To The Zoo We Go!
After they got their shopping done Elliot and Wesley took Mai home with all her new stuff and got her ready for the next activity.
Zoey's parents had offered to take Mai and them to the zoo and the park for the afternoon.
So they got Mai out of those old tight clothes and into her new Mr. Bear shirt and Mr. Bear friends skirt with blue ribbons and white shoes. Once this task was done they threw away her old clothes.
Once they got her dressed they got ready to meet Zoey and her parents, which was half way past the café and Zoey's place.
"Hey you guys, over here!" Zoey called waving to Elliot, Mai and Wesley.
"Hey guys." Elliot said softly as Mai buried her head in his shoulder.
"Don't "hey guys" us. We've been waiting here for fifteen minutes." Zoey exclaimed making Mai hide more.
"Zoey be nice. You're scaring Mai." Suzie said softly pointing to Mai who was hiding in Elliot's shoulder, shaking a bit.
"Oh right. Sorry Elliot, Mai." Zoey said bowing in apology.
"Its fine, we were a little late. We had a hard time getting Mai out of her old clothes, didn't we?" Elliot asked bouncing her up and down a little.
"Wight." Mai said giggling as Elliot bounced her up and down.
Soon Elliot had her up on his shoulders holding her legs tightly to him, while she had her hands on his head so that she wouldn't fall off and hurt herself. However, in case she were to fall Wesley was right behind him ready to catch her if she did.
"Daddy?" Mai asked softly.
"What is it Mai?" Elliot asked as they waited in line.
"Why couldn't I bwing Mr. Bear with?" Mai asked softly missing her best friend.
"Mr. Bear couldn't come because he could get lost or stolen. We don't want that to happen now do we? Besides, we'll take pictures and show them to him." Elliot said softly as they made it to where they were to get their wristbands.
Elliot paid for them after he handed Mai to Wesley.
Once they were paid for, four adults $12.00 each, one teenager $10.00 and one toddler $5.00. The total came to $63.00.
Each of them then got their wristbands so that if they left for a few hours they could come back. Zoey's parents got black and white wristbands. Zoey got a pink and white wristband. Wesley got a brown and white wristband. Elliot got a blue and white wristband. And little Mai got a sparkly turquoise and white wristband.
Once inside the zoo they started walking around looking at different animals.
The animals that they saw were monkeys, lions, tigers, bears/polar bears/ panda bears, birds, zebras, snakes, spiders, iguanas, jaguars, cheetahs, turtles, elk, deer, fish, elephants, Giraffes, aardvarks, camels, Kangaroos, Leopards, hyenas, Llamas, Rhinoceros, Wolves, Ostriches, goats, Crocodiles, alligators, rabbits, sheep, seals, dauphins, whales, sea horses, otters, eels, stingrays, jellyfish, horses and then a bunch of animals. (I don't know much about zoos.)
After all the animals they saw at the zoo/petting zoo they had a nice picnic lunch in the Zoo's park, where Zoey, Mai and Elliot played, while Zoey's parents and Wesley talked.
So now that we've got that out of the way let's talk about what happened around some of the animals.
"So what do you want to see first?" Elliot asked Mai as she clung to Elliot's neck.
After he asked that Mai started to peak around and then "those." Mai said as she pointed to a large cage with monkeys in it.
They got to the railing indicating that they couldn't go any farther and Mai watched with interest, laughing at the monkeys as they played and threw stuff at each other.
The next animals that they saw were the leopards, jaguars and cheetahs, which were all right next to each other. These animals caught Mai's interest incredibly fast; she liked them. She'd watch them and they'd watch her. It was like they were talking to each other, but they weren't.
When it was time to go see the bears Mai didn't want to go. She wanted to stay and the watch the "big kitties."
"Mai, its time to see the bears." Elliot said picking, well tying to pick her up.
"No! I want to stay with da big kitties!" Mai cried. She was holding onto the bars and wouldn't let go.
"Mai, I've got pictures, you can see the big kitties every day." Elliot said making her look at him with tears in her eyes.
"Mai…" Elliot started, bending down to be eyelevel with her. "I got pictures so that you can see them every day, just like the monkeys. And think of this; if we don't move on now, we won't get home sooner. And if we don't get home soon Mr. Bear will be lonely, won't he?" Elliot asked.
