" ..... Mia I'm not sure this is a great idea...." Seven year old Sunnie said nervously as seven year old Emma clutched her hand.
Seven year old Annie, who was hiding behind Emma, peeked out and nodded. " Yeah, Mia. Think of our safety!"
Seven year old Mia, holding a camera, turned and gave them a grin. " Don't worry! We'll all be fiiiiiine. Besides, it's just a tiger."
" YOU WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH A TIGER HOW IS THAT ' FINE'?!" Sunnie screeched.
Mia rolled her eyes. " Oh you're so dramatic."
Emma squeezed Sunnie’s hand tighter. "Mia, are you sure this is safe?" she ased, her voice shaky.
Mia grinned even wider. "Of course it’s safe! Tigers are just... big cats. And I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries. They’re not that dangerous, right?"
" Not that dangerous?!" Annie exclaimed, poking her head out from behind Emma. "Mia, they have claws! Big ones!"
Mia winked. "Don’t worry! I’ll just ask nicely if I can take a picture with it. Tigers love a good photo op!"
Sunnie raised an eyebrow, her voice trembling. "You’ve seen how much Blackie hates being in pictures, right? What makes you think a tiger’s going to be any different?"
Mia waved off her concerns. "Blackie’s just cranky. Tigers are more... cooperative."
" Cooperative?! You’re seriously comparing Blackie to a tiger?" Emma squeaked, her grip on Sunnie’s hand tightening even more.
Sunnie gulped. "Mia, please reconsider... please?"
Mia paused, glancing at her friends. They all had wide eyes, filled with concern. She sighed, lowering the camera. "Alright, alright. Fine. No tiger photos."
Emma, Annie, and Sunnie all exhaled in relief.
"But," Mia added, "I’m still going to pet it."
Sunnie let out an ear-piercing shriek. "NOOOOO! YOU’RE GOING TO PET IT?!"
Mia shrugged and gave a mischievous grin. "Well, I was going to take a picture, but I figured I’d up the stakes. Why not both?!"
Emma shook her head. "Mia, please! I don't think tigers are into selfies!"
Mia giggled. "Trust me, I’ve got this under control."
As Mia walked closer to the tiger, Sunnie grabbed Emma’s arm. "We’re so dead," she muttered.
"Yep. Dead," Emma agreed.
The tiger, however, seemed completely uninterested, lounging lazily in the sun, looking more like a giant fluffy pillow than the terrifying creature Sunnie was imagining.
Mia gently petted the tiger’s fur. "See? Told you they were just big cats."
Sunnie’s mouth dropped open. "You’re... you’re actually touching it?!"
Mia turned back with a grin, her hand still on the tiger's fur. "See? No big deal. I’m basically a tiger whisperer."
Emma and Sunnie exchanged terrified glances. "This is how we die," Emma whispered.
Annie, still hiding behind Emma, slowly peeked out. "You know, I thought we were supposed to be the ones keeping Mia safe."
Mia, oblivious to the growing concern around her, continued to gently pet the tiger, a peaceful smile on her face. "This is the best day ever."
Sunnie shook her head. "At this point, I’m just waiting for a tiger-sized paw to land on her head."
Mia turned back to her friends. "You guys are just overreacting. I told you, tigers are just big, friendly cats. See? No harm."
