Nick and Charlie 6 years into the future

exploring the zoo

Nicks pov:

The sun hung high in the sky as we arrived at the zoo, its warmth casting a golden glow over the vibrant landscape. Oakley and Lily, nestled snugly in their strollers, observed the bustling scene with wide-eyed wonder.

"Alright, you two, are you ready to see some animals?" Charlie's voice was filled with excitement as he adjusted Oakley's blanket.

Oakley responded with a happy coo, his chubby arms waving in excitement. Lily clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

With Oakley and Lily securely fastened in their strollers, we made our way towards the entrance, the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves filling the air with a sense of adventure.

As we entered the zoo, a kaleidoscope of colours greeted us, from the vibrant blooms of tropical flowers to the lush greenery of the surrounding trees. Oakley and Lily's eyes widened as they took in the sights and sounds of their surroundings, their curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar scents and sounds.

"Where should we go first?" I asked, unfolding the map and studying it intently.

Charlie glanced at the map over my shoulder, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Let's leave it up to the twins." He says excitedly. "Left or right, Oakley?" Charlie said while signing to him

Oakley's gaze darted between the two paths, his tiny brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment of contemplation, he pointed decisively to the left, a determined look on his face.

"Left it is, then," Charlie declared, steering the strollers in the direction Oakley had chosen.

As we strolled through the zoo, Oakley and Lily's eyes sparkled with excitement as they glimpsed lions lounging in the sun, monkeys swinging from branch to branch, and colorful birds soaring through the sky. Each new sight elicited delighted squeals and gasped from the twins, their faces alight with wonder.

"Look at the giraffes, Oakley," Charlie signed, soon after pointing to the towering creatures grazing in their enclosure.

Oakley's eyes widened in amazement as he gazed up at the graceful animals, his hands moving in animated gestures as he signed his excitement.

Meanwhile, Lily's attention was captured by a playful group of meerkats who scurried about their enclosure with boundless energy. She giggled with delight as she watched them dart in and out of burrows, her tiny fingers reaching out towards the glass.

As we continued our stroll through the zoo, the sound of roaring caught our attention. We followed the sound to a spacious enclosure where magnificent big cats lounged lazily in the sun.

"Look, Oakley and Lily, those are lions," Charlie said, pointing towards the regal creatures.

Oakley's eyes widened with curiosity as he observed the lions, but a hint of fear flickered in his gaze. Lily, on the other hand, clapped her hands excitedly, her eyes sparkling with fascination.

I knelt down beside Oakley and signed reassuringly, "Don't worry, Oakley. They're just big kitties."

But Oakley remained cautious, his tiny hands gripping the edge of his stroller tightly.

As we approached the enclosure, the lions stretched languidly in the sun, their golden fur shimmering in the light. Lily leaned forward eagerly, her eyes fixed on the majestic creatures.

"Wow, look at them, Nick," Charlie exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.

But Oakley's eyes darted nervously from the lions to the sharp teeth and claws that adorned their powerful frames. A shiver of fear ran down his spine, and tears welled up in his eyes as he clung to the safety of his stroller, his face pale with apprehension.