When Mai didn't move and kept looking at the "big kitties" Elliot thought he'd have to punish her, but she slowly let go of the bars and waddled over to Elliot and wrapped her arms around his neck standing on her tippy toes so that she could reach.
As she did this Elliot sighed in relief, but was shocked when he felt her tears on his neck.
"I don't want to leave em." Mai said softly as tears came down more.
"I know Mai, but we have to go and see the other animals. You guys can go ahead and we'll just meet you up at the entrance at about six. What do you say?" Elliot asked.
"Ok, if you say so." Zoey's parents and Wesley said.
Zoey on the other hand said she was staying with them.
Zoey's parents and Wesley headed off to look at the other animals while Zoey did something else.
When they were out of site Elliot found a bench and sat down, while bouncing Mai up and down gently on his knee, while rubbing her back and saying soothing words.
A few minutes later Zoey showed up with three ice-cream cones.
"Here." Zoey said causing Elliot and Mai to look up.
"Zoey? What are you doing here?" Elliot asked as Mai rubbed her eyes.
"I decided to stay with you guys. I bought some ice-cream cones for you guys too. So here." Zoey said handing Elliot a chocolate cone for him and a vanilla cone for Mai.
Mai held onto the ice-cream cone shakily, staring at it not knowing what to do with it; she was never allowed of have ice-cream before.
"Mai what's wrong?" Zoey asked as she sat down.
"She doesn't know what to do with it? I don't think her mother would let her have it." Elliot said sighing as he finished his and Mai's started to melt, running down her hand.
"Zoey, take Mai for a second, I'm gonna throw this one away and buy her a new one." Elliot said taking the cone from Mai then handed her to Zoey and walked to the ice-cream place, after throwing away the old one.
When he came back Mai was still crying and Zoey was trying to calm her down, not really succeeding in it.
"Mai, Mai you need to calm down." Elliot said looking at her and slowly she calmed down.
"W-w-w- What dat for?" Mai asked looking at the new ice-cream cone.
"This is for you, if you behave that is." Elliot as she watched the cone.
"…Otay." Mai said softly as he gave her the cone, which she slowly started to lick.
Mai didn't really understand what it was, but she liked it.
Several times Mai would take too big of a bite and would experience a brain freeze and then would cry out, holding her head tightly.
While she held her head she would get ice-cream in her hair and Elliot would sigh and get what hair that was in the cone out.
"Ok. You ready to see the bears now?" Elliot asked as she finished the ice-cream & cone.
"Yes…" Mai slowly as Elliot picked her up.
As they were walking away from the cats area Mai waved bye to them sadly.
"Bye bye big kitties." Mai said softly as she wrapped her arms around Elliot's neck and her legs around his waist while she buried her face in his shoulder, tears falling.
"I'm sorry Mai, but we need to see the other animals too." Elliot said as he felt her tears.
Soon they got to the bears and Mai was watching them with somewhat of a smile.
The next few animals that they saw were the Giraffes, zebras, Llamas, elk, deer, camels and Kangaroos.
When Mai saw them she was all smiling again; they were far enough away from the lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs that Mai couldn't see them anymore that she forgot all about them.
Next they saw the elephants. Mai wasn't too fond of the elephants; they scared her. The reason that she's scared of them was because they way too big for her tastes.
When they saw the elephants Mai almost fell off of Elliot's shoulders. She would've fallen backwards onto the ground if Elliot hadn't had his hands around her legs and if Zoey wasn't behind them to catch her.
The elephants had gotten all riled up and started stomping around and then got as close as they could to the fencing keeping them in.
Mai was barely hanging on Elliot when she fell. Zoey had Mai by her underarms when she told Elliot he could let go.
"Oh My God! Mai are you ok sweetie?!" Elliot asked panicking.
"DADDY!" Mai cried scared running to him as Zoey put her down to the ground.
Elliot picked her up as she cried into his shoulder as he rocked her back forth, trying to get her to calm down.
About ten minutes later Mai started to calm down, but was still very shaky.
For the rest of the time that they had to look at all the other animals they saw them all and then Mai asked something.
"Daddy?" Mai asked softly, scared thinking it'd be "no."
"What is it baby?" Elliot asked worried at the scared tone in her voice.
"Can we see da big kitties again?" Mai asked softly.
"Umm, yeah I guess we could. We still have half an hour before its six and from here it takes ten minutes to get to them." Elliot said softly as they started to head towards the big kitties.
