trudge back to the car She disliked lectures but from the look on her mom’s face she was about to get one Mrs Ramirez pulled out some bills and handed them to Abby That should be enough for ice cream entrance fees to the petting zoo and some animal feed Grace was bouncing up and down on her toes eager to get moving but her mom beckoned for her to come closer Sighing Grace complied and tried to stop jiggling Okay you three Mrs Ramirez said with a serious look on her face I meant what I said about staying together That means you Grace Grace crossed her arms Why just me Because when you get excited you often rush into things Try to slow your pace to Emily’s and Abby’s You’ll have plenty of time to see everything Mrs Ramirez glanced at her watch We should be back around 2 30 so keep an eye on the time
All three girls nodded Then they stuck together as they headed for the entrance Thanks Mom Emily called over her shoulder and the other girls added their thanks I’m really hot Grace said Can we get our ice cream first Fine with me Abby headed for the creamery beside the entrance gate After they chose their flavors and paid for their cones Emily suggested staying inside the air conditioned building until they cooled off Grace legs finished her cone impatiently waiting for the other two to finish Finally they were done and they headed out the door Abby paid their entrance fees and Grace stayed close to her sisters as they went through the revolving turnstile Where should we go first Grace asked swung her first and
full the their hands Why don’t we start at the pond Abby suggested Then we could do the inner loop and end up at the outer loop by the time Mom comes back Grace had hoped to see the peacocks first but Abby’s plan made sense so she held back her protest and walked with her sisters toward the tiny pond Abby stopped to buy duck food from the vending machines With sisters approached the railing around the pond Ducks geese and swans swam toward them eager to be fed Wow look at that swan I think they’re the most beautiful birds Emily said I wish I had my camera and sketchbook I think peacocks are prettier Grace said You have your phone don’t you You could use that to take pictures Emily felt around in her pockets and pulled out her phone Can you hold my duck food while I snap a few pictures She dumped the feed into Abby’s
outstretched hand Then she took several pictures of the various birds Grace tossed her feed into the water and the birds fought over it When her hand was empty she was ready to move on She wanted to head toward the nearby hill where they housed the peacocks but remembering her mother’s warning she stayed where she was while Emily took photo after photo Grace sighed loudly to signal that she wanted to go Just a few more Grace I promise Emily rested her elbows on the railing and kept tapping the button Let’s take a selfie with the birds in the background
