Kickin' It On Route 66 ~ Chapter 2 - 5
Title: Kickin’ It On Route 66
State: Missouri ~ Chapter 2-5
Rating: PG
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary: The Allen-Lamberts take a road trip along Historic Route 66
Disclaimer: I don’t own Adam or Kris. This story is fiction. Other major characters are fictional; the places they visit in this story are real.
Dedicated to adamluvr36_fic ~ just because ♥
Continuation of their day exploring Forest Park. Picks up after lunch.
Time for a Allen-Lambert universe mini series. Hannah is 12 years old, Josh is 7 years old. Mrs. Willowby comes along too! Get ready for Americana and nostalgia. Welcome to Missouri!
Warning: Comfort food alert!
Overview map of The Mother Road ~ http://www.historic66.com/description/map.html
Retrace the trip ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/45756.html#cutid1
Masterlist of Allen-Lambert universe ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/21722.html#cutid1
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
ROAD TRIP DAY 12:
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI DAY 4 (continued)
The stop at the St. Louis Art Museum was more for Adam than anyone else. After finishing lunch, they delved back into Forest Park, driving to one of the few buildings constructed for the World’s Fair that was permanent. Like the History Museum, it was a massive stone structure with columns but somehow didn’t seem as imposing. Located on its own road, it sat upon a grassy plain with fountains in front and guarded by a huge statue of St. Louis on his steed.
The foyer of the art museum was worth the trip inside alone. With a high vaulted ceiling, sweeping arches and decorative windows, it resembled a cathedral, a place to revere the amazing collection of human creativity. Their feet made little noise along the marble floors, muted beneath the low voices of other day trippers and the trickling water from the indoor fountain.
Again, they didn’t have a lot of time to explore ~ Adam could have taken an entire day to check out its three floors and collection of thousands but the Zoo was their main destination for the afternoon so he limited himself to one collection. It wasn’t an easy decision and in the end he decided to look at the exhibit of Decorative Arts & Design. He appreciated the artistic vision of creating everyday objects and both he and Kris figured the items ~ furniture, architectural elements, fabrics, decorative items ~ would be recognizable enough for the kids to avoid a litany of ‘what’s that’, ‘what’s this’, ‘I don’t get it’.
Still, it didn’t stop the questions completely.
“That’s a fork?”
“Yup”
“But it’s broken … it only has two pointy things.”
“The first forks designed only had to two tines.”
“Okay but why does it only have two pointy things?”
“The pointy things on a fork are called tines, Joshie.”
“Why can’t they just call them pointy things?”
The children behaved themselves, keeping their voices low and not running around. Kris kept an eye on their son knowing he could turn into a Mexican jumping bean at any time. Hannah stayed close but explored the room on her own, amazed at how many ways you could make a chair.
On the way to the Zoo, they stopped the minivan to take a quick look at the World’s Fair Pavilion. It wasn’t built for the World’s Fair but from the proceeds of the fair five years later. It was a fancy version of a covered picnic shelter, made of tan stone with arches, two towers and a terra cotta roof. Carpets of green surrounded it and like many attractions in the Park, it also had a fountain. This one was a set of steps built into the side of hill where the water flowed down from the top fountain to the pool below.
“When are we going to the Zoo?” Joshie asked, getting impatient.
“On our way now.”
“I can’t wait to see the hippos and giraffes,” Hannah declared happily.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
The St. Louis Zoo had been welcoming visitors for over 100 years and the Allen-Lambert’s couldn’t wait to add their names to the list. There were several entrances and they chose the North Entrance, beside a parking lot and close to the gift shop and Children’s Zoo where they’d planned on finishing up the excursion.
Going in, they opened their map and got ready to travel the world. The Zoo was divided into six zones, each highlighting particular collections of wildlife and each with its own flavor.
Heading east, the first zone they entered was The Wild, an area that featured how animals have managed to adapt to their surroundings, especially places that would seem inhospitable.
Grizzly bears, spectacled bears, and grizzly bears all called Bear Bluffs home. One of the first zoos to take away the cages and give the animals an open but safe environment similar to their native habitat, the bears lived and played surrounded by waterfalls, fountains and pools. Long hair, short hair, various shades of fur ~ all were related but unique in their own ways.
“Look, he’s wearing glasses!” Hannah commented, pointing to a bear with white circles around his eyes.
“He’s called the Andean Bear and he’s from South America,” Kris read from the information plaque. “He lives in the forests and eats mostly fruits and plants, but sometimes small animals too.”
It was a quick trip from rainforests to frozen plains to visit the Penguin & Puffin Coast, home to four types of penguins, two types of puffins, and other water birds who thrived in frigid temperatures. An outdoor exhibit showcased the Humboldt Penguins, a medium sized black and white bird with a black strip across their white chest and pink splotches on their faces, feet and under their wings.
Stepping into the chilled indoor exhibits was a welcomed respite from the heat outside. Theatrical lights played over the ceiling, crowning the room with a crystal blue sky. Sound effects added to the production … waves crashing and sea lions barking.
The indoor Penguin Cove gave the family an opportunity to watch three species of penguins wobble awkwardly on land and fly gracefully through the water. The smallest penguin called the Gentoo looked very much like the Humboldt and then there was the Rockhopper with its orange beak and yellow feather streaks on either side of its head.
“That’s what I’d call a glam penguin,” Adam said, admiring the bird’s flair.
“All he needs is some glitter,” Kris added.
“He has … its ice, ice Baby!”
The King Penguins stood on the shoreline, watching the smaller birds in the water and the visitors shuffling past.
“I rather like him,” Mrs. Willowby commented, directing their attention to the biggest birds with their gold and black heads. “He’s very regal, just like his name.”
“They remind me of you on stage … imposing and commanding.”
“Are you saying I remind you of a penguin?”
“Well, when you get your cane for ‘Strut’ and do a bit of that Charlie Chaplin thing … yeah, I’d say you move like a penguin.”
The family moved on and Adam stayed put, looking at the closest King Penguin.
“Do I look like your brother from another mother?” Adam asked it.
The bird shook its head, ruffling a few feathers.
“I didn’t think so.”
Leaving the Southern hemisphere for the Northern, the black and white residents weren’t penguins but puffins. Just like their coordinating friends, they lived on cliffs, dived, and swam in the water. The major difference was they could also fly, though not very well. Similar to ducks in shape, their heads were white with black details about their eyes, and their beaks were white with orange or yellow tips.
“Reminds me of a mime,” Kris said.
“They’re nicknamed ‘clowns of the sea’,” Hannah shared.
“I can see why.”
