When vehicles have a mind of their own... The Escape they were driving took them towards the skyscrapers that would indicate the downtown district but decided to veer a little to the southwest side of town ending at Herman Park. “Well don’t ask me, I just turned randomly to see where we ended up,” Zach said to Phoebe’s look of ‘why here?’ “I guess that makes as much since as anything else. Let’s find a place to park and see where we are exactly,” she replied. “To be honest with you I thought there would be flying cars or monorails above the city or something,” Sylvia said to add her take on current events. Both of her companions gave her a “huh” expression to show their genuine interest in what the hell she was talking about. “You know the future and all. I thought there would be more advancement by now. That is what they said at the World’s Fair in 1953 in St Louis.” “Fair enough but kind of funny under the circumstances,” Zach replied. “What do you mean under the circumstances?” “What I mean is we may not have flying cars but we apparently have time travel!” For a few seconds there was silence then all three of the group had a good laugh which was just what the proverbial doctor ordered. After the laughter had calmed down Sylvia said, “Well if you put it that way.” “Hey, that sign says that Herman Park Zoo is just a block over there. Let’s talk and walk and enjoy the animals,” Phoebe said to offer a change of subject and scenery. After parking the car they walked up to the entrance to Herman Park Zoo they saw the usual posters announcing upcoming events the Zoo was hosting and the various attractions for the near future. One sign stood out just a bit more than the ones announcing the Friars Club “Zoo Walk” and the Houston Zoological Society “Dinosaurs Alive!” event. Not that these were not great events but the sign that got the travelers three was “Just a bit outside” like Bob Uecker used to say. The sign read; “Welcome Travelers to the next leg of the journey to the Dome that was tonight at nine at the Lions exhibit.” The poster had a picture of the King of the Beasts sitting majestically staring straight at the camera. “Are you seeing this?” Zach asked his wife a reasonable question “Yup, Sylvia?” “Family gathering at the Lion’s den?” “Hold on. Sir, sir would you read me what that sign says please?” Phoebe asked a startled stranger who was walking by. The 40 something non-descript man wearing glasses took one look at Phoebe and Sylvia and decided to just do it as it wasn’t every day a beautiful girl asked him anything. “Welcome to the Herman Park Zoo. Be sure to visit the newly designed Lions exhibit!” The man looked back at Phoebe and gave eyebrows up look that begged “Really?” “We are seeing something different that invites supernatural occurrences,” Phoebe said to oblige raising eyebrows. The man then uttered something and took off at rather high rate of speed. “I do believe he actually said “Feet don’t fail me now,” Zach said unable to suppress a giggle. Seeing Sylvia’s puzzled look Phoebe quickly said, “That is just an expression that means someone wants to get away quickly.” “Oh, forgive my lack of humor as I am still trying to understand what is happening to me.” “Well Sylvia that is simple. You are on a whirlwind adventure of a lifetime which encompasses alternate realities, time travel and a host of dead celebrities trying to push us to our ultimate destination.” Zach obliged. “Well shit, why didn’t you say so, let’s go check out the monkeys and see where you came from Zach!” Zach looked to Phoebe for guidance as to how to respond to this. “Don’t look at me. She is just showing us that smart-ass transcends time and place!” Wilson, Sandy and Ronnie exited the Alamo is a flash of white to discover the present all around them without a hint of 1836. They looked around for George and saw that he was nowhere to be found. Ronnie thought to himself that George had served his purpose in the jaunt into the Zone. “Well I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to driving this ass in the truck thank you very much,” Wilson stated with absolute authority. “You will get no complaints from me my brother! Let’s roll,” Ronnie added his concurrence. “YEP!” Sandy threw out her agreement monosyllabically. They stopped at the first fast food place they saw that, luck would have it, was Taco Bell. With full bellies and minds coming off overdrive the trio headed out to Houston. They arrived six hours later and found the truck making its way to Herman Park. Once they arrived at the cultural area of the city they saw the sign indicating there was a nice zoo to visit so they found a parking area and parked next to a black Escape. They decided to walk to the Herman Park Zoo and discuss current events. “Okay, we are in Houston and the damn truck has driven us to the zoo of all places. I can tell you this; if I have to dodge flaming rhinoceros’s I am going to be pissed,” Ronnie stated his odd admission. Both Wilson and Sandy stopped walking and looked quizzically at Ronnie for a second or two. “BWAAAHAAA, flaming rhinoceros? You kill me Ronnie,” Wilson said through snorts of laugher. Sandy just held her head down and giggled softly as she had gotten used to Ronnie’s odd outbursts. “Well, that wouldn’t be much weirder than some of the other things we have seen,” Ronnie replied. “True, but…no that is true so we will make sure to stay near water,” Wilson thoughtfully explained. “Why water?” Sandy asked. “To put out the flaming rhinoceros of course,” Wilson allowed. “Of course,” Sandy agreed. As they reached the entrance to the Herman Park Zoo they saw the sign seen minutes before by Phoebe and Zach. Sandy took the honors reading the sign. “Welcome Travelers to the next leg of the journey to the Dome that was tonight at nine at the Lions exhibit.” “You know I am beginning to think we have no say in our immediate destiny,” Wilson stated. “Well, how can you be sure this isn’t your destiny and that is why we are doing it?” “Uh, this discussion should be tabled until we can think back inside the box,” Sandy said which made Wilson and Ronnie smile.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 11:09:19 +0000