Chapter 143: Zoo. 2006 CE

Thena was riding a bus along with other parents of the kindergarten children. Beside her is Helios, who is sleeping on the way to the field trip destination. They were going to the central park zoo, to see animals that are caged…

Thena sighed contently as Helios was leaning against her, sleeping rather soundly. The school bus quickly stopped in the parking lot of the zoo, and a lot of them quickly got out of the bus.

Thena was waking up Helios, who jolted awake as she did that. He looked around, and smiled when he saw Thena.

"Come on, time to see the animals," said Thena patiently.

Helios nodded, and both of them got out of the bust quickly. Thena did a cross check on Helios appearance, she fixed his hair, and wiped the drool on his face.

"You sketchbook?"

"Here." said Helios, showing the sketchbook that has been turned into a necklace, so he won't lose it.

"Okay, good." Thena patted Helios's head. "Remember, don't use your powers okay?"

Helios nodded obediently, and both of them headed towards the entrance of the zoo.

—

Helios was sitting cutely in front of a penguin area as he tried to draw the penguins laying around, and he sketched it rather seriously. He was alone, not accompanied by anyone, only his mother was watching him from afar, afraid that something bad might happen to him.

"Did you know that penguins poop every 20 minutes?" a little girl suddenly exclaimed besides Helios, making him stop drawing.

Helios turned to see a blonde girl, with blue eyes, just like his. The girl was smiling, holding an animal pocket book for kids, and she was wearing a simple black headband.

Helios nodded shyly. "Yeah… I know that…"

"No, you're lying… how come you know that when I just read it from this book?"

"My dad used to read those for me." said Helios in a challenging tone, like all toddlers do. "Did you know penguins also hug each other, so that they can be warm together?"

"I know that…" the girl grumbled as she sat beside Helios, making him a bit uncomfortable. "Penguins are boring anyway, lions are cool."

"You mean Alex from Madagascar?"

"You know that?" the girl questioned in surprise.

"I watched it with my mom." shrugged Helios arrogantly. "I like the zebra better, he's funny…"

"No, the lion is better…"

"No, it's the—"

As the two kids argued in front of the penguin area, Thena watched them with amusement as she bought a drink for herself. She sat on a bench near Helios, keeping watch just in case.

"Mrs. Smith, right?" said a woman suddenly, making Thena's attention shift to the woman.

"Ah, yes, and you are?"

"Oh, I'm Helen, George's wife." said the woman with a smile. "George Stacy, the police?"

"Oh, George! Yes…" stated Thena. "How is he? Last time I saw him… well… at the Police party?"

"Yes, for the giving of the equipment." nodded Helen. "I must say, I'm thankful for Mr. Smith's gift to the NYPD, I saw their equipment you know? Barely be able to protect them…"

"Well, the police are the ones that protect us, so it's only natural…"

Helen nodded in agreement. "Though, I'm surprised you're here Mrs. Smith."

"What do you mean?" Thena raised her eyebrow.

"Well… your family is… well established… I just thought that you'll be sending your child to a private school or something…"

"Oh…" Thena chuckled. "Well, I don't really want to, what he needs isn't knowledge, we have plenty in our house, what he needs is the ability to socialise… he's a bit awkward around others you see…"

Thena pointed at Helios, who was still arguing with the little girl earlier. "Looks like it's working, he made a friend after all…"

"Oh, that's my daughter…" said Helen in surprise. "That's your son?"

"Yes, that's Theo." said Thena, nodding. "What's your daughter's name?"

"It's Gwen." Helen smiled.

"Well, I hope he'll be friends with her…" said Thena. "He's too caught up on watching movies… and drawing… and listening to music…"

"At his age?"

"Yeah… it's a problem…" Thena chuckled in embarrassment. The two then saw the teachers starting to gather the parents and students, and the two quickly walked towards their children.

"Jack-Jack's better than dash!" Thena heard Helios argue from afar.

"He's just a baby! Dash is much better!" the girl argued back.

Thena shook her head in amusement as she was wondering how does the argument of lions and penguins turns to the Incredibles. Both of the moms then stopped them arguing.

"Okay you two, stop bickering." Thena stated as she patted Helios's head, and so does Helen, pulling Gwen away from the boy.

Gwen pulled out her tongue towards Helios, mocking him, and Helios does the same thing to her.

"Hey, that's rude." scolded Thena as they walked away from the blonde mother and daughter. Thena waved her hand at Helen, and walked towards an ice cream stand.

"Okay, I'll buy you an ice cream before we get back to the teachers," said Thena.

"I want chocolate." Helios demanded.

"Of course you do." Thena chuckled. She talked to the ice cream seller, and he prepared it right away.

As Helios was holding Thena's hand, he saw a poster near them that caught his attention.

"Mom, that's you!" he said. "That's dad! A-and grandma!"

Thena was confused for a second before turning to the poster. It was an advertisement for the showing of Leonardo Da Vinci's painting 'Eterni', along with the picture of the painting itself.

Thena panicked a bit as she carried Helios to her hands. "Okay… don't shout Helios, don't tell anyone about that okay?"

Helios nodded in confusion, but then, as soon as the ice cream arrived, his attention changed to it, licking it rather messily.

Thena walked towards the parents group again, and Helios met with that little girl again. He arrogantly showcased his ice cream to her, which made her frown.

"Mom, I want ice cream too!" said Gwen to her mom.

"Later honey…" sighed Helen in surrender.

Needless to say, it was a fruitful first field trip.