“I like those birds up there. They remind me of a Monet painting,” Adam expressed.
He was looking at another sea bird called the King Eider. Their heads were an artist palette of dusty blue, yellow, red, green and brown, a subtler version of a parrot.
Kris opened his mouth and Adam hushed him before a word got out.
“If you say I look like puffin, no more you-know-what for you,” he playfully warned.
“No more what?”
“Never you mind, Joshua.”
Leaving the Penguin & Puffin Coast, they passed some more bear habitats on their way to the Conservation Carousel, a fun way to take a rest. There were 64 wooden animals created to highlight the protected and endangered species found at the Zoo. Rushing to grab their animals, Kris climbed upon a cheetah, Hannah got her hippo, Joshie balanced atop a massive polar bear, Mrs. Willowby perched herself gracefully on a zebra and Adam ended up with the warthog.
Grabbing some frozen ice pops from the Carousel Café, they walked around the small lake in the middle of the Wild Zone and past a train station. When planning the visit, the kids had wanted to take the train ride around the attraction but when it was explained that would mean less time getting close to the animals, the kids agreed to let it go.
In the fall and winter the orangutans, chimpanzees and gorillas lived in a covered jungle but in the summer, they enjoyed the fresh air in the Fragile Forest. Amongst lush greenery, streams, fallen trees and vines, the primates lived and loved and argued just like the visitors who were fascinated about how they mirrored each other.
A family of chimps sat in the shade, minding their own business as the Allen-Lambert’s came by. The largest chimp looked like he was napping, grey hairs around his face; two slightly smaller ones were cleaning each other and the two smallest were shoving sticks into feeding tubes, catching whatever food was in there and eating it.
“Remind you of anyone?” Kris asked.
“Why don’t they just give them the food?” Mrs. Willowby asked.
“Working for the food gives them something to do,” Hannah replied. The adults looked at her, impressed. She smiled shyly. “What? We studied primates in school.”
Kris kissed her head and they strolled towards the orangutans. Stopping at the creature’s refuge, they looked for the ‘old man of the forest’ and came up empty.
“Where are they?” Joshie asked.
Hannah shaded her eyes and looked up into the trees.
“There they are.”
It was hard to see the three of them, shielded by the leaves, but their orange hair stood out when you knew where to look. After five minutes of mutual spying, the family on the ground moved on.
“Woah, he’s huge,” Adam exclaimed, setting eyes on the massive gorilla.
“He’s also gentle Papa. Gorillas only get aggressive if threatened or looking for a mate.”
Bigger than both Joshie and Hannah combined, the creature sat against a rock, looking for all the world like he had on a suit … from the waist up his hair was dark brown/black and from the waist down he was silver. Making eye contact, Adam wouldn’t have been surprised if the gorilla started speaking to him ~ not because he’d seen it done is cheesy movies but because the intelligence in its face made Adam think it was entirely possible.
Historic Hill was the next zone they entered, though they just brushed by the edge of it on their way to the Red Rocks Zone. They’d double back to the heart of the Hill from there.
Meanwhile, they passed the 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage, one of only two original World’s Fair structures left in Forest Park, the other being the Art Museum. Recently, the Flight Cage, a greenhouse frame with mesh instead of glass, had been renovated into a cypress swamp, like those found along the Mississippi River. Inside were 16 species of birds that lived in the area.
Red Rocks was a zone where powerful predators lived next door to their graceful prey, only the carefully crafted habitats ~ the Antelope Yards and Big Cat Country ~ keeping them apart.
The Antelope Yards were divided into four sections and the family navigated the paths separating them. Some hoofed mammals they recognized, like zebras, camels, giraffes, gazelles and kangaroos, and others they were clueless about. If they stopped to read the plagues describing every animal, it would have taken them over an hour to pass through just this section so they admired from afar and wondered at the diversity of the animal kingdom.
“What do you get when you cross a zebra with a giraffe?” Kris asked out of the blue.
“I don’t know … a zeraffe … a girbra?”
“An okapi.”
“A what?”
“An okapi. Its hind quarters are stripped like a zebra and the rest of it looks like a giraffe with a short neck and big ears.”
“I think you’ve been out in the sun too long Baby,” Adam replied, touching Kris’ face.
“I’m not overheated. Look!”
The family followed Kris’ outstretched hand and sure enough, there was the animal in question, looking at the humans like they’d lost there minds before moving on to graze.
“Extraordinary,” Mrs. Willowby declared.
“Forget a horse, I want an okapi,” Hannah uttered.
“No … and no.”
There was a gift cart nearby covered with small stuffed animals.
“Maybe you find a little one to take home.”
The kids ran to the cart and left with a small okapi and a lion for Joshie. The little boy made his lion growl and it pounced on his sister’s toy, knocking it to the ground while declaring it was going to eat the other animal for its supper. Hannah shouted at him to get lost.
“Apologize to your brother,” Kris said sternly.
“He started it!”
“And he’ll apologize too.”
The kids apologized and promised to behave, especially after they were warned if there was another outburst like that, they’d leave before they were finished the visit.
Peace was somewhat restored as they reached Big Cat Country, rocky summits with a waterfall, trees and shrubs. The largest of felines reclined in the summer heat, sleeping and seeking out shade. Tigers, leopards, panthers, jaguars, and cheetahs ~ though strong and powerful ~ still looked like oversized kitty cats and Joshua begged his parents to get pictures of him posing with his lion toy, the real animals in the background.
After the detour, they returned to Historic Hill. As one of the oldest areas in the Zoo, its architecture had a nostalgic ambience about it, blending in with the modern additions.
The Bird House & Garden was a lush space, offering a nearly unobstructed view, made possible with special wiring, of the rainbow within ~ cranes, gulls, flamingos, ostriches and emus, owls, parrots, pheasants, doves, roadrunners, eagles, waterfowl and toucans, as well as many others.
Moving south, they passed through a chain of lakes, catching glimpses of otters, swans and turtles. Another primate house was ahead of them but since they already saw some earlier, they moved on to the Herpetarium full of amphibians and reptiles. Within the Mediterranean stucco walls and red tiled roof awaited over 700 creatures.
“I’ll just wait out here,” Mrs. Willowby explained, finding an empty bench in the shade and taking a water bottle out of her bag.
They understood; she did not like reptiles of any kind, especially snakes. Whenever she passed the framed cover of Adam’s Rolling Stone magazine cover, she always looked away and sped up.
“Why don’t you go ahead to the Ice Cream Oasis and we’ll meet there.”
The respite was a few hundred feet away in the Lakeside Crossing zone, the perfect place to take a breather and relax.