Once they got there they had about fifteen minutes to sit and watch the big kitties and that's exactly what Mai did, sat there and watched them, as they watched her.
As the fifteen minutes were drawing near Elliot thought that he was gonna have to talk to Mai again, like he did before, but this time however, Mai came right to him.
"Otay, I'm rewedy to go now." Mai said softly as she lifted her arms up, ready for Elliot to pick her up and take her to the next place.
At The Front Gate:
At the front gate Zoey's parents and Wesley were patiently waiting for them so that they could have their picnic.
At The Park:
Elliot had forgotten to give Mai her pills half an hour ago so all she had was half a turkey sandwich, some carrots, half a granola bar, and a bunch of koolaid.
Elliot had a turkey sandwich and a half, carrots, the other half of the granola bar, milk, celery and an apple.
Zoey had tuna, carrots, granola bar and koolaid.
Zoey's parents had the same thing as Elliot.
After they were all done eating Zoey took Mai and Elliot to the park's playground just across the park where they had the picnic.
Zoey's parents and Wesley stayed back to talk.
With Zoey's Parents & Wesley:
They were watching Elliot, Mai and Zoey playing on the playground.
"She's such a sweet little girl. I swear he'll make a great dad." Suzie said watching them.
"Yeah that's true. At least he's taking the responsibility of taking care of her." Adam said.
"Yeah, well that's how Elliot was raised. His parents would've loved her." Wesley said softly.
"So Wesley, how long have you known Elliot for?" Suzie and Adam asked.
"I've known Elliot since he was about well Mai's age pretty much." Wesley said simply.
"We see. He sounds like a good kid; he's very responsible." Adam said calmly.
"And you have little Mai; she's so adorable. Elliot's really smart too isn't he?" Suzie asked.
"Yeah she is. And yes Elliot is very smart; he graduated high school when he was fifteen; five years after his parents were killed. Then he just graduated college when he was eighteen. You know I'm kind of glad that Mai came into the picture." Wesley said sighing.
"He is a smart kid. Holy cow!" Adam said in shock.
"Umm why are you happy she came into the picture?" Suzie asked curious.
"Oh that's simple. In the last eight years now since he's parents have been dead Elliot's been somewhat of a stick-in-the-mud. Each year on the anniversary of his parent's death he's always really upset that day and does something stupid, like he did four years ago. However out of that mistake he got Mai, a very adorable two and half about to be three year old daughter. Anyways in the past eight and a half years Elliot's done nothing but own the café we live in. He also only worked on whatever it is he usually works on, usually science, math and history. But now that he has Mai he's lightened up a lot. Even though it's only really been a day and a half." Wesley explained remembering everything that's happened in the past eight and a half years.
"Oh we see." Suzie and Adam said softly as they all sighed, watching the three from afar.
With Elliot, Mai & Zoey:
Elliot was lightly pushing Mai on a swing while Zoey herself was swinging.
As Elliot pushed Mai she was giggling and having more fun then she'd had so far.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Mai cried as she squealed with happiness.
"What is it Mai?" Elliot asked as he stopped the swing.
"Doze! Doze! I want go on doze!" Mai cried looking at the slides.
"Ok. Let's get you out of this swing then." Elliot said, but couldn't really figure out how to get her out of the swing.
When he couldn't Zoey started laughing at him and then got Mai out of the swing and put on the ground.
Once on the ground Mai started running toward the slides with Zoey and Elliot following.
Zoey followed Mai up to the slides while Elliot waited at the bottom of the slide to catch Mai so that she wouldn't go flying off and get hurt.
They played on the slides for about fifteen minutes before she wanted to play on the monkey bars. She tried the low ones first and then the bigger kids ones. She did the low ones all by herself; she was so proud of herself. However, with the bigger ones Elliot helped her with those ones.
Next they played on the marry-go-round. Mai had fun on it, but she also became really dizzy and couldn't walk straight, not that she really walked straight in the first place.
They then, for the rest of the time played in the sandbox.
Zoey was fine; she just got sand on her knees and in her shoes.
Elliot did ok; he got sand in his shoes, on his knees, and on his face.
Mai on the other hand got it everywhere; in her shoes, shorts, shirt, face, hair, knees and panties. However, I don't think she really cared. She was having fun.
While they were playing in the sandbox guess who showed up. That's right Mark showed up.
