ZooXKeeper

On a small island called Aaia, with enormous trees and crystal clear rivers. There is a small two-story wooden house, and inside the kitchen, a twelve-year-old lad named Endless was cooking food. The water in the pot was spilling on the stove, and another pot with burned food was still on fire.

Endless: "Sogetsu, where are you? I need help!".

A boy came into the kitchen running with blood on him and pieces of meat on a plate.

Sogetsu: "What's wrong?".

He saw the mess Endless was creating.

Endless: "I think I made a mistake."

Sogetsu: "Didn't you follow the instructions on the recipe?".

Endless: "I did".

From above, they heard the voice of their mother, Sarah.

Sarah: "It's ok if you boys can't cook the meal, go get some food from Miss Jackie."

Sogetsu: "We are good. Just having minor issues."

Sarah: "Are you sure? It smells like something is burning down there?".

Endless: "Don't worry mom, we are going to give you the best meal you ever taste."

Sarah:" OK, dear."

The two brothers stared at each other.

Endless: "This is way harder than it seems."

Sogetsu: "Yeah, but if mom can do it, so can we?"

Endless: "We should work together this time instead of separating the work."

Sogetsu: "Yeah, if we don't, you're gonna burn the house down. Turn the stove off."

Endless: "That won't happen ok, it's the recipe's fault."

Endless turned the stove off.

Sogetsu: "Sure. Follow me."

They went behind the house, where they chopped the meats together using a large cutting knife and destroyed the cutting board. They gathered the ingredients and followed the recipe until they were finished.

Endless and Sogetsu came inside their mother's room with a plate covered and a cup of juice. Sarah was lying in bed coughing.

Sarah: smiling, "I can't wait to eat."

Endless and Sogetsu had an embarrassed smile.

Endless: "Well, we try our best. I hope you will enjoy it."

Sogetsu gave his mother the plate. Sarah was excited to see how their cooking turned out.

She gently took the cover off the plate and saw a hot mess. The meat was burned, the rice was wet, and the gravy was too thick. Sarah had a bitter smile.

Endless: "See, I told you we should have gone to miss Jackie for help."

Sogetsu: "We don't need help if we have the recipe."

Sarah ate some of the food, and the twins looked at her reaction.

Sogetsu: "How is it?"

Sarah smiled. "It's great for your first try."

They both did a high five.

Sogetsu: "I told you we didn't need help."

Endless: "I guess you were right."

Sarah continued to eat the food until it was finished and asked for a lot of water.

Endless: "Wow mom, you eat everything. If you want more leftovers, we have it.

Sarah: "No, no! I'm ok. I only want to rest right now."

At Sarah's gate, there were three kids. Jack, Henry, and Lily.

Jack: "Hey Endless and Sogetsu, are you guys there?"

Lily: "We came to play!."

They waited.

Henry: "Maybe they are not there?"

Jack: "The backdoor was open, so someone must be there,"

Endless opened the window and poke his head outside.

Endless: "Hey guys!"

Jack: "See I told you."

Lily: "We're going to go by the river to play. Do you guys wanna come!?"

Endless: "Um…"

Endless looked inside at his mother. She smiled and nodded her head.

Endless: "Are you sure?".

Sarah: "It's OK. I'm much better after the meal. Also, Miss Jackie said she will be visiting today. Go have fun with your friends, I will be ok."

He poked his head back outside.

Endless: "OK, we are coming!".

Endless closed the window.

Endless: "We will soon be back, mom."

Endless left the room and ran downstairs.

Endless: "Sogetsu!".

Sogetsu: "I heard".

Sogetsu had on a backpack and a fresh shirt.

Endless: "What's with the bag?"

Sogetsu: "it is the food we made. We can show the guys that we can cook."

Endless: "Great idea if mom loves it, they will too."

The brothers put their shoes on and went off with their friends.

Jack: "We are going to have a lot of fun."