“Wonderful idea. I could use something cold. My water’s gotten lukewarm.”
Strolling through four climates ~ montane, temperate, tropical and desert ~ the kids hurried from spot to spot, not wanting to miss one single creature. There were alligators and crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises, frogs and toads, salamanders and newts, and yes … more animals they couldn’t identify.
Adam liked snakes and turtles yet he wasn’t crazy about the others. Kris, however, was right in there with the children, kneeling close, sharing stories of how he and Uncle Daniel used to hunt frogs and other creepy, crawly creatures with their friends. They used to take the creatures home, and in no time they died. Since then, he’d learned that in the nature, if you come across a creature, you should leave it alone. Not only was it the nice thing to do, it was the safe thing to do.
“The people who work with wild animals have had years of training and practice. They know how to handle the animals so everyone stays safe. Only touch if you’re told you can; otherwise hands at your side or in your pockets.”
Mrs. Willowby was sitting by the lake when they caught up to her. Kris took the kids inside for ice cream, telling them as they went that they could just get an ice cream cone; he didn’t want them spoiling their dinner.
Adam sat beside their lady and gazed over the lake.
“How are we doing laddie?”
“Getting tired; there’s been a lot of walking today. Tomorrow, we can kick back and relax.”
“You folks can. I’m putting on my best pair of walking shoes, grabbing my sun hat, and taking a tip toe through the tulips and a meander through the market.”
“Sounds good. Perhaps I should go with you instead of the baseball game.”
“Oh laddie, you’ll enjoy yourself. Don’t think of it as going to something you’re not really interested in; think of it as spending time with your little family.”
Adam smiled. “You want a day on your own.”
She grinned back. “Yes … and besides, who’ll sing the National Anthem. That’s the one thing I will miss not being there ~ your singing and Mr. Allen ‘tossing the first ball’.”
“I think it’s called ‘throwing out the first pitch’.”
“See! You do know baseball!”
Kris and the kids returned. Adam took his ice cream, already melting into the waffle cone, and slurped the growing puddle.
Mrs. Willowby looked at her watch. “It’s nearly 5pm. How much more do we have to visit?”
“We’re more than half done,” Kris started. “There’s still the River’s Edge zone, the Butterfly House and the Children’s Zoo. I’d say if we don’t dawdle, maybe another hour and a half.” He turned to Hannah and Joshie. “How you guys doing? Getting tired?”
They shook their heads ‘no’, mouths full of ice cream.
“Why am I not surprised?”
Adam got to his feet, stretching his legs. “Better get this safari back on the road.”
The River’s Edge exhibit featured animals from four continents. To speed things up, they visited two species only … the elephants and the hippos.
The hippo exhibit was a little out of the way. However, Hannah loved the lumbering creatures and her parents didn’t want to disappoint her, especially when they were cutting back on see the other animals in the zone.
Hippo Harbor offered an amazing way to watch and interact with the 3,000 pound creature. Instead of just watching them on land, the visitors could stand behind a wall of glass and watch them swim in 60,000 gallons of water. They looked kind of funny and it was hard to remember that hippos were considered the most dangerous of all land animals.
The Asian Elephants were a good size family with adults and youngsters. The info plaque gave all their names and the kids thought it was hysterical that the male was named after Auntie Raja. When the male stopped to eat, the camera came out and a picture was taken.
“You don’t think Raja will take this as insult do you?” Kris asked.
“Raja might but Sutan will consider it an honor. After all, elephants are the largest land animals on the planet and Raja’s presence is certainly larger than life.”
With extreme caution, they walked through the Butterfly House, its residents fluttering above and around and below them. One sat on Mrs. Willowby’s head and they waited ten minutes until it flew off.
The last stop was the Children’s Zoo. Not just the kids, but the rest of the family, were able to pet a variety of animals including rabbits, goats, and a large tortoise that walked around the area, getting his exercise. The adults were too big for the playground but the kids let out the rest of their energy.
Lately, Hannah and Joshie had been so active that they fell asleep early the last few nights and Adam and Kris were sure it would happen again tonight. They wouldn’t have been surprised if they themselves fell asleep early. After all, they did a lot of walking too.
Heading back to the minivan, they stopped at the gift shop for a book on the zoo, postcards, stickers and activity books for the kids. Joshie wanted to buy a rubber snake but one look at his nanny’s face made him change his mind.
“Can I buy a monkey?” he asked, holding up an adorable but oversized and overstuffed primate.
Kris took the monkey from him and put it back on the floor.
“We already have two monkeys … we don’t need another.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
“Are we going to Fitz again?” Hannah asked, spotting the restaurant across the street as they climbed out of the minivan.
“Nope,” her Daddy replied. “Look behind you.”
She and her brother turned at spotted the orangy sign.
“Cheese … oooogally?”
“That’s Cheese-ology,” Hannah corrected her brother. “It’s a macaroni and cheese restaurant!”
“Why don’t they just say so?!”
It was a small but bright restaurant. The head chef came out to greet his customers and offered them the opportunity to watch their dinner being put together in the kitchen. After selecting their variations on the American classic, they joined the chef and placed their orders.
“Who’s first?” the chef asked, taking a metal bowl and adding a cup of white sauce and a cup of elbow macaroni, the basis of each serving.
Mrs. Willowby spoke up first. “I’ll have the tuna macaroni please.”
The chef added a scoop of American cheese, a scoop of tuna and half a scoop of peas. He stirred it together and ladled it into a mini cast iron skillet.
“Would you like bread crumbs on it?”
“Of course.”
He sprinkled the bread crumbs over the top them set it down near the sandwich toaster. Once all the skillets were ready, they would pass through the toaster and come out bubbly and toasted.
Adam ordered the shrimp scampi mac with mozzerella, provolone, parmesan and shrimp and Kris went for a Black and Bleu mac with American and Bleu cheese, steak, and a sprinkling of Cajun spice.
The kids had the opportunity to add any ingredient they wanted. Hannah asked for bacon and chicken in hers and Joshie wanted just bacon. After the ingredients were added to the bowl, the kids were allowed to mix up their mac and cheese, carefully spoon it into the skillet and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs.
With all the skillets lined up, the conveyor belt was turned on. Slowly, the skillets disappeared through one end and came out the other, all bubbly. The chef slipped thick red cozies over the handles and the family took their seats. Along with garden salads and drinks, the mac came out and somehow, it tasted extra good because they saw it made. To finish off the comfort food meal, they munched Rice Crispie squares.
“Can we come back her tomorrow and the next day and the next?” their son asked, a string of cheese stuck to his mouth.
