Field Trip (II)

The people working in the background, silently protecting the children from Ritus Primary School, carried on their business as usual.

The two who were the primary focus of such intense protection were indifferent to it all. Naturally, they knew that there were people around but while one was not bothered by it, the other was pointedly ignoring it.

Aurora and Alex were the only two that were not holding hands and Teacher Alba frowned. She walked over to them and told them, "You need to hold each other's hands."

Teacher Alba was startled for a minute when Alex's sharp eyes glared at her.

This was the first time the normally cold and reticent boy was openly hostile to her. She knew that he found lessons boring and beneath him, but he had always carried out all exercises without complaint nor showing any displeasure.

This time, however, he was obviously angry and annoyed.

Aurora rolled her eyes and bumped Alex's shoulder with hers, then resolutely took his hand.

Alex's lips pressed tightly together, but he did not resist nor remove his hand - much to Teacher Alba's relief.

"Okay, Teacher Alba," Aurora said, extra sweetly.

Teacher Alba chose to ignore Alex's strange behaviour and addressed the rest of the class, "Paws Shelter is the biggest shelter in Country Tz, partially funded by the State and partially by donations."

She waved her hand around and said, "The area we are in right now is just one branch or small area of the shelter. It is where the dogs and cats are located."

Shirley raised her hand excitedly, almost jumping up for fear that Teacher Alba wouldn't see her.

"Yes, Shirley?"

"What other animals are there here? Are there any birds? Rabbits? Ooo! Ooo! What about deers?!" Shirley asked her questions rapidly, her eyes shining.

Holly, seeing this, was smiling widely behind the line, happy to see her daughter being so active and excited over this trip.

"There are birds such as parrots," Teacher Alba said, "As those are one of the more popular pets that are bought. Unfortunately, when the interest fades, the birds suffer. So the shelter comes and rescues them."

Shirley's lips trembled a bit and then she made a fist with her free hand, "I would beat up those bad people! Poor birdies!"

Shane turned his head slightly to look at Shirley, a small smile on his face. Seeing how fierce his normally cheerful partner is, he couldn't help but feel that she would be one of those people that would protect anything she viewed as weak and helpless.

He looked at their joined hands.

Did she think he was weak and helpless?

For a brief moment, his face clouded over as he thought of that possibility. Then, of her finally getting fed-up with him and throwing their friendship aside.

"Right Shane?" Shirley was saying, breaking into Shane's darkening thoughts.

He was startled and looked at her in surprise, not knowing what she had asked him.

He started to panic, wondering what it was and whether she would be annoyed. Of course she would, right?

However, as he continued to stare at her in surprise - and slowly increasing panic - she just smiled brilliantly and repeated her question, "Isn't this such a beautiful and wonderful place? To rescue pets that people abandon? Right?"

Shane nodded dumbly.

Shirley laughed happily, swinging his hand with hers, oblivious to the way her mother was staring at her.

"I knew you'd agree with me," Shirley said happily, "You are my best friend! My bestest best best friend in the whoooole wide world!"

Shane was stunned.

Where did that come from?

Why did she say that?

What was it about him that she liked?

A little bit of hope and warmth started within him, even though a part of him felt that Shirley was a little bit weird.

Who would like someone like him, let alone be his best friend?

And wasn't being a best friend meant that both parties 'clicked'?

Shirley seemed to declare it one-sidedly …

Shane continued to stare blankly at Shirley, who seemed completely oblivious to it all - while her mother was frozen at the end of the line.

Holly thought she would have to have a very, very long talk with her husband. Their daughter seemed to be picking up boys at a very young age.

Just when she thought Shawn was going to be a problem, another boy that was in front of Shirley turned around. He looked quite displeased.

Holly was aghast.

Was this a love rival?

Holly felt like she was getting a headache.

Her daughter was just too popular!

While Holly was completely lost in her over-active imagination, the person of interest simply said in a low voice, "Keep it down, Shirley. You're scaring him."

"Huh?"

Shirley tilted her head in puzzlement, her eyebrows in a tight frown, "I'm scaring him?"

Shane paled.

Why did Alex say that?

How did he know?

Will everyone despise him now?

Shirley turned to face Shane and brought her face close to him, "Am I scary?"

"N-N-No," Shane barely managed to whisper it out.

"SEE!" Shirley said triumphantly at Alex.

Alex's mouth twitched and he decided to drop it.

Aurora, seeing this, just smiled. She, like Alex, had noted how Shane was a bit uncomfortable. She had seen how Shane was rather stiff - standing there quite rigidly with his back straight - and there were beads of sweat on his forehead. One would think that it was normal and most likely just the heat but Aurora knew better.

It was nervousness.

However, when Shane paled at Alex's words, Aurora knew that there was something more to Shane than just nerves.

She pursed her lips as she thought about it and was glad that Alex dropped the subject. If he had persisted and tried to explain, it would most likely make Shane much more uncomfortable and Shirley more excited.

Excited in the sense that she would get louder and bring more attention to them, making Shane more uncomfortable. Right now, her obliviousness and 'sunshine' demeanour seemed to make Shane relax a bit.

Aurora made a mental note to keep a closer eye on Shane. He seemed interesting as he was not someone who gave out 'normal' behaviour. Understanding and knowing what a person was like was crucial for effective communication.

That was what her mother taught her and this was what Aurora found to be particularly interesting.

Figuring out people.

It was like a mystery to be solved.

She liked mysteries.

Her family was just too predictable, so it was boring.

What Aurora failed to realise was that it wasn't that her family was predictable - but rather, it was because she knew them so well that she could guess what their reactions would be like.

Unlike most people, her family had always been open and never hid their thoughts or behaviour at home. Just take their mother for example. She never shied away from showing her love for their father and was quite vocal (and physical) about her possessiveness of him.

She was both loving and harsh.

Plus, nothing was hidden from their children under the pretext of them being 'too young to understand'. If they didn't understand and wanted to know, their parents would explain.

All of this was the way Kyle and Sayuri raised their children: to expose them to everything from young so that they would learn. Children were sponges and their children were exceptionally bright.

Nature, and nurture, shaped the future.

"Alright children, listen up!" Teacher Alba announced. She came back after discussing some things with the other Homeroom Teachers and the staff of the shelter.

For this trip, she had gotten the 'short end of the stick', so to speak - that is, she was the one that was the lead for today.

In other words, she was the one who had to do most of the work while the others followed.

"We shall split up into three groups," Teacher Alba told them, "Each group will go to different sections of the shelter, in turns."

"This means that each group will view each section at different times. This way, it won't be crowded in one area," she explained.

"We shall have a short break for lunch before going home," Teacher Alba said to them.

The children nodded.

All of them had their lunch with them, as had been instructed by their teachers. This was because there was no place for children to eat at the shelter. There was a canteen for the staff and volunteers, but the food was not catered for children.

Even if there was, having small children buy food for themselves was not ideal.

"OOOO! Lunch!" Shirley said, thinking of something.

She turned towards Shane and asked him, "What did you bring?"

Before he could answer, she continued, "I brought lots and lots of good stuff! All my favourite food! We will share later, okay? Not change. Share. I take a bit of yours, you can take a bit of mine. Bestest best friends share everything!"

Then she stopped.

"Except boyfriends," she said.

"Oh, but you're a boy, so that's not a problem," Shirley continued, nodding.

Shane kept quiet, not saying a word. He didn't have to since she was basically carrying on the conversation by herself.

Which was why she was perfect.