Page 56 of Love in the Outfield

Iwipe down the rented stroller with disinfectant then Cade parks my little bundle, strapping him in before he pulls out the zoo map. He studies it a few moments. “Where to first?”

“Africa,” I say immediately.

“The petting zoo is close to the African exhibit. That’s on my list.”

“For sure. August is in his giraffe and elephant phase,” I say while I put on Auggie’s brand-spankin’ new khaki Tilley’s hat that Cade showed up with this morning. Who knew they came in kids’ sizes? Adorbs. He bought me one too except mine’s white. I tighten the elastic drawcord on Auggies and for a change, he doesn’t resist. I’m sure it helps that his daddy has an identical one on top of his head.

“I never grew out of my giraffe and elephant phase. Kenya is on my bucket list,” Cade says. “Says here the giraffe feeding is daily from eleven-thirty to twelve-thirty then again from two-thirty to three.”

“Let’s head there first while August is fresh. We’ll probably hit the feeding just right.”

“Wanna see the bongos?” Cade says leaning down and walking backwards to talk to August as I push the stroller along. “They’re big African antelopes.”

“Doggie.”

“Not quite bud. More like a deer.”

We take in the sights as we stroll along. It’s busy for a Monday with everyone wanting to eke out the last drops of fair weather. There are families and kids running around everywhere taking advantage of photo opportunities with sculptures and colorful paintings of the wild kingdom that are scattered throughout the zoo. We round a bend and see a bronze elephant sculpture and a wall with African tribal patterns. We’ve arrived. We stroll beyond the wall and get our first glimpse of the elephants. I love the earthy, exotic smell.

“Auggie, look! See the elephants!” Cade exclaims.

Auggie squeals in delight and waves his hands. “Hi Phant!”

Cade takes him out of the stroller and places him on top of his shoulders. “Hang on to my head, Augs.” Cade’s large hands fold over Auggie’s chubby legs, securing him snuggly as he approaches the exhibit for a better look. I swear seeing my son perched on Cade’s broad shoulders makes me tear up. It’s the cutest thing ever in their matching hats.

We watch one elephant play in the pond; close by another one fills his trunk with water and bathes himself, while on land another rolls around in clay.

After we get our fill, I say, “We’d better move on if we want a shot at feeding the giraffes.”

“Good thinking,” Cade agrees. We pass kids riding camels on our way there. And we timed it perfectly because they are just starting to feed when we arrive. We walk up the ramp and stand on the tall wooden platform. The giraffes are waiting for us and their long tongues sort and eat the leaves straight from the branches we’re holding out.

“I swear, I don’t know who is more excited, you or August.” My heart’s doing funny things in my chest.

Cade grins at me. “Probably me. I haven’t been to a zoo since I was a little kid.”

“That’s one of the perks of havin’ a child,” I say, “getting to be a kid again.”

“I’m beginning to see that.”

“I never thought about it before but I reckon you missed out on a lot on account of baseball.”

“Yeah, but it was all I cared about back then. Starting at the age of ten I spent the majority of my summers at baseball camp. I mean, my parents were being supportive. They never forced me to go. I guess it wasn’t the most well-rounded childhood.”

We continue through Africa observing zebras, rhinos, hippos, lemurs, lions, monkeys and gorillas. Then we howl with laughter in the petting zoo when a pigmy goat takes a liking to Cade. It’s a lot and you could spend the entire day in Africa. We stop for lunch, sitting on a shady bench in front of a flock of beautiful pink flamingos.

“Isn’t it weird to see a pink bird?” I say. “Doesn’t seem real.”

“Right?” he says then bites into his coney.

“Let’s narrow down what else we’d like to see before August crashes.”

He takes a bite and chews while talking. With a mouthful he says, “Gwaw idea.”

I laugh. “I think you said a good idea.” August is busy eating his fries, a slight breeze stirs his curls beneath the Tilley hat.

“I love our hats. Thanks.”

“Welcome.”

---