“I’m afraid not sweetie. We’re only in town for two more days and then we move on.”
Joshie got up and went back towards the kitchen. When he returned, he had a black chef’s cap on his head.
“Where’d you get that?” Hannah asked, a little jealous.
“The cook gave it to me. I told him how good the food was.”
“That was really nice of him,” Adam commented. “I think we should all thank him.”
They did and when the family left, Hannah proudly wore her own chef’s cap.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
“Mr. Allen, Mr. Lambert, a package arrived for you.”
Mrs. Willowby continued upstairs with the children and the men headed over to the concierge’s desk where a large box was waiting.
“Thank you.”
Turning it around so they could read the label, Kris jumped up and down like a kid at Christmas.
“It’s from the Cardinals!”
“So what are they sending us, one of their players?”
“Don’t be silly. I bet its merchandise.” Kris hefted the box and half ran, half walked towards the elevator. “Don’t tell me you aren’t excited; you love clothes and stuff.”
Adam followed his husband at a normal pace, not quite as excited. “Yeah … whoop-ee.”
The kids were just as excited as their Daddy and were tearing into the box when Adam finally got to their room. Tissue paper floated onto the floor followed by a potpourri of Cardinal’s merchandise.
“Are they trying to buy our silence or something?” Adam asked sarcastically.
Kris humored him. He knew Adam wasn’t a fan of baseball and was tolerating all this for their sake. On top were five red jersey’s with the number one on the back of each and the team’s name on the front, and black baseball caps with the team logo on the front. Through their many communications with the team’s management, Kris forgot they’d asked for their shirt and hat sizes. When they’d mentioned something about putting their names on the shirts, Kris declined because he didn’t want the kids’ names on the back of their shirts.
“Can we wear them now?” the kids asked.
Mrs. Willowby said they could but then they had to go back in the box until tomorrow. With the shirts and caps on, they looked like all-stars. A few minutes later, as Mrs. Willowby took all the shirts ~ hers included even though she wasn’t going to the game ~ she asked what else was in the box.
There was a deck of Cardinal’s themed UNO cards, slap on bracelets, pennants, and a tin shortbread cookies shaped like baseballs, complete with the stitching lines.
Naturally the kids wanted to get into the cookies and naturally they were told ‘not now’. If they were going to snack on anything, it would be the two Gooey Cakes still in the mini fridge before they went stale.
Mrs. Willowby ushered them off to their bedroom for baths and to get in their pajamas. Adam and Kris packed the stuff back in the box.
“Do you want to try your jersey on?” Kris asked, slipping on his own.
“No thanks.”
“I wish you were more excited about this.”
“I’m excited … just not as excited as you. I am looking forward to sing the National anthem and watching you throw out the first pitch. I just wish I knew a bit more about the game. I don’t want you to feel obligated to keep explaining things to me.”
Kris gently maneuvered his husband to the couch and told him to sit. He then located the laptop and did a quick Goggle search before setting the computer in Adam’s lap.
“There you go. Everything you need to understand the game tomorrow is here.”
“Baseball for Dummies?”
“It’s a cheat sheet, just the basics. Give it a whirl.”
Kris went back to the box and Adam shrugged, navigating the site. It offered the basics which was enough for Adam so he’d have some clue what was going on. Mrs. Willowby came out of the kids’ room fifteen minutes later, shutting the door behind her.
“The dears fell asleep the moment their heads hit their pillows.” She covered a yawn. “I dare say the same will happen for me. Good night laddies.”
“Good night.”
“See you in the morning.”
When Kris finished repacking the box, he got up and stretched. “I’m going to have my shower.”
“By the time you come out I’ll be a regular Yogi Bear [animated bear]!”
“That’s Yogi Berra lover [famous baseball manager].”
“Bear … Berra … as long as I know what the Carolers are doing.”
“Cardinals!”
“I know! Sheesh, can’t you take a joke?!”
Once the sound of the shower reached the living room, Adam closed the tab and googled snippets from Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra’s musical ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’.
“Now if baseball in real life was like this, I’d so be a groupie.”
Closing the laptop, he shut off the lights and headed for the bedroom. Passing the box, he stopped and fished out his jersey and cap, taking them with him. In the bedroom, he tried on his new clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. He grinned and started singing to himself:
♫ Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don’t care if I never get back
Let me root, root, root for the home team
If they don’t win it’s a shame … ♫
Familiar hands circled his waste and damp hands stroked his chest.
♫ Cause its one … two … three
Strikes you’re out
At the old ball game! ♫
Kris cuddled Adam from behind, his hand moving around his bases.
“Daddy, what are you doing?”
Kris’ hands froze and Adam looked over his shoulder at their son, stuffed lion dangling in one hand, the other rubbing his eyes.
“Daddy is teaching me how to get to first base.”
The hands around Adam clenched as Kris buried his face between his husband’s shoulder blades and fought back the giggles threatening to boil over.
“Oh, that’s easy,” their son explained. “Plant your feet at home plate, stick out your bum, give it a wiggle til it feels right, raise you arms and swing your bat.”
At this point Kris was holding Adam so tight the taller man couldn’t breathe. Somehow, Adam kept it together.
“I’ll remember that. Is there something you need? I thought you were asleep.”
“Hannah is but I wanted to say good night.”
Daddy and Papa gave him hugs and kisses and Joshie left, the door closing behind him. Just before he went into his bedroom, roaring laughter came from his parents’ room.
“Joshie …,” Hannah yawned, “whaz the matter?”
“Daddy and Papa are being weird again.”
“What else is new … night.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
♥ Art Museum ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt8hG2Nn_ow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_Art_Museum
Exterior pic ~ http://stldesignworld.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mainimage.jpg
♥ Lobby pic ~ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4451930779_013b827edc.jpg
♥ Pavilion pic ~ http://3547.voxcdn.com/photos/3/9/132094_s.jpg
♥ Penguin & Puffin Coast ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gypZPF2U_7U
Fragile Forest ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVBDCUxuju4
Pic of Flight Cage ~ http://media.connectingstlouis.com/500/st-louis-zoo-33.jpg
♥ Pic of an okapi ~ http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5638236061_4625529bb2.jpg
♥ Pic Herpetarium interior ~ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4860570158_e23f485075.jpg
♥♥ Hippo Harbor (super close) ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHWqBPoUKR8
Cheese-ology ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz37acd-TbI
Cheese-ology Mac and Cheese ~ www.cheese-ology.com
“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETbcBurehOE
State: Missouri ~ Chapter 2-5
Rating: PG
Pairing: adam/kris, OMCs
Summary: The Allen-Lamberts take a road trip along Historic Route 66
Disclaimer: I don’t own Adam or Kris. This story is fiction. Other major characters are fictional; the places they visit in this story are real.
