I'm sorry for the late posting of these, I've had a lot of computer trouble for the last week. Thanks to my mum for giving this idea to me though lol.

Age 4: Penguins

As this would be their last Christmas together at preschool, as this time next year all the older children would be at kindergarten, the preschool teachers arranged for the children to take a trip to the local Zoo on their last day before the school break began.
"Children, make sure you stay together with your group!" Announced one of the teachers, looking frantically down at her list to check which children were with which teacher. She had made the list in a hurry the night before, and she hadn't had a chance to check it yet. "Okay, group one...Sharpay Evans, Taylor McKessie, Kelsi Nielsen, and Chad Danforth. Group two, you're Ryan Evans, Troy Bolton, Zeke Baylor and Martha Cox. Group three are Jason Cr--" the preschool teacher paused as she heard one of the children start wailing and sobbing uncontrollably. Putting down her paper, she looked over at the girl.
"Kelsi honey, what's the matter?" She asked, gently. Kelsi continued sobbing.
"I want Ryan! I don't want Sharpay she's mean!" She cried. Sharpay gasped in shock, and started crying herself for attention.
"What do you mean you want Ryan? Aren't you--" The teacher looked down at her list, and shook her head at herself. "Oh Kelsi I'm sorry, I didn't realise I didn't put you in a group together. Now, let me see--"
"Troy can be with me! Won't you Troy!" Squeaked a voice, which sounded much too happy for someone who had been apparently crying seconds earlier. Troy mumbled something under his breath and glared at Sharpay.
"Well that works out then. Is that okay now, Kelsi?" She asked again. Ryan came over and held her hand.
"Yeah we like that." Smiled Ryan, leading Kelsi over to Zeke and Martha.

As they reached the tiger area, Martha and Zeke went right up to the fence to watch the tigers roaming around, while Kelsi and Ryan took a few steps back. The teacher watching them looked at them, concerned.
"Kelsi, Ryan, don't you wanna look at the tigers?" She asked. Ryan shook his head, and Kelsi hid her face in her scarf.
"Kelsi's scared so I said I'd protect her." He said, holding onto her hand. Kelsi's head popped out of her scarf and she gasped.
"No I'm not scared, you are!" She argued, embaressed.
"I'm not scared! I said I'd protect you!" Said Ryan back.
"There's nothing to be scared of, either of you, the tigers can't get to us, we're fine. Go and stand with Martha and Zeke so I can keep an eye on you, okay?"
"....Okay." Muttered Kelsi, still unsure. Still holding her hand in Ryan's gloved one, they stood at the fence, watching the tigers walk back and forth. When one let out an almighty roar, Kelsi backed away a little, but Ryan remained holding her hand.
"He can't hurt us, we'll be okay." He said, and Kelsi smiled at him. Zeke was clapping.
"That was so cool! Make him do it again!" He said, happily.
"No that was scary! I wanna go!" Whined Martha, and the teacher agreed it was time to move onto a different animal.

"Yay, the elephants!" Grinned Martha, running over fence separating her from the elephants.
"Boooring." Moaned Zeke. "I wanna go back to the tigers!"
"I think they're pretty." Smiled Kelsi. "Come on Ryan let's go and say hello!" They went and stood with Martha, and they all laughed as one of the elephants sprayed water all over the man who was feeding him.
"He got wet!" Laughed Ryan.
"I'm hungry, when's lunch?" Complained Zeke.

At lunchtime, Kelsi and Ryan's group found a picnic area next to the penguin enclosure to sit and eat the food their teacher had brought for them. Once all four of them had a sandwich, a piece of fruit, a packet of chips and a drink, they sat talking about what they had seen so far.
"I like the elephants they make weird noises with their noses." Giggled Martha, taking a sip of her drink.
"Noo! The elephants are boring the tigers were cooler!" Argued Zeke.
"No way! The tigers are all mean and stuff the elephants are funny!" Replied Martha. "Kelsi thinks so too, don't you Kelsi!"
"I don't know?" She muttered, nibbling on her sandwich.
"Well Ryan thinks Tigers are cooler don't you!" Said Zeke, patting him on the back. Ryan shrugged. They continued talking over their lunch, when Kelsi saw Martha put half of her sandwich on a napkin next to her.
"What's that for?" She asked, pointing at the half of a sandwich.
"That's for my friend Mary!" Grinned Martha. Kelsi looked at the seat next to Martha, confused.
"There's no-one there." She pointed out.
"Shh you'll hurt her feelings!" Whispered Martha. She looked confused at Kelsi. "Don't you have an imaginary friend?"
"No?" She said. "Well...I have Ryan?"
"I'm not imaginary!" Shouted Ryan, very offended.
"No, no I know! But you are my friend." She decided. Ryan smiled.
"Well what animals did you like, Ryan? Kelsi?" Asked their teacher, putting the empty packets of food back in the bag she was carrying.
"...I wanna see the penguins." Said Kelsi, pointing at the enclosure next to her.
"Yeah, me too." Said Ryan, agreeing instantly. "Penguins are cool because they look like waiters, and they walk real funny. That's what my mommy said anyway, and my mommys always right."
"Yeah." Said Kelsi, giggling. The teacher rolled her eyes and laughed, and once all four of the children had finished eating, she walked with them over to the penguins.

When Kelsi got there, she shivered.
"It's all cold and icey!" She said. She watched as a penguin waddled along, and frowned. "It's too cold for them!" She added.
"Kelsi, it's okay for them." Smiled their teacher, reassuringly. "They're from Antartica, and that's a really cold country, so they're used to all the snow and ice."
"But their feet are cold!" Exclaimed Ryan. He turned to Kelsi. "We can ask Santa to bring them some slippers!" Kelsi giggled, and nodded.
"Yeah, and scarfs so they can keep warm!"
"No silly the zoos closed at Christmas no-one can get in! Not even Santa!" Interrupted Zeke, pushing in between both of them. Kelsi bit her bottom lip.
"Santa can't give the penguins presents? But....who's gonna give them presents then? They'll be lonely at christmas if no-one comes to see them..."
"Yeah you're lying Zeke!" Said Ryan, upset. "Santa will come and see the penguins, you'll see!"

Zeke sighed, and stayed quiet. If he'd learnt anything at preschool, it was to never argue with Kelsi or Ryan if the other was around.