Chapter 9: Santos, Part 1

I love taking my kids to the zoo. Watching their little faces light up when we see their favorite animals is truly one of the small joys in life.

Myra loves the elephants. She could stay here all day watching them lumber around and play. Her giggles when they roll around in mud make everyone else giggle.

Lina, on the other hand, loves the lions. Today, we got lucky. There's been a lion leaning right up against the glass in the downstairs part of the enclosure. Myra won't go near him, but Lina keeps looking at him with her hand on the glass like she wants to pet him. She is so intrigued. The pictures of her face right next to the lion's turn out amazing. I can't wait to show Mari.

But the funniest part of the day is the orangutans. There is only one who ventures into the outdoor part of the enclosure today. A female who, according to the information card, has never had a baby but really wants one. As soon as we strolled up to the window, she sees Theo's stroller and lumbers her way our direction. With his spiky black hair, I'm pretty sure she thinks he is one of her kind. After a few minutes of her trying to see inside the stroller, I push it right up to the window.

It's obvious, she is fascinated by him. Much to the delight of the girls and all the other patrons, she keeps turning flips and patting the window trying to get his attention. When she finally accomplishes her goal, Theo takes one look at her and screams his head off.

On the one hand, it's really funny. On the other, it's quite sad. The poor orangutan backs away and still tries to entertain him, but not as aggressively. She finally gives up and slinks away.

While it was the most fascinating interaction with an animal I've ever seen, it also makes me think about the emotions a mother must have when it comes to her children. How she'd do anything for them. Entertain them. Take care of them. And even back away from them, despite their own feelings, if it was in the child's best interest.

It just makes me appreciate Mari even more. I know it must be hard for her to see me all the time, but she does it anyway for the kids' well-being.

"Okay guys. We have a long drive home," I remind them. "We need to make a potty break before we go." As I stroll up to the public restrooms, I realize I haven't thought this out very well. Mari has always taken the girls to the restroom in public, and it has never occurred to me to come up with a game plan for when I'm on my own. Looking back and forth between the men's and women's restrooms, there's only one thing I can do.

"Alright girls, come stand in front of me." They both squeeze their way in between me and the stroller. "Now close your eyes and put your head down." They giggle and comply. "Here we go."

We push into the men's room, a large clump of people shuffling our way through the room with me continually saying things like "don't look, girls," "keep your head down," and "almost there". More than one man looks over his shoulder from the urinal and seem shocked by my girls walking by. Except for one guy who has his hand over a little girl's eyes while she tries to wash her hands without being able to see. That guy doesn't even notice us.

It takes a few minutes to get everyone pottied and changed. Thank God whoever is in charge here had the foresight to put a baby changing table and a sink inside the handicapped stall. And thank God no one with a disability is in here right now. I'm not sure why every single stall isn't outfitted like this at a place that caters to kids. Seems like it would make it easier for any parent with small children.

As I finish disposing of Theo's diaper and get his pants back on, the girls buzz around the stall. Literally. I almost ask why they're pretending to be bees after seeing all the different animals today, but I don't get the chance before Myra slips on a wet part of the floor and ends up on her back in a puddle.

She doesn't cry, but the look on her face kind of mirrors mine of totally disbelief. There is no telling what that is a puddle of.

"You'll be fine, Myra," I say, as I secure Theo in his stroller. "Stand up and don't touch anything." I dig through the diaper bag and find what I'm looking for. Sure enough, Mari packed an extra pair of clothes for each of the girls.

"I'm wet, Daddy," Myra whimpers with wide eyes.

"I know, baby. But we're gonna get you all fixed up. Your mommy packed you some extra clothes."

We get her changed and of course Lina has to change clothes, too. Everything big sister does, she has to do as well. Finally, we make our way back out of the restroom, through the parking lot, and to the car. I never expected a potty break could end up taking over twenty minutes.

We hit the road and the buzzing and giggling begins again.

"Girls, why are we acting like bumblebees today?" I ask, as we follow the line of traffic to the main roads.

"Mommy is gonna be a bumblebee!" Myra yells, Lina laughing a big belly laugh at her sister's outburst.

"Yeah, Mommy is a bee," Lina replies. Theo apparently wants to get in on the fun and squeals with delight.

Smiling, I peek at them in the rear-view mirror, still having no idea what they're talking about.

"What do you mean Mommy is gonna be a bumblebee?"

"She's getting a bumblebee account!" Myra yells, and Lina continues to laugh.

A bumblebee account? What is a bumblebee… suddenly it hits me what they're talking about.

Son of a fucking bitch. Mari is dating. She's getting a Bumble account and is fucking dating.