Dedicated to adamluvr36_fic ~ just because ♥
Continuation of their day exploring Forest Park. Picks up after lunch.
Time for a Allen-Lambert universe mini series. Hannah is 12 years old, Josh is 7 years old. Mrs. Willowby comes along too! Get ready for Americana and nostalgia. Welcome to Missouri!
Warning: Comfort food alert!
Overview map of The Mother Road ~ http://www.historic66.com/description/map.html
Retrace the trip ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/45756.html#cutid1
Masterlist of Allen-Lambert universe ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/21722.html#cutid1
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
ROAD TRIP DAY 12:
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI DAY 4 (continued)
The stop at the St. Louis Art Museum was more for Adam than anyone else. After finishing lunch, they delved back into Forest Park, driving to one of the few buildings constructed for the World’s Fair that was permanent. Like the History Museum, it was a massive stone structure with columns but somehow didn’t seem as imposing. Located on its own road, it sat upon a grassy plain with fountains in front and guarded by a huge statue of St. Louis on his steed.
The foyer of the art museum was worth the trip inside alone. With a high vaulted ceiling, sweeping arches and decorative windows, it resembled a cathedral, a place to revere the amazing collection of human creativity. Their feet made little noise along the marble floors, muted beneath the low voices of other day trippers and the trickling water from the indoor fountain.
Again, they didn’t have a lot of time to explore ~ Adam could have taken an entire day to check out its three floors and collection of thousands but the Zoo was their main destination for the afternoon so he limited himself to one collection. It wasn’t an easy decision and in the end he decided to look at the exhibit of Decorative Arts & Design. He appreciated the artistic vision of creating everyday objects and both he and Kris figured the items ~ furniture, architectural elements, fabrics, decorative items ~ would be recognizable enough for the kids to avoid a litany of ‘what’s that’, ‘what’s this’, ‘I don’t get it’.
Still, it didn’t stop the questions completely.
“That’s a fork?”
“Yup”
“But it’s broken … it only has two pointy things.”
“The first forks designed only had to two tines.”
“Okay but why does it only have two pointy things?”
“The pointy things on a fork are called tines, Joshie.”
“Why can’t they just call them pointy things?”
The children behaved themselves, keeping their voices low and not running around. Kris kept an eye on their son knowing he could turn into a Mexican jumping bean at any time. Hannah stayed close but explored the room on her own, amazed at how many ways you could make a chair.
On the way to the Zoo, they stopped the minivan to take a quick look at the World’s Fair Pavilion. It wasn’t built for the World’s Fair but from the proceeds of the fair five years later. It was a fancy version of a covered picnic shelter, made of tan stone with arches, two towers and a terra cotta roof. Carpets of green surrounded it and like many attractions in the Park, it also had a fountain. This one was a set of steps built into the side of hill where the water flowed down from the top fountain to the pool below.
“When are we going to the Zoo?” Joshie asked, getting impatient.
“On our way now.”
“I can’t wait to see the hippos and giraffes,” Hannah declared happily.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
The St. Louis Zoo had been welcoming visitors for over 100 years and the Allen-Lambert’s couldn’t wait to add their names to the list. There were several entrances and they chose the North Entrance, beside a parking lot and close to the gift shop and Children’s Zoo where they’d planned on finishing up the excursion.
Going in, they opened their map and got ready to travel the world. The Zoo was divided into six zones, each highlighting particular collections of wildlife and each with its own flavor.
Heading east, the first zone they entered was The Wild, an area that featured how animals have managed to adapt to their surroundings, especially places that would seem inhospitable.
Grizzly bears, spectacled bears, and grizzly bears all called Bear Bluffs home. One of the first zoos to take away the cages and give the animals an open but safe environment similar to their native habitat, the bears lived and played surrounded by waterfalls, fountains and pools. Long hair, short hair, various shades of fur ~ all were related but unique in their own ways.
“Look, he’s wearing glasses!” Hannah commented, pointing to a bear with white circles around his eyes.
“He’s called the Andean Bear and he’s from South America,” Kris read from the information plaque. “He lives in the forests and eats mostly fruits and plants, but sometimes small animals too.”
It was a quick trip from rainforests to frozen plains to visit the Penguin & Puffin Coast, home to four types of penguins, two types of puffins, and other water birds who thrived in frigid temperatures. An outdoor exhibit showcased the Humboldt Penguins, a medium sized black and white bird with a black strip across their white chest and pink splotches on their faces, feet and under their wings.
Stepping into the chilled indoor exhibits was a welcomed respite from the heat outside. Theatrical lights played over the ceiling, crowning the room with a crystal blue sky. Sound effects added to the production … waves crashing and sea lions barking.
The indoor Penguin Cove gave the family an opportunity to watch three species of penguins wobble awkwardly on land and fly gracefully through the water. The smallest penguin called the Gentoo looked very much like the Humboldt and then there was the Rockhopper with its orange beak and yellow feather streaks on either side of its head.
“That’s what I’d call a glam penguin,” Adam said, admiring the bird’s flair.
“All he needs is some glitter,” Kris added.
“He has … its ice, ice Baby!”
The King Penguins stood on the shoreline, watching the smaller birds in the water and the visitors shuffling past.
“I rather like him,” Mrs. Willowby commented, directing their attention to the biggest birds with their gold and black heads. “He’s very regal, just like his name.”
“They remind me of you on stage … imposing and commanding.”
“Are you saying I remind you of a penguin?”
“Well, when you get your cane for ‘Strut’ and do a bit of that Charlie Chaplin thing … yeah, I’d say you move like a penguin.”
The family moved on and Adam stayed put, looking at the closest King Penguin.
“Do I look like your brother from another mother?” Adam asked it.
The bird shook its head, ruffling a few feathers.
“I didn’t think so.”
Leaving the Southern hemisphere for the Northern, the black and white residents weren’t penguins but puffins. Just like their coordinating friends, they lived on cliffs, dived, and swam in the water. The major difference was they could also fly, though not very well. Similar to ducks in shape, their heads were white with black details about their eyes, and their beaks were white with orange or yellow tips.
“Reminds me of a mime,” Kris said.
“They’re nicknamed ‘clowns of the sea’,” Hannah shared.
“I can see why.”
“I like those birds up there. They remind me of a Monet painting,” Adam expressed.
He was looking at another sea bird called the King Eider. Their heads were an artist palette of dusty blue, yellow, red, green and brown, a subtler version of a parrot.
