Spy School Oneshot Collection

The Zoo

Pre-canon, Erica's maybe three or four

"Come on, Erica," Catherine said. "It's time to get going."

"I don't want to go now," Erica said. "Look!"

"I know. They're very cute. But the zoo's about to close."

"Five more minutes?"

"Erica, maybe we can come back tomorrow."

"But you might be busy tomorrow," Erica said.

"I'll have your grandfather take you, then," Catherine said.

"He never wants to go to the zoo with me."

"Well, hopefully I will be free then," Catherine said. "But it's time for the animals to go to sleep now."

"But they've been sleeping almost all day. And a lot of the animals are nocturnal. We could just go see those instead."

"The zoo won't let us do that. The zoo needs to close."

"So let's hide until they're done with that and stay here all night, like a party. A good party."

"Erica, we can't do that," Catherine said.

"Well I am not leaving."

"Yes, you are," Catherine said, picking her up.

"No! What if a plague strikes and all the animals die before we can come back?"

"That won't happen," Catherine said. "The animals will be just fine without you watching them."

"But I won't be," Erica said.

"Yes, you will," Catherine said, starting to walk towards the exit.

"No, I won't."

"Would you feel better about leaving if we picked up a stuffed animal on our way out?"

"Yes," Erica said. "But it's not as good as the real thing."