Chapter 6: Preparations

"Are we going to Minnesota?" Thought a stunned Blu. He couldn't believe they would be going back to their home where he grew up! He was shocked, shocked, happy and amazed! All the emotions were bubbling up in Blu's head and he couldn't believe they would be back there! To be honest, it never even crossed his mind that he would ever see that place, unless it was on the internet, but it could still happen! All eyes were on Blu, who stared at Linde with a stunned smile, laughing at his reaction.

"No kidding Blu. Tomorrow at 12.00 p.m., we have a plane. We're flying to the city where we grew up!" The woman also added excitedly. Everyone was under positive excitement hearing this news, but Linda and Blu were downright euphoric at the thought of the trip.

"To make it even more special we'll be staying there for up to a week! You will be able to reminisce about the good old days," replied Tulio.

"The good times are now, with you. You know that," said Linda quietly, hugging him.

"I know darling, I'm just teasing" muttered Tulio kissing her.

"Minnesota, is that the place you were talking about Daddy?" Asked Carla with confusion.

"Yes, Carla. It's that town...all in all, it will be interesting to go to your old home Blu. Honestly, it could be an interesting experiment " replied Jewel.

"An experiment?" Repeated Blu, not sure what his beloved meant.

"You know... you used to not be able to fly, I'm curious how you were able to live so many years without this freedom...did you even need it?" Jewel clarified. Blu pondered the answer for a moment, scratching the back of his neck wandering somewhere in his thoughts for a moment until he returned to the ground shrugging his wings.

"To be honest it's hard to tell. At this point I can consider that flying makes life easier, but life at home didn't require it. Oh...and I also didn't have anyone to teach me how to do it..." Blu added. Although it seemed to Jewel that this would make her husband slightly sad, he approached it as a normal topic. He did not seem to be moved by the fact that his childhood years were spent only with humans. Apparently he was not looking at the past.

"I can see that you all like the idea of flying to our old home...however, you must bear in mind that the temperature...or rather the climate, may be quite hard for you to get used to at first" Linda communicated. Blu knew perfectly well what the woman was talking about, he rarely ventured outside as it was nightmarishly cold, almost, unbearable! The climate in Minnesota was quite demanding for birds, especially his species. No less, Linda's warning didn't create some sort of negative atmosphere around flying out, everyone was excited at the thought of leaving. Blu and Linda wanted to visit their old home and the rest wanted to explore the new place and learn about the former life of their part of the family.

"OK, but let's finish packing. We have a bag left for toiletries and hygiene items..." Linda said. She got up from the couch and headed to the bathroom to collect some hygiene products. Moments later she returned with toothpaste, shampoo, lotions, perfume, eyelash markers and a whole small bag of toiletries.

"We'll take it in case we run out of something," Linda said. She packed everything into a bag and put it next to the suitcases, which, already packed, stood under the stairs.

"Tulio do you have your tickets and passport?" Linda asked. Tulio took three tickets and documents from the bench in front of the TV.

"I have everything," replied the man.

"That's all right. I think that's everything. I don't know about you, but I'm going to go to bed now. I want to be rested for the flight," the woman said. She looked at her watch, it was already quite late, 11.00 p.m., it was already getting dark outside, apart from the ray of lights from the garden nothing could be seen, the city was slowly going to sleep.

"Great idea. You need to get some sleep, the flight can be tiring, even though you're mostly sitting" endorsed the woman's idea to Tulio. They both climbed the stairs to the 1st floor to head to their bedroom.

"Fernando you too. Don't play anymore," Linda said on her way up the stairs casting a shrewd glance at the boy who merely nodded with a movement of his head.

"Sure...are you guys staying here or are you going to your place?" Asked the boy, he kept his hand on the light switch.

"Let's go to our place too " suggested Jewel. Blu waved his head negatively letting the boy know that he could turn off the light in the living room. The house was already dark. Fernando walked slowly upstairs as did the Gunderson family, who flew to their specially prepared aviary.

In the aviary, when Bia, Tiago and Carla had fallen asleep, only Blu and Jewel remained. They stood together, Jewel leaning her head against Blu's fluffy chest as they looked at the monumental statue of Jesus Christ standing in the distance with direction looking back at them. Even though it was late in the day, a few lamps were glowing in the town, signalling that not everyone was asleep yet. However, in the area where the Monteiro family lived, everyone was already asleep, as could be seen by the lights in the houses being turned off.

"Have you thought about it?" Jewel asked, breaking the silence in which they had been stuck for several minutes.

"About what?" Asked Blu curiously.

"Well, to go back to Minnesota, to see if anything has changed there, to reminisce! I saw, everyone probably saw, how happy you were to hear about it! It's pretty much like me when we flew to Amazon, I was so anxious to get home..." The final words were said by Jewel with an air of exasperation, as if her thoughts were there, in the wild Amazon, in her home.

"To be honest I hadn't thought about it. Since I've had you guys, it hasn't even crossed my mind to go back to Minnesota. Here I have a new life Jewel, everything is different. " Blu replied. He thought about what used to be, he liked to reminisce, he was sentimental, but he never thought about going back to Minnesota. He just didn't see much point in it. He didn't expect to go back there one day. It was the end of a chapter.

"It must be really great news for you right?" Jewel asked.

"Well, you know. As you mentioned yourself, it's like you did with Amazon. I'm going back to where it all started." Blu replied.

"To be honest I can't wait to be there myself. I didn't want to tell you this, but I've been thinking about it."

"About what?" Asked Blu perplexed.