Lily: "Are you saying me and Henry are not fun to be around?".

Jack: "I mean you guys can be boring,"

Lily: "You're boring too."

Henry: "What's in the bag, Sogetsu?"

Sogetsu: "Food Endless and I , made for all of us."

Jack raised his eyebrows.

Jack: "You guys can cook?"

Sogetsu: "Of course we can. We can do anything."

Lily: "Can't wait to eat it."

Endless ran off.

Endless: "The last person to reach the river will be the biggest fool on the island."

Everyone started running.

Jack: That won't be me.

At the river, everyone was there playing except Endless and Lily.

Jake: "Ultra splash!".

Jake splashed water on Sogetsu's face.

Sogetsu: "I will show you what a real splash looks like!".

He splashed a vast amount of water at Jake, who submerged and came back up.

Jake: "Ha! you miss,"

Sogetsu: "If you were a true warrior, you wouldn't run away."

Jake: "It's called using your brain, not that you would know anything about that."

Sogetsu: mad, "You little-".

Sogetsu ran after Jake, trying to splash him while Jake dodged the attacks.

Henry was floating around, enjoying the nice blue skies.

Henry:"Does life get better than this?"

A large amount of water hit Henry in the face, turning him over.

Sogetsu and Jake laughed at him while he rolled his eyes.

Henry: Idiots.

Endless reached the river with Lily on her back.

Lily: "I can't believe you guys are having fun without me!".

Sogetsu: "What took you so long?".

Lily: "I hurt myself trying to keep up with you guys."

Sogetsu: "It's not our fault you're slow."

Jake started laughing.

Jake: "Yeah Lily, even a turtle could outrun you,"

Lily: "Oh my God, I hate you guys. That's why Endless is my only true friend.He helps me."

Henry: "Oh please help me too, Endless, my knight in shining armor."

Everyone started laughing except Lily.

Lily: angry, Jerks!.

Endless placed Lily down and took his shirt off and jumped in the air.

Endless: "Let me in on the fun!.

He came down, landing on top of Jack, Henry, and Sogetsu. Lily started laughing.

Lily: "That's what you get for making fun of me!.

Meanwhile, at Sarah's house, Miss Jackie was at the gate with food in her hand. She opened the gate and knocked on the door.

Miss Jackie: "Sarah, are you there?".

Sarah: "It's already open. come in."

Miss Jackie opened the door and walk to Sarah's room.

Miss Jackie: "What's going on, my dear, doing any better?".

Sarah: "Not yet, but I will. How are you?"

Miss Jackie: "I'm doing good. when you reach my age, everything is rather difficult,"

Sarah: "I'm sorry you don't have to come every day."

Miss Jackie started laughing.

Miss Jackie: "If I don't, you will starve to death and Don't tell me your boys can cook. I already tried eating what they made before and I'm surprised I'm still here."

Sarah chuckled.

Miss Jackie gave her the food and some drinks, and she ate and drank.

Miss Jackie: "Where are the boys?"

Sarah: "They are out playing with friends."

Miss Jackie: "Did you tell them you're going to the doctor tomorrow?"

Sarah: "Oh no, you know how they would react? They wouldn't stop worrying."

Miss Jackie: "They are like your sons. Of course they would be worried."

Sarah: "I want them to enjoy their lives while I'm alive. plus if it isn't anything life threatening it will be ok."

Miss Jackie: "OK, let me go see the mess they created."

At the river, Jack, Lily and Henry were eating the food the twins made.

Jack spit it out.

Jack: "Why does it taste like my baby's brother's vomit?"

Lily: "Ew! What did you guys put inside of it?!"

Henry was vomiting on the floor.

Sogetsu: "Stop messing around guys. It isn't bad."

Endless: "Our mom said it was good."

Henry: "You feed your mother this, isn't she sick? Are you guys trying to kill her!?"

Jack: "Did you guys even try it?".

They both looked at each other.

Endless and Sogetsu: Nope.