Kris opened his mouth and Adam hushed him before a word got out.
“If you say I look like puffin, no more you-know-what for you,” he playfully warned.
“No more what?”
“Never you mind, Joshua.”
Leaving the Penguin & Puffin Coast, they passed some more bear habitats on their way to the Conservation Carousel, a fun way to take a rest. There were 64 wooden animals created to highlight the protected and endangered species found at the Zoo. Rushing to grab their animals, Kris climbed upon a cheetah, Hannah got her hippo, Joshie balanced atop a massive polar bear, Mrs. Willowby perched herself gracefully on a zebra and Adam ended up with the warthog.
Grabbing some frozen ice pops from the Carousel Café, they walked around the small lake in the middle of the Wild Zone and past a train station. When planning the visit, the kids had wanted to take the train ride around the attraction but when it was explained that would mean less time getting close to the animals, the kids agreed to let it go.
In the fall and winter the orangutans, chimpanzees and gorillas lived in a covered jungle but in the summer, they enjoyed the fresh air in the Fragile Forest. Amongst lush greenery, streams, fallen trees and vines, the primates lived and loved and argued just like the visitors who were fascinated about how they mirrored each other.
A family of chimps sat in the shade, minding their own business as the Allen-Lambert’s came by. The largest chimp looked like he was napping, grey hairs around his face; two slightly smaller ones were cleaning each other and the two smallest were shoving sticks into feeding tubes, catching whatever food was in there and eating it.
“Remind you of anyone?” Kris asked.
“Why don’t they just give them the food?” Mrs. Willowby asked.
“Working for the food gives them something to do,” Hannah replied. The adults looked at her, impressed. She smiled shyly. “What? We studied primates in school.”
Kris kissed her head and they strolled towards the orangutans. Stopping at the creature’s refuge, they looked for the ‘old man of the forest’ and came up empty.
“Where are they?” Joshie asked.
Hannah shaded her eyes and looked up into the trees.
“There they are.”
It was hard to see the three of them, shielded by the leaves, but their orange hair stood out when you knew where to look. After five minutes of mutual spying, the family on the ground moved on.
“Woah, he’s huge,” Adam exclaimed, setting eyes on the massive gorilla.
“He’s also gentle Papa. Gorillas only get aggressive if threatened or looking for a mate.”
Bigger than both Joshie and Hannah combined, the creature sat against a rock, looking for all the world like he had on a suit … from the waist up his hair was dark brown/black and from the waist down he was silver. Making eye contact, Adam wouldn’t have been surprised if the gorilla started speaking to him ~ not because he’d seen it done is cheesy movies but because the intelligence in its face made Adam think it was entirely possible.
Historic Hill was the next zone they entered, though they just brushed by the edge of it on their way to the Red Rocks Zone. They’d double back to the heart of the Hill from there.
Meanwhile, they passed the 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage, one of only two original World’s Fair structures left in Forest Park, the other being the Art Museum. Recently, the Flight Cage, a greenhouse frame with mesh instead of glass, had been renovated into a cypress swamp, like those found along the Mississippi River. Inside were 16 species of birds that lived in the area.
Red Rocks was a zone where powerful predators lived next door to their graceful prey, only the carefully crafted habitats ~ the Antelope Yards and Big Cat Country ~ keeping them apart.
The Antelope Yards were divided into four sections and the family navigated the paths separating them. Some hoofed mammals they recognized, like zebras, camels, giraffes, gazelles and kangaroos, and others they were clueless about. If they stopped to read the plagues describing every animal, it would have taken them over an hour to pass through just this section so they admired from afar and wondered at the diversity of the animal kingdom.
“What do you get when you cross a zebra with a giraffe?” Kris asked out of the blue.
“I don’t know … a zeraffe … a girbra?”
“An okapi.”
“A what?”
“An okapi. Its hind quarters are stripped like a zebra and the rest of it looks like a giraffe with a short neck and big ears.”
“I think you’ve been out in the sun too long Baby,” Adam replied, touching Kris’ face.
“I’m not overheated. Look!”
The family followed Kris’ outstretched hand and sure enough, there was the animal in question, looking at the humans like they’d lost there minds before moving on to graze.
“Extraordinary,” Mrs. Willowby declared.
“Forget a horse, I want an okapi,” Hannah uttered.
“No … and no.”
There was a gift cart nearby covered with small stuffed animals.
“Maybe you find a little one to take home.”
The kids ran to the cart and left with a small okapi and a lion for Joshie. The little boy made his lion growl and it pounced on his sister’s toy, knocking it to the ground while declaring it was going to eat the other animal for its supper. Hannah shouted at him to get lost.
“Apologize to your brother,” Kris said sternly.
“He started it!”
“And he’ll apologize too.”
The kids apologized and promised to behave, especially after they were warned if there was another outburst like that, they’d leave before they were finished the visit.
Peace was somewhat restored as they reached Big Cat Country, rocky summits with a waterfall, trees and shrubs. The largest of felines reclined in the summer heat, sleeping and seeking out shade. Tigers, leopards, panthers, jaguars, and cheetahs ~ though strong and powerful ~ still looked like oversized kitty cats and Joshua begged his parents to get pictures of him posing with his lion toy, the real animals in the background.
After the detour, they returned to Historic Hill. As one of the oldest areas in the Zoo, its architecture had a nostalgic ambience about it, blending in with the modern additions.
The Bird House & Garden was a lush space, offering a nearly unobstructed view, made possible with special wiring, of the rainbow within ~ cranes, gulls, flamingos, ostriches and emus, owls, parrots, pheasants, doves, roadrunners, eagles, waterfowl and toucans, as well as many others.
Moving south, they passed through a chain of lakes, catching glimpses of otters, swans and turtles. Another primate house was ahead of them but since they already saw some earlier, they moved on to the Herpetarium full of amphibians and reptiles. Within the Mediterranean stucco walls and red tiled roof awaited over 700 creatures.
“I’ll just wait out here,” Mrs. Willowby explained, finding an empty bench in the shade and taking a water bottle out of her bag.
They understood; she did not like reptiles of any kind, especially snakes. Whenever she passed the framed cover of Adam’s Rolling Stone magazine cover, she always looked away and sped up.
“Why don’t you go ahead to the Ice Cream Oasis and we’ll meet there.”
The respite was a few hundred feet away in the Lakeside Crossing zone, the perfect place to take a breather and relax.
“Wonderful idea. I could use something cold. My water’s gotten lukewarm.”
