivores and six carnivores. That's like fifty tons of food a week," Gray states cheerily.
"That much? I eat more than that," I home and Gray chuckles.
Zach isn't paying attention, he's smiling at some pretty teenage girls on a lower deck. I try to ignore him and his disinterest.
A few minutes later, Isla Nublar comes into view and the ferry shoots towards it.
We arrive at be dock by ten minutes later.
"Gray stay close by or I'll make you hold my hand for the entire trip," I advise to keep the young boy near. He's been running ahead and I don't want to lose him. Gray nods and takes a grip on my sleeve anyway.
The boys and I disembark from the ship along with the other passengers. A park announcers voice is heard over a P.A. system.
"Welcome to Isla Nublar, home of Jurassic World. We hope you have a safe and enjoyable stay with us."
Zach abruptly stops as the announcement begins to repeat in other languages.
Zach nudges me and gestures ahead where a bored-looking woman wearing sunglasses, holding a sign with our names on it, awaits us.
"Who's that?" I mutter.
"Not Aunt Claire," Zach huffs.
"Where's Aunt Claire?" Gray questions and Zach shrugs sullenly.
Reluctantly we trudge over to meet the woman who introduces herself as Zara Young, Claire's assistant.
She takes us to the monorail system while barely speaking a word.
III
On the train Gray is seated next to me, Zach in the seat in front of us, and the ever watchful Zara is lounging behind us. Without her sunglasses, one can really see the boredom on her face. She's almost as bad as Zach who's crossing his arms with the most sullen expression.
Gray gleefully elbows me and prods Zach to gesture to a million things. I am patient and intent but Zach ignores him.
Outside the train, the beautiful landscape passes us by. The island is so full of plant life and natural beauty.
"Okay, those of you in the front of the train should be able to see our main gate, built from the gate of the original park, over twenty years ago," a monorail employ announces making Gray leap up. He takes my hand and pulls me to the front, pushing others aside as he goes.
The main entrance greatly resembles that of the original Jurassic Park, complete with lit torches, except it reads 'JURASSIC WORLD' in large blue letters.
Gray, the other passengers, as me watch in awe as the doors creak open, allowing the train to pass through.
The scenery and the park itself is all very surreal.
III
After the lovely ride, we get off at the Monorail Hub.
The amount of advertisements covering the place is almost equal to the number of people milling around.
Gray rushes excitedly through the crowd with my hand in his. The sweet boy doesn't care about the judgment of others and he doesn't care that he's 'too old' to hold my hand.
"Please obey all park rules. Proper attire, including shoes and shirts, must be worn at all times," the announcer says over the intercoms. The announcer also prattles about deals, rides, and special events.
Gray gawks at everything he sees in sharp contrast to Zach's glumness. He and Zara follow behind; she is having difficulty keeping pace with him. She checks her wristwatch and I resist rolling my eyes.
"Your aunt arranged to meet you at one o'clock," Zara informs as she checks her wristwatch. "Can he slow down?" she calls, somewhat annoyed. I snicker as I easily keep up with the exuberant boy.
"Nope," Zach deadpans.
Gray and I have already gotten on a nearby escalator and he begins to gesture excitedly to them.
"Come on!"
"Yeah hurry up Zachasoraus," I tease and he rolls his eyes.
"Whatever Persephodon," he snaps back and I laugh.
I have a feeling the nicknames will stick.
III
Zara opens the door and enters a lavish-looking hotel room with the boys and I entering behind her.
It was a short walk from the monorail hub to the resort.
I gape at the huge room, there are two beds, a couch, a large tv, a balcony, a full bathroom, and a kitchenette. Attached to the main room is another with a single bed and a half bath. The style is a rustic modern twist with sleek wood patterns and beige accents.
"Your aunt's got you VIP access. So you can get on all the rides without waiting in line," Zara explains and picks up a blue box waiting on the first bed. Inside lay the bright blue wristbands. Zara hands two to me and the last to Zach.
I slide mine on and then wrangle Gray into his. He is impatiently futzing with the big screen TV.
"Let's go!"
Zach, looking at his iPhone, goes and flops down on the bed. This kid makes me want to roll my eyes into the back of my skull. How can he have no appreciation for the miracle of science that this place is?
"Dude, she said we had to wait," Zach grumbles.
"Stop being rude to your brother," I hiss to him. He returns with a withering look to which I respond with my own crushing stare.
"Fine, I'll be civil," he relents and I grin.
"Thanks, Zach darling," I coo and ruffle his hair. He recoils and glares, but underneath I see a smile.
"I don't wanna wait anymore!" Gray whines. He runs and opens the windows, looking out at the park. Beyond the hotel room balcony, the sun burns bright onto Jurassic World, and built beside the fences of the Mosasaur Lagoon stands the Monorail. Standing big and proud, The Innovation Center can be seen from afar along with Main Street below it with massive amounts of tourists walking back and forth to each attractional building.
It's all so huge and slightly intimidating.
"I'm sure Miss Young would be willing to take us to a few of the attractions," I murmur to Gray and shoot Zara a pleading look. Gray will only grow more impatient and restless as the time passes. I'm convinced he'll escape the hotel and go off by himself if he's forced to wait too long. "Just ask nicely and use those puppy eyes." Gray grins widely and I wink at him slyly.
"Miss Zara would you pretty please take us to the park?" he begs and flashes the puppy eyes.
"Ugh fine," Zara grumbles and Gray cheers. "But not too many places." Gray is not dissuaded by her or Zach's lack of enthusiasm. He takes my hand and once again begins pulling me along.
This should be a great day regardless of Zach and Zara.