"Zoey, what are you doing? Let me rephrase that. What are you doing with him? And who's she?" Mark asked as he just noticed Mai. (Genius right? NOT!)
"I'm helping ELLIOT take care of Mai, HIS daughter." Zoey said making some of the words stand out.
"Fine, well I guess you forgot about OUR date TWO HOURS AGO!" Mark exclaimed making words stand out, also scaring Mai as she hid behind Elliot, her tiny hands holding onto his shirt, shaking.
"Shoot! I totally did forget. I guess I was just having so much fun. MARK DON'T! SHE'S AFRAID OF PEOPLE SHE DOESN'T KNOW!" Zoey cried out as Mark went to look at Mai who was still hiding behind Elliot.
Mark found her and she started backing away and around until she found and forced her way into Elliot's arms, clutching to his shirt, shaking.
"Mark you really should listen to Zoey. You are scaring Mai." Elliot said as he got up, not knowing Mai was clutching to his shirt. So when he stood up Mai was just hanging there by his shirt; he didn't realize she was clinging until he felt her legs wrap around his waist. When he felt that he immediately held onto Mai tightly.
"So daughter huh? I knew you weren't perfect, unlike me." Mark said in a cocky tone.
"Mark you need to back off now!" Zoey said firmly.
"What? Zoey what's wrong with you?" Mark asked shocked. He had thought she hated him.
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? Come on Elliot, I think it's time we get you, Mai and Wesley home." Zoey said as she turned to walk to where the others were, Elliot following closely with Mai.
With Everybody:
"Mom, Dad. It's time to go." Zoey said in an annoyed tone.
"Zoey what's wrong?" Adam asked.
"Mark. He's what's wrong. I don't wanna talk about it." Zoey said as she picked up the picnic basket and headed towards the car, everybody following her.
It was about nine by the time that Elliot, Wesley and Mai got home and Mai was already half asleep.
At Home With Elliot & Mai:
Wesley had just taken a shower and went to meet Renee somewhere for their date.
"Ok Mai it's time for another bath." Elliot said softly as she noticed she was half asleep.
He'd let her just go to sleep but the problem was he couldn't let her go to bed covered in sand everywhere. So he picked out one of her new pairs of pajamas; the black, blue and purple one with stars and moons all over them.
Once he got her pajamas picked out he sat her in the tub and started to get the sand out of her hair and off her body.
Once she was clean Elliot got her into her pajamas and got the sand off of his knees and face.
"Daddy? Can we finish Awaddin?" Mai asked softly/groggily.
"We'll see." Elliot said as he gently picked up.
"Otay." Mai said as she was barely hanging onto Elliot.
She had her knees tucked up by Elliot's stomach while one of her arms was around his neck and her other was just hanging there by her side while her face was on his shoulder, half asleep, while Elliot held her so she wouldn't fall off.
"Ok. Here we go." Elliot said as he set her by the wall on his bed and tucked her in.
"Daddy?" Mai asked.
"Yes?" Elliot asked, knowing the answer.
"Can we…finish Awaddin…now?" Mai asked rubbing her eyes and yawning a big yawn.
"Sure, we can continue Aladdin." Elliot said handing her Mr. Bear while Neko II jumped up on the pillow above her head.
"Ok, now where did I put it? Oh right its down stairs. I'll be right back ok baby?" Elliot said heading to the door.
"Otay." Mai said lying down.
Before Elliot opened his door to go downstairs to get Aladdin he smiled.
Five Minutes Later:
By the time Elliot got back to his room to read to her he smiled slightly and chuckled as he leaned against his door frame.
For there on his bed Mai lay sprawled out with Mr. Bear in her hands and Neko II above her head as Mai slept soundly; she had kicked the covers off her and her shirt had popped up a little reveling her little tummy.
Elliot walked over to his desk and set the book down before going over to his bed.
When he got there he pulled her shirt down so it was covering her stomach again, then he gently lifted her legs up and pulled down the covers and covered her back up.
When she was covered up again she rolled over on her side and her hair fell over her face.
Elliot then gently tucked her hair behind her ear and then got up and put on a pair of sleep pants and a sleep shirt.
Once he got dressed he climbed into his bed and pulled Mai to him and fell asleep, waiting for the events that would happen the next day…
There you go.
What'cha think?
Tell me.
Review.
Next chapter will b called "The Funeral=Disaster & The Shot!"
Write Soon, SarT55.