"What it's like...living exclusively with people. To be confined, not to fly all your life, to move mainly by your cunning...forgive me for saying so, but I don't know how else to describe it" explained Jewel. The observation about being confined to walls hurt Blu a little, he didn't quite see it the same way, he thought it wasn't that bad, but he understood Jewel's approach...she was a wild bird...right from the start.

"It's not as bad as you imagine. This is what my whole childhood was like, and look how I am. I'm yours " Blu said with a hint of irony. Jewel moved away from his chest to look at his smiling beak. Seeing him, she reciprocated the smile and kissed his beak. After a brief kiss, they moved away from their beaks together looking further into the distance.

"I know Blu. I'm yours and you know it too," replied Jewel. Blu laughed quietly taking her under the wing.

"Still, you're right. It's fun to go back there, see if anything has changed, reminisce...I can't wait!" Said Blu excitedly.

"Yes...it will certainly be a unique experience, but why don't we go to bed now eh? We're the only ones still awake and it's a good idea to get up early," suggested Jewel.

"Good idea...although I feel it will be hard to sleep after such a message" agreed Blu. Together they took to the air to fly into the nest where their children were already sleeping. Without disturbing them they lay down behind them falling asleep.

The morning started very early for everyone. At exactly 9.00 a.m., when the sun was just beginning to shine, the sound of the alarm clock that was supposed to wake everyone up spread throughout the house! It worked quite well, however, as there was no one to defy the loud sound and continue to sleep. The Monteiro family headed downstairs to eat breakfast and get ready to leave for the airport, Blu and Jewel decided to stay in their aviary, Jewel persuaded her husband to eat "Something Natural" one last time before leaving. Carla, Bia and Tiago didn't mind, so they stayed with their parents. Jewel flew out of the room through the previously ajar window into the nearby jungle to pick some juicy manga fruit.

"This is the day," thought Blu excitedly as he gazed at the three nesting youths. The teenagers at the watering hole were talking to each other, Blu could hear their part of the conversation, just as he was looking forward to the trip. How much excitement there was! Everyone felt like they were in the wings, a trip to a place Blu had been through his childhood gave a lot of excitement for his children, who by now could only wonder what it was like there. They would most likely find out within 24 hours what life was like for their father at their age. Blu Sam was looking forward to visiting Minnesota, he knew Linda was looking forward to it as much as he was, he hoped everything would be the same as he remembered. As he pondered, Jewel returned with the food, carrying as many as 5 manga fruit! She could barely fit her claws in, two of the fruits had her claws stuck into them spilling some of the sweet juice, but the fruits were still good. Blu flew down to join his family in breakfast. From the excitement he didn't want to eat, it seemed like he didn't need breakfast, but he knew that this disastrous feeling could lead to weakness later on. He had felt the same feelings when he was about to fly to Brazil - he didn't know what he would encounter there, he was still too timid then to look at things positively. Now, however, he knew that the journey had to be positive, he just felt it.

From downstairs came the sounds of hurriedly embracing and checking that everything was there. Linda walked around the rooms checking the contents of suitcases and bags to make sure they had taken everything and were definitely ready to go. Tulio, meanwhile, went to Spix Macaw to see what was going on with them - they should be downstairs with them by now. When he walked in he was reassured to see that the family were eating breakfast at their place, He communicated that they should be ready to leave in half an hour, then returned to Linda helping her pack up the last items.

"They're all cranky," remarked Jewel when the man was no longer in their aviary.

"It's natural with people when they go somewhere very far away. They want to make sure they've done everything right. No one wants to worry during their trip. It's supposed to be a pleasant time," explained Blu. In Linda and Tulia's place, he would have also checked that everything was in place. To ruin such a trip would be a disaster!

"I wonder if we'll be able to board with them," said Blu out loud.

"Why wouldn't we board with them?" Asked a perplexed Carla.

"Well...some animals aren't as hygienic as we are...yes I can say that" replied Blu awkwardly thinking how mischievous cats or dogs could be, which was the main thing he had in mind.

"So where should we go?" Tiago asked.

"There is a special room in the planes designated for animals. We will quietly board the plane only we do not know if we will go together with them or into the room," interjected Bia. Her wisdom caused some resentment with Carla and Tiago, in front of her that is, he felt stupid, but Blu was always impressed when his daughter spoke wisely and to the point.

"Exactly Bia. You described it very aptly, thank you," thanked Blu proudly. Bia reciprocated the smile which was met with a quiet growl from Carla and Tiago.

"Let's head downstairs, in a minute, we should be there by now" Jewel communicated. In theory they didn't have a watch, but voices like "Get dressed!" were already coming from downstairs. , which signalled that they would most likely be leaving soon. The Gundersons flew out of the aviary and flew down joining Linda and her family. As Jewel predicted, they were waiting downstairs dressed in holiday t-shirts, with short sleeves and short trousers. Tulio held two suitcases in his hands and Fernando held a bag with toiletries and hygiene products. The clock was already showing 10.30 a.m., so there was little time left before departure.

"Okay, this is the last time, do we have everything packed as well as prepared for departure?" Linda asked. She looked around the house as if searching forcefully for something not turned on, off or on.

"Everything is prepared, we are ready, let's go now," replied Tulio calmly. Linda cast a questioning glance at him to make sure he was sure, the man nodded with a movement of his head.

"All right. Let's go then!" Linda communicated. Blu settled on her shoulder, Jewel on Tulia's shoulder and the children settled on Fernando's shoulders. The whole family left the house ready to leave.