[Neo Zone] Population: 23 Kids

Preparing For The Hike

Mrs. Suh sighed as she looked at the cafe sign that signaled they were closed for the day and thought of everything she had to prepare. Sure, Taeyong's Dad, Mr. Lee, was bringing snacks, napkins and wipes, and Jaemin's Mom, Mrs. Na, was bringing fruits, veggies and drinks, but that meant she was in charge of sandwiches.

Twenty-seven sandwiches, plus a few extras just in case.

"My lovely kiddos, who wants to help make sandwiches for the hike?"

"I've gotchu." Lucas stood up and grabbed WinWin and Haechan to help him, rolling up his sleeves to get ready.

"Someone has to go around and get orders for what everyone wants, but we've got choices of peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, just jelly, turkey, and ham. They can put cheese on it too if they want."

"Doyoung, you're good at remembering things. You can do that." Haechan delegated.

"No, I need him for something else."

"Jaemin! You like socializing! You can do that." Haechan threw a notepad and pen at Jaemin who wasn't paying attention, almost getting hit in the eye.

"What am I doing?"

"Taking sandwich orders. They can put peanut butter, jelly, turkey, ham or cheese on it." 

Mrs. Suh winced but was unable to correct Haechan's instructions before Jaemin ran off. Now someone was going to try and purposefully have a really strange sandwich.

"Okay, Doyoung, Mrs. Na is bringing carrots, what would you like as an alternative? I've got green peppers and broccoli. Might have something else in the fridge."

Doyoung just shrugged, secretly really happy she remembered he didn't like carrots. "Anything works."

"Green peppers it is then. Ten! Where's Ten?"

"Over here!" He was sitting in a corner playing with Leon with Hendery.

"Mrs. Na is bringing fruit, would you like a substitute?"

"A cookie?" He tilted his head, ready to do aegyo if he had to.

"Green peppers it is then. Jaemin! Oh yeah, I sent him off." She looked around, trying to think if there was anything else she was forgetting. "Jungwoo! Come help me pick snacks."

Yes, Mr. Lee was bringing snacks, but he didn't know how to pack for twenty-three children. They also had a Jungwoo and a Lucas, meaning extra snacks was a necessity. Especially if they were driving two hours for the hike.

"Do we get cookies?" He whispered sheepishly, having already heard Ten try for them but thought he might as well ask too.

"I already have them packed in the car. When you think you have enough, bring them out to the car." She kissed the top of his head and handed him a reusable bag for him to load up, going back to where the sandwiches were being made.

"How's it going in here?"

"It was going great until someone decided they wanted a peanut butter turkey and cheese sandwich." WinWin said with a sigh, slapping a slice of turkey on bread.

"I was really hoping that wouldn't happen." She then ignored the fact that Haechan was adding sprinkles to one sandwich and chili powder to the one next to it, heading to the basement to make sure everyone was awake.

Taeil was explaining a worksheet to Sungchan and Mark, Jeno and Taeyong were playing a game on the floor.

"Everybody ready to go down here? Sungchan, you told your parents where we're going?"

"They think I'm at the library working on a project. They won't come looking for me." He answered, looking up from his paper with a smile.

"As long as I don't get charged for kidnapping, that works. Where's Chenji, Xiaojun and Shotaro?"

"Upstairs I think. Maybe watching TV with Mr. Suh." Taeyong reported, so she went back two flights of stairs to find the missing children.

She almost melted as soon as she saw them with her husband watching TV. Mr. Suh was reclined back in the chair asleep, Chenle and Jisung on his stomach and chest sleeping. Xiaojun was curled up into Mr. Suh's side, Shotaro spread out over the rest of the couch with his head resting on Xiaojun's side.

They could wait to leave until after they woke up.