Weekend Adventures

"Here you go, and here's your library card. Would you like a bag?"

"Yes, please. Do you have one with handles? He'll be able to carry it better with handles. He likes to carry the books he picks out, don't you Zach?"

"I do, Daddy, and I can carry all of those myself!"

"Here you go, Mr. Zach! Do you have a big day planned with your dad today?"

"We're going to the petting zoo so I can read to the rabbits, then to the big zoo so I can read to the monkeys in their house, then to the cold house so I can read to the penguins, aren't we Daddy?"

"Yes, yes we are."

"Daddy! I want to go to the aqua house because the octopus needs to hear the Rainbow Fish book, okay? He waves all of the arms when he wants me to turn the page! Can we do that today, too?"

"We sure will, Buddy."

"'N then, 'n then, we're going to the boat pond to read Make Way for Ducklings to the gooses and ducks, and maybe a squirrel. Remember that time the squirrel listened, Daddy?"

"I do. He was a very good listener, wasn't he?"

"He was! Is there a squirrel book in the bag today, Daddy? One we can read in case he's there?"

"Yes- we have Squirrel Nutkin in there, Zach."

"That's right; I forgot, Daddy. Maybe that squirrel's name can be Nutkin. Do you think he'll like it?"

"I bet that's his name, Zach. I've never read to the animals. It sounds like fun. Do you do it a lot?"

"We do it every Saturday and it's my favorite thing. Right after we pack up the tent into Daddy's bag we come to the library for the animal books. First Daddy checks in on the computer and clicks and clicks while I pick out books. Then we brush our teeth and wash our 'pits and bits' and fill our thermoses and rinse our underwear while we're here because that just makes sense! Then we walk to the zoo and Daddy helps me go through our secret door..."

"Zach... it's not a secret if..."

"It's OK Daddy, I won't tell where it is! And anyways I don't think anyone can find the door in the fence because we cover it up real good every time we use it. Right?"

"We just put things back where..."

"An' then, an' then we start in the petting zoo because we can help the bunnies eat the extra carrots and lettuce so their tummies don't get too full, right Daddy?"

"Zach, I don't..."

"An' then Daddy gives his friend the monkey man some cigarettes an' we go in the behind place with the monkeys an' we share the bananas and oranges with the monkeys while we read to them because those are good for monkeys and boys, right Dad?"

"Yes. Yes they are."

"And, Miss? The aqua house and the cold house? They have bathrooms with those fans on the wall that blow hot air? So we can dry our undies there? Before we leave through the fence door and go to the boat pond? Isn't that cool?"

"That's cool, Zach. Maybe your Daddy wants that to be a secret..."

"We have lots of secrets, Miss; don't we Daddy? Like the best place to find the bread and biscuits in the grass by the boat pond. And the best place to put the tent out of the rain. And the best place to charge the phone and headlamps! My Daddy knows the best places for everything, Miss!"

"I'm... I'm sure he does, Zach. You are certainly lucky to..."

"OK, Buddy- those bunnies and monkeys, penguins and octopus, ducks, geese, and squirrels aren't going to wait forever for their storytime. Time for us to start our weekend adventure. Is it OK if we keep this same schedule next weekend, Miss?"

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This is an entry into the Everyone is Acting Normally Challenge. There is nothing normal about housing insecurity and hunger.