Lily: "How will you know if it tastes good?"

Sogetsu: "I figured once we follow the recipe everything is ok."

Jack gave them his plate.

Jack: "Go on, try it."

They both took a bite and spit it out.

Jack: "Your mother must love you guys to eat this kind of food."

Endless: "See, I told you we should have gone to miss Jackie."

Jack: "Anyway, I have exciting news!"

Sogetsu: "You stop peeing your bed?"

Everyone started laughing.

Jack: "Very funny, Sogetsu."

Lily: "Ok, enough with the jokes. What were you saying, Jake?"

Jack: "How should I say this? well my dad whom I haven't seen for a while is coming back home in the next two days."

Henry: "That's great. I haven't seen your old man for a while."

Endless: "Ahhh.. I never knew you had a dad?".

Jack: "Well, he's been gone for quite a while. Only Henry met him."

Lily: "I have but we weren't friends at the time," "

Sogetsu: "So what is he like?"

Jack: "He's awesome. He takes care of us and he taught me how to fight, too."

Henry: "He was built too, like a monster."

Lily: "Yeah, he was kinda scary,"

Endless: "You must be excited, right?"

Jack: "Of course, whenever dad is around; my mom is happy and home is complete."

Sogetsu put his hands around Jack's neck.

Sogetsu: "I thought we made you complete?"

Jack smiled. "You know what I mean."

Sogetsu: "I'm messing with you. We should get back to having fun.

Lily: "Let's play with the rabbits,"

Henry: "That's boring."

Lily: "No you are,"

Endless: "I'm kinda hungry let's eat some apple,"

Jack: "Great idea,"

Lily: "You guys never do anything I want."

Sogetsu: "Find something that's not boring."

Endless lifts Lily around his neck.

Endless: "We can play with the rabbits another time."

Lily smiled, "OK, that's a promise."

Next-day-Morning

Sarah was standing at her door, along with Miss Jackie and a man called Jacob. Sogetsu and Endless were standing in front of them.

Sarah: "I will be back soon."

Sogetsu: "Where are you going?"

Sarah: "Gonna do a little errand with Miss Jackie and Jacob."

Endless: "Aren't you sick?"

Sarah: "Ha, no, I doing much better now,"

Jacob: "Don't worry boys, with me around your mother won't be in harm's way."

Sogetsu: "Ok, have a safe trip I guess,"

Endless: "Don't do anything too hard."

Sarah: "I won't I promise,"

They left while Sogetsu shut the door and walked into the kitchen.

Endless: "What are you gonna do?"

Sogetsu: "Try to cook again,"

Endless left the house while Sogetsu was searching for ingredients.

Sogetsu: "Hey where did you put the butter?"

He got no response and looked around.

Sogetsu: Where did he go?"

At the shipping port, Jacob, Miss Jackie, and Sarah were sitting under a ship stop (similar to a bus stop). The people were talking and laughing. Four men behind them were having a discussion.

Earl: "Hey guys, you won't believe the conversation I had last night."

Ben: annoyed, "What bullshit happened this time?".

Earl: "Come on man, you don't have to be so rude."

Sam: "I mean he's not wrong. You say some stupid stuff."

Drake: "Let's give him the benefit of the doubt for the one hundredth time."

All the men started laughing except man 1.

Earl: "So I was at this bar and I met this hot chick and I took my shot."

Ben: "And you got rejected. The end."

The men started laughing again.

Earl: annoyed, "As I was saying, I took my shot and to my surprise, everything was going great. We talked about a lot of things. She started talking about a strange faraway place. I can't remember the name."

Drake: "How strange?"

Earl: "She was like, do you want to live a meaningful life full of excitement and I was like, of course, who wouldn't? she started talking about a place beyond my wildest dream.

Sam: "So you met the girl version of yourself, but even crazier?"

Earl: "No, she was going to prove it to me, but."

Ben: "But what?"

