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Instead, we debated what music to listen to.
I suggested classical.
She suggested rock.
So, rock it was.
Apparently, the second song that played was her favorite band of all time. She continued to tell me about how many times she’d seen them in concert.
Then she listed off the top ten best concerts she’d been to.
When she asked me what concert I’d been to last, I had to think for a minute or two.
After I answered, she just stared at me.
Blankly.
“Aren’t they all dead, now?”
I burst out laughing and pulled her onto my bench seat. “Aren’t you the funny one?” My lips touched her neck while I kept laughing.
“I’m serious!” she exclaimed, trying to push me away. “How old are you? I don’t think any of them have been alive for years.”
I continued kissing her neck, making her laugh and squirm in the most delicious way.
When the car came to a stop, I looked out the window. “We’re here. Ready?” I asked, straightening my tie.
Just then, Langcaster opened the door on her side. “I guess so?” she said tentatively, trying to look out the dark windows. I nudged her forward and followed behind.
“Thank you, I’ll call when we’re ready,” I said to Langcaster as he shut the door behind us and nodded at me. I continued ushering Cherry forward when she came to an immediate halt.
“You—you’re taking me to the zoo?” she asked, her head tilting back, taking in the sign.
“Yes, everyone loves the zoo. Right?” I said, pushing her gently with my hand on her lower back. The line was nonexistent, but that didn’t mean I wanted to stand outside the gates forever.
“Uh, yeah,” she answered back in a low, timid voice. I’d thought she’d be more excited.Maybe she was just surprised?
When we walked into the grounds, I pulled her behind me until we arrived at the first exhibit straight in front of us. I loved watching the zebras. There was something about their wild coats that always interested me.
“You like zebras?” Cherry asked, staring over at the small herd. She leaned on the metal bar of the fence. I could only see her profile as I stood beside her.
“I do. Their coloring always amazes me. It’s so random, yet so—”
“Beautiful and perfect. Like maybe God made a terrible mistake, but it turned out to be the best kind of mistake.”
“What do you mean?”
“Their coats don’t exactly make them invisible. He gave most animals at least a chance at some kind of camouflage. But not zebras. He made them bold and showy. Their only chance at surviving an attack is confusing their predator with their beautiful stripes.”
She gazed at me briefly. “Even then, the lion’s probably going to catch one of them.”
“That is the way of the jungle, my dear. The kings all want to hunt the most beautiful, tasty treats.”
A look of sadness crossed her face before she gazed back at the zebras. “Yeah. It kind of sucks.”
I would have laughed if it weren’t for the forlorn aura that had suddenly covered her like a dark, stormy cloud. “There aren’t any lions in wait, Cherry. These animals are well protected. Nothing’s going to suddenly pounce on them from the brush.”
“Maybe that’s the best—and worst—part of the whole thing.”