Strolling through four climates ~ montane, temperate, tropical and desert ~ the kids hurried from spot to spot, not wanting to miss one single creature. There were alligators and crocodiles, lizards, snakes, turtles and tortoises, frogs and toads, salamanders and newts, and yes … more animals they couldn’t identify.
Adam liked snakes and turtles yet he wasn’t crazy about the others. Kris, however, was right in there with the children, kneeling close, sharing stories of how he and Uncle Daniel used to hunt frogs and other creepy, crawly creatures with their friends. They used to take the creatures home, and in no time they died. Since then, he’d learned that in the nature, if you come across a creature, you should leave it alone. Not only was it the nice thing to do, it was the safe thing to do.
“The people who work with wild animals have had years of training and practice. They know how to handle the animals so everyone stays safe. Only touch if you’re told you can; otherwise hands at your side or in your pockets.”
Mrs. Willowby was sitting by the lake when they caught up to her. Kris took the kids inside for ice cream, telling them as they went that they could just get an ice cream cone; he didn’t want them spoiling their dinner.
Adam sat beside their lady and gazed over the lake.
“How are we doing laddie?”
“Getting tired; there’s been a lot of walking today. Tomorrow, we can kick back and relax.”
“You folks can. I’m putting on my best pair of walking shoes, grabbing my sun hat, and taking a tip toe through the tulips and a meander through the market.”
“Sounds good. Perhaps I should go with you instead of the baseball game.”
“Oh laddie, you’ll enjoy yourself. Don’t think of it as going to something you’re not really interested in; think of it as spending time with your little family.”
Adam smiled. “You want a day on your own.”
She grinned back. “Yes … and besides, who’ll sing the National Anthem. That’s the one thing I will miss not being there ~ your singing and Mr. Allen ‘tossing the first ball’.”
“I think it’s called ‘throwing out the first pitch’.”
“See! You do know baseball!”
Kris and the kids returned. Adam took his ice cream, already melting into the waffle cone, and slurped the growing puddle.
Mrs. Willowby looked at her watch. “It’s nearly 5pm. How much more do we have to visit?”
“We’re more than half done,” Kris started. “There’s still the River’s Edge zone, the Butterfly House and the Children’s Zoo. I’d say if we don’t dawdle, maybe another hour and a half.” He turned to Hannah and Joshie. “How you guys doing? Getting tired?”
They shook their heads ‘no’, mouths full of ice cream.
“Why am I not surprised?”
Adam got to his feet, stretching his legs. “Better get this safari back on the road.”
The River’s Edge exhibit featured animals from four continents. To speed things up, they visited two species only … the elephants and the hippos.
The hippo exhibit was a little out of the way. However, Hannah loved the lumbering creatures and her parents didn’t want to disappoint her, especially when they were cutting back on see the other animals in the zone.
Hippo Harbor offered an amazing way to watch and interact with the 3,000 pound creature. Instead of just watching them on land, the visitors could stand behind a wall of glass and watch them swim in 60,000 gallons of water. They looked kind of funny and it was hard to remember that hippos were considered the most dangerous of all land animals.
The Asian Elephants were a good size family with adults and youngsters. The info plaque gave all their names and the kids thought it was hysterical that the male was named after Auntie Raja. When the male stopped to eat, the camera came out and a picture was taken.
“You don’t think Raja will take this as insult do you?” Kris asked.
“Raja might but Sutan will consider it an honor. After all, elephants are the largest land animals on the planet and Raja’s presence is certainly larger than life.”
With extreme caution, they walked through the Butterfly House, its residents fluttering above and around and below them. One sat on Mrs. Willowby’s head and they waited ten minutes until it flew off.
The last stop was the Children’s Zoo. Not just the kids, but the rest of the family, were able to pet a variety of animals including rabbits, goats, and a large tortoise that walked around the area, getting his exercise. The adults were too big for the playground but the kids let out the rest of their energy.
Lately, Hannah and Joshie had been so active that they fell asleep early the last few nights and Adam and Kris were sure it would happen again tonight. They wouldn’t have been surprised if they themselves fell asleep early. After all, they did a lot of walking too.
Heading back to the minivan, they stopped at the gift shop for a book on the zoo, postcards, stickers and activity books for the kids. Joshie wanted to buy a rubber snake but one look at his nanny’s face made him change his mind.
“Can I buy a monkey?” he asked, holding up an adorable but oversized and overstuffed primate.
Kris took the monkey from him and put it back on the floor.
“We already have two monkeys … we don’t need another.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
“Are we going to Fitz again?” Hannah asked, spotting the restaurant across the street as they climbed out of the minivan.
“Nope,” her Daddy replied. “Look behind you.”
She and her brother turned at spotted the orangy sign.
“Cheese … oooogally?”
“That’s Cheese-ology,” Hannah corrected her brother. “It’s a macaroni and cheese restaurant!”
“Why don’t they just say so?!”
It was a small but bright restaurant. The head chef came out to greet his customers and offered them the opportunity to watch their dinner being put together in the kitchen. After selecting their variations on the American classic, they joined the chef and placed their orders.
“Who’s first?” the chef asked, taking a metal bowl and adding a cup of white sauce and a cup of elbow macaroni, the basis of each serving.
Mrs. Willowby spoke up first. “I’ll have the tuna macaroni please.”
The chef added a scoop of American cheese, a scoop of tuna and half a scoop of peas. He stirred it together and ladled it into a mini cast iron skillet.
“Would you like bread crumbs on it?”
“Of course.”
He sprinkled the bread crumbs over the top them set it down near the sandwich toaster. Once all the skillets were ready, they would pass through the toaster and come out bubbly and toasted.
Adam ordered the shrimp scampi mac with mozzerella, provolone, parmesan and shrimp and Kris went for a Black and Bleu mac with American and Bleu cheese, steak, and a sprinkling of Cajun spice.
The kids had the opportunity to add any ingredient they wanted. Hannah asked for bacon and chicken in hers and Joshie wanted just bacon. After the ingredients were added to the bowl, the kids were allowed to mix up their mac and cheese, carefully spoon it into the skillet and sprinkle it with breadcrumbs.
With all the skillets lined up, the conveyor belt was turned on. Slowly, the skillets disappeared through one end and came out the other, all bubbly. The chef slipped thick red cozies over the handles and the family took their seats. Along with garden salads and drinks, the mac came out and somehow, it tasted extra good because they saw it made. To finish off the comfort food meal, they munched Rice Crispie squares.
“Can we come back her tomorrow and the next day and the next?” their son asked, a string of cheese stuck to his mouth.
“I’m afraid not sweetie. We’re only in town for two more days and then we move on.”