Ben: "She said I'm going to need one hundred thousand dollars."

The men started laughing.

Sam: "You were getting played, that's for sure."

Ben: "A random woman asking for that much money. She must be crazy."

Drake: "Knowing you, you will do it, but I have only one piece of advice. Don't stick your pipe in crazy, Ask Johnson. His ex-wife tried to kill him every day."

Sam: "Haha, really funny asshole. I forgot to laugh,"

Ben: "forget about her. She wants your money."

Earl: "Yeah, you're right."

Jacob and Sarah smirked.

Miss Jackie: "What are you guys smiling about?".

Jacob: "It's the conversation."

Miss Jackie: "I've heard worse. Trust me, son, you haven't seen half of it yet."

From afar, a ship was arriving at the island and made loud noises from its horns.

The ship docked and everybody entered while the captain, Mr. Eagle, was at the entrance.

When he saw Miss Jackie and the others, he came running to them.

Mr. Eagle: "It's been so long. How is my lady doing?"

Miss Jackie laughed.

Miss Jackie: "Oh stop it, Mr. Eagle,"

Mr.Eagle kissed Miss Jackie's hands.

Mr.Eagle: "It's my pleasure I also left a special seat for you,"

Miss Jackie: "Oh my, that's thoughtful."

Sarah and Jacob awkwardly watched them.

At a barn house, Jack, Endless, and Henry were among hundreds of chickens.

Endless: "Which one they said we should get again?"

Henry: "She said the one with a golden feather."

Jack: "This is going to take a while."

The ship arrived at Gaia docking port and Miss Jackie and the others said goodbye to Mr. Eagle.

Miss Jackie: "It's never a dull moment talking to him,"

Sarah: "Yeah,you both would make a perfect couple."

Miss Jackie: Laughing, "I'm too old for that".

Jacob shared his head.

They get into a taxi.

Jacob: "We are going to Trust hospital,"

Driver: "No problem."

The taxi traveled to the hospital and dropped them off.

Miss Jackie: "Thank you"

Sarah: "Thank you,"

The driver: "You're welcome".

He drove off.

They enter the hospital and approach the nurse station.

Sarah: "Excuse me, but I booked an appointment for 10."

Nurse: "What's your name, Miss?"

Sarah: "Sarah Geekel,"

The nurse looked through the book and found her name.

Nurse: "If you would sit over there, the doctor will see you soon."

Sarah: "Thank you."

They waited for the doctor and Jacob was looking around the place while Miss Jackie and Sarah were talking.

Jacob: I hope we get some good news. Hospitals aren't my cup of tea.

Sarah: "I wonder what the boys are doing?"

Miss Jackie: "You worry too much they are playing or doing kid's stuff,"

Jacob whispered in Sarah's ears.

Jacob: "You shouldn't take parenting advice from her; she left me in the house alone for a whole day when I was 6."

Miss Jackie: "What are you whispering about?"

Jacob: "Nothing".

Miss Jackie: "Don't listen to anything he says Sarah, he doesn't know his right from his left."

Sarah laughed softly.

The Nurse came and told them the doctor was ready. They left and entered the doctor's office, where they were greeted by a good morning from Dr. Edward and they replied.

Dr. Edward: "How are you, Miss Sarah?"

Sarah: "Felt bad yesterday, but today I'm fantastic."

Dr. Edward: "That's good. I have the results of the test you took.

Miss Jackie: "What are the results?"

Dr. Edward: "Well, everything seems normal."

Sarah and Miss Jackie let out a breath of relief.

Miss Jackie: "Thank goodness"

Dr. Edward: "But we found something."

Jacob: Oh shit, here comes the bad news.

Dr. Edward sat backward in his chair.

Sarah: "What is it, doctor?".

Dr. Edward: "Miss Sarah, I'm sorry to say but we found out that you have the Newborn mutation."

Sarah's, Miss Jackie, and Jacob's eyes were widened and the room was silent.

To be continued.