Page 25 of Legend's Legacy
“What’s your fabuwit zibit, Ms. Legacy?” Kayson asked as we left the cat house.
“The red pandas,” she answered with wide eyes and excitement all over her face.
“I love the red pandas!” Kayson exclaimed.
“Then I think that should be our next stop.”
My little guy had truly taken over this date, but it was all good because it was about him anyway. This was originally his day, but at the last minute, we had decided to include Legacy. Only, he was treating her like this was his date, and her little ass was going right along with him.
I couldn’t be mad, though, because I definitely loved the way she interacted with my little guy. The way she was wildin’ that night at the bar, I wouldn’t have expected her to be as gentle, sweet, and good with kids as she was. First impressions weren’t always everything.
“Aren’t they absolutely adorable?” Legacy cooed when we were in the red panda exhibit.
“What do they eat?” Kayson asked.
“Sometimes they eat small animals, but they mostly eat bamboo shoots and leaves.”
“Owwhhh. Did you see that?” he asked and pointed in the distance.
The panda had jumped almost four feet to another tree.
“Yes, they can jump up to five feet. Do you see the hair on the bottom of that one’s feet?” Legacy asked, pointing at one particular panda.
“Yes,” Kayson answered, bobbing his head.
“That’s what prevents them from slipping when they’re on those branches.”
“Why are they not moving?” Kayson asked, pointing up at the trees where we could see quite a few of them resting in the branches and some in the tree hollows.
“They are called crepuscular animals. That means they’re awake at dawn, which is when it’s light outside, but before the sun comes up, and also at dusk, which is just as it’s changing to nighttime. They’re mostly sleepers. They sleep for up to seventeen hours a day.”
I loved how patient Legacy was when she answered Kayson’s numerous questions and explained to him on a level that he could understand.
We continued our journey through that exhibit before we moved on to see the elephants, manatees, birds, and lions.
“As much as I love the red pandas, I’ll tell you a secret, Kayson.”
“What?” he asked as his eyes ballooned.
“The lions are really my favorite. You know why?” Legacy asked in a conspiratorial whisper. When he shook his head no, she replied, “Because I’m a Leo. Leo the lion.” Then she did a fake roar that had my guy giggling his heart out.
I shook my head.
“That was a weak roar. Wasn’t it, Daddy?”
“She did her best,” I replied with a smirk.
“Oh, so you two are teaming up on me. Can you do better?” Legacy challenged.
Kayson roared and then declared, “Daddy has the best roar. Roar, Daddy.”
I released my roar. Legacy bent her head, played with the short hairs in her kitchen, and then bit back a smirk.
I placed my hand on her lower back, leaned in and whispered, “What ya crossing ya legs for, ma?”
She shivered and met my gaze. “Oh, I think you know why.”
“Might have to do something about that.”