Joshie got up and went back towards the kitchen. When he returned, he had a black chef’s cap on his head.
“Where’d you get that?” Hannah asked, a little jealous.
“The cook gave it to me. I told him how good the food was.”
“That was really nice of him,” Adam commented. “I think we should all thank him.”
They did and when the family left, Hannah proudly wore her own chef’s cap.
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
“Mr. Allen, Mr. Lambert, a package arrived for you.”
Mrs. Willowby continued upstairs with the children and the men headed over to the concierge’s desk where a large box was waiting.
“Thank you.”
Turning it around so they could read the label, Kris jumped up and down like a kid at Christmas.
“It’s from the Cardinals!”
“So what are they sending us, one of their players?”
“Don’t be silly. I bet its merchandise.” Kris hefted the box and half ran, half walked towards the elevator. “Don’t tell me you aren’t excited; you love clothes and stuff.”
Adam followed his husband at a normal pace, not quite as excited. “Yeah … whoop-ee.”
The kids were just as excited as their Daddy and were tearing into the box when Adam finally got to their room. Tissue paper floated onto the floor followed by a potpourri of Cardinal’s merchandise.
“Are they trying to buy our silence or something?” Adam asked sarcastically.
Kris humored him. He knew Adam wasn’t a fan of baseball and was tolerating all this for their sake. On top were five red jersey’s with the number one on the back of each and the team’s name on the front, and black baseball caps with the team logo on the front. Through their many communications with the team’s management, Kris forgot they’d asked for their shirt and hat sizes. When they’d mentioned something about putting their names on the shirts, Kris declined because he didn’t want the kids’ names on the back of their shirts.
“Can we wear them now?” the kids asked.
Mrs. Willowby said they could but then they had to go back in the box until tomorrow. With the shirts and caps on, they looked like all-stars. A few minutes later, as Mrs. Willowby took all the shirts ~ hers included even though she wasn’t going to the game ~ she asked what else was in the box.
There was a deck of Cardinal’s themed UNO cards, slap on bracelets, pennants, and a tin shortbread cookies shaped like baseballs, complete with the stitching lines.
Naturally the kids wanted to get into the cookies and naturally they were told ‘not now’. If they were going to snack on anything, it would be the two Gooey Cakes still in the mini fridge before they went stale.
Mrs. Willowby ushered them off to their bedroom for baths and to get in their pajamas. Adam and Kris packed the stuff back in the box.
“Do you want to try your jersey on?” Kris asked, slipping on his own.
“No thanks.”
“I wish you were more excited about this.”
“I’m excited … just not as excited as you. I am looking forward to sing the National anthem and watching you throw out the first pitch. I just wish I knew a bit more about the game. I don’t want you to feel obligated to keep explaining things to me.”
Kris gently maneuvered his husband to the couch and told him to sit. He then located the laptop and did a quick Goggle search before setting the computer in Adam’s lap.
“There you go. Everything you need to understand the game tomorrow is here.”
“Baseball for Dummies?”
“It’s a cheat sheet, just the basics. Give it a whirl.”
Kris went back to the box and Adam shrugged, navigating the site. It offered the basics which was enough for Adam so he’d have some clue what was going on. Mrs. Willowby came out of the kids’ room fifteen minutes later, shutting the door behind her.
“The dears fell asleep the moment their heads hit their pillows.” She covered a yawn. “I dare say the same will happen for me. Good night laddies.”
“Good night.”
“See you in the morning.”
When Kris finished repacking the box, he got up and stretched. “I’m going to have my shower.”
“By the time you come out I’ll be a regular Yogi Bear [animated bear]!”
“That’s Yogi Berra lover [famous baseball manager].”
“Bear … Berra … as long as I know what the Carolers are doing.”
“Cardinals!”
“I know! Sheesh, can’t you take a joke?!”
Once the sound of the shower reached the living room, Adam closed the tab and googled snippets from Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra’s musical ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’.
“Now if baseball in real life was like this, I’d so be a groupie.”
Closing the laptop, he shut off the lights and headed for the bedroom. Passing the box, he stopped and fished out his jersey and cap, taking them with him. In the bedroom, he tried on his new clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. He grinned and started singing to himself:
♫ Take me out to the ballgame
Take me out to the crowd
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don’t care if I never get back
Let me root, root, root for the home team
If they don’t win it’s a shame … ♫
Familiar hands circled his waste and damp hands stroked his chest.
♫ Cause its one … two … three
Strikes you’re out
At the old ball game! ♫
Kris cuddled Adam from behind, his hand moving around his bases.
“Daddy, what are you doing?”
Kris’ hands froze and Adam looked over his shoulder at their son, stuffed lion dangling in one hand, the other rubbing his eyes.
“Daddy is teaching me how to get to first base.”
The hands around Adam clenched as Kris buried his face between his husband’s shoulder blades and fought back the giggles threatening to boil over.
“Oh, that’s easy,” their son explained. “Plant your feet at home plate, stick out your bum, give it a wiggle til it feels right, raise you arms and swing your bat.”
At this point Kris was holding Adam so tight the taller man couldn’t breathe. Somehow, Adam kept it together.
“I’ll remember that. Is there something you need? I thought you were asleep.”
“Hannah is but I wanted to say good night.”
Daddy and Papa gave him hugs and kisses and Joshie left, the door closing behind him. Just before he went into his bedroom, roaring laughter came from his parents’ room.
“Joshie …,” Hannah yawned, “whaz the matter?”
“Daddy and Papa are being weird again.”
“What else is new … night.”
~~~~ ☼ ~~~~
♥ Art Museum ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt8hG2Nn_ow
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Louis_Art_Museum
Exterior pic ~ http://stldesignworld.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mainimage.jpg
♥ Lobby pic ~ http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2795/4451930779_013b827edc.jpg
♥ Pavilion pic ~ http://3547.voxcdn.com/photos/3/9/132094_s.jpg
♥ Penguin & Puffin Coast ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gypZPF2U_7U
Fragile Forest ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVBDCUxuju4
Pic of Flight Cage ~ http://media.connectingstlouis.com/500/st-louis-zoo-33.jpg
♥ Pic of an okapi ~ http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5266/5638236061_4625529bb2.jpg
♥ Pic Herpetarium interior ~ http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4860570158_e23f485075.jpg
♥♥ Hippo Harbor (super close) ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHWqBPoUKR8
Cheese-ology ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz37acd-TbI
Cheese-ology Mac and Cheese ~ www.cheese-ology.com
“Take Me Out to the Ballgame” ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETbcBurehOE