Chapter 14 “Funny animals”

“Is he here yet?” Jason bounded into the room.

“No, Munchkin, he’s not here yet.”

Jason pouted.

“When is he coming?”

“Any moment now, Jason, just be patient.”

“I like him.”

Mommy smiled. “I know you do.”

Jason ran to the window that looked out over the street. Why was this taking so long? Adults were so slow sometimes. When he was older, he was going to be a fast adult, so nobody ever had to wait anymore. He’d always run instead of walk.

Jason raced to the couch and around the table to check his speed. He was sure he was faster than Mommy, he’d never seen her run before, except for that time when she had forgotten to take the pastries out of the oven. But she did take really long strides.

Jason tried to take a couple of steps as big as Mommy’s, but his legs were stretched so far that he couldn’t lift one without falling over. His legs were too short, that was the problem. He needed to grow his legs. With longer legs he could run even faster. But how could he make his legs longer? Maybe…

Jason lay down on the couch and stretched his arms and legs as far as possible. He felt his face heat up with the effort. Maybe, if he stayed like this long enough…

“Jason, what are you doing?” Mommy asked as she set his rucksack on the coffee table.

“I’m growing.” Jason barely managed the words.

At that moment the doorbell sounded and Jason jumped from the couch and sped off to beat his Mommy to the front door.

“Mr Clark!” Jason exclaimed happily as the door opened.

“Hello, big boy!” Mr Clark ruffled his hair and Jason beamed with pride. “Big boy! Mr Clark noticed he had grown!”

Mommy pulled the door open even further.

“Hi, Clark, come in.”

Clark closed the door behind him and dropped his coat on a chair.

“Are you ready to go to the zoo?” Mr Clark asked smiling.

“Yes!” Jason yelled in anticipation, a big happy balloon swelling in his chest. He skipped to fetch his jacket as Mr Clark talked to Mommy.

“Thanks for inviting me.”

“Ah, well. It was Jason’s idea.”

“He seems really excited to go.”

“You have no idea, he’s been bouncing around the house all day.”

“Let’s make him tired then.”

Jason heard his Mommy’s laughter.

“Sounds like a plan.”

0o0

Jason contented himself during the long ride with re-acting Superman’s heroics (I want to be Superman too, when I’m big!), or craning his neck, nose flat against the window, trying to catch the first glimpse of a giraffe.

Arriving on the parking lot, Jason let the adults talk as he skipped towards the entrance.

A nice, big, colourful poster hung on the wall. It showed a bear talking to a pig. Jason giggled as he traced the pig’s eyes with his finger. He looked funny.

Going back to the bear, Jason tried to read what the words over the bear’s head says, but the words were too long. Maybe Mommy could read it. Mommy wrote really long words at work.

Where was Mommy? Jason looked around him and for a moment he was afraid he was lost, until he saw the familiar face of Mr Clark towering over the other people. He was talking to Mommy. Still! Why did adults talk so much?

“Really Clark, I should have known you would take him to the zoo. You never get bored of animals, do you, Smallville.”

Jason heard Mr Clark chuckle as he ran back to his Mommy.

“Well, be glad I didn’t take him to a farm, then.”

A farm? A farm is fun! I want to go to a farm. There are goats, and chickens, and sheep… I want a goat for my birthday.

Jason saw his Mommy clutch her chest, looking scared. Why would Mommy do that? Maybe a bee flew in her blouse? I would be scared if a bee flew in my clothes.

“What? My boy among the pigs and chickens?”

Jason skidded to a halt in front of them.

“Pigs are funny!”

Mommy gaped at him for a while, the bee in her blouse had probably flown away, and Mr Clark started to laugh.

With one hand on his back, Mommy steered him into the zoo.

“Giraffes are funnier.” She said.