What does Home mean?

Family outing.

I spent that week, as I do every week.

Wake up, use the bathroom, eat, train.

I just extended my hand to hand training by three hours each day.

I accidentally broke much of the training equipment.

One thing that dad taught me was that, since I have short legs and arms, with a long body.

I should focus on the weakest points of any enemy, regardless of size or strength.

I have the advantage because of my sheer flexibility.

I can twist my entire body 200 degrees and curl into a ball.

However, he also said that I have far more strength than I should.

Being his equal at sparring, means that I must have impressed him.

Finally, Friday evening saw us all going to the city in my car.

My dad, mom, brothers and sisters.

We went through the gate after the squirrel spotted me behind the wheel.

The second gate guards almost stopped us but waved us in after recognizing my dad and I.

"There is a hotel up ahead and to the left.

Look for a red circle. It's called The Sunrise Inn." Dad said.

When I saw it, I pulled in and parked.

We stayed in the car as dad went in and checked for room availability.

He walked back out and came to my window.

"Okay.

They have one room available for us.

I paid, already, so come on." He smiled.

I carried two of my brothers on my duffel bag and the youngest with my mouth.

My mom and dad carried the rest.

It would have been easier if they weren't squirming around and trying to look at everything.

I still laughed because I am just as curious.

We went in and I haven't seen so many people staring since the first time I came to the city.

The receptionist's mouth hung open in shock as did the manager's and owner's.

A ferret man rushed over with a bell cart.

"Would you like to use this? I'm finished with it." He offered.

"Sure." My dad said, sitting his and my mom's bags on it.

I'd learn, later, that he was the manager's husband who pretended to be a guest.

I sat my duffel with their bags and curled my brother in my arms before letting go with my teeth.

I sighed.

Sitting him with the others, my dad pushed the cart to the elevator that was behind a partition.

I hung back, whispering that I wanted to hear what the clucking gossip hens would have to say.

My mom's ears twitched and my dad laughed.

I hugged him and snuck to the corner and hid between a vending machine and the wall.

As soon as the bell dinged, signaling the elevator reaching the first floor, conversation exploded.

I heard everything from "What's she doing with a human" to "bet she's his pet, if you know what I mean."