Chapter 4
PETER AND HARLEY
The Petting Zoo
Harley was jumping in place, trying to see over the heads of the adults in front of him that was blocking his view of the various baby dinosaurs such as Galliminus, Triceratops and Apatosaurus. He was becoming rather frustrated. "Peter, lift me up. I can't see!"
"Sorry, Harl, no can do. You're not five." Peter chuckled as they walked down a few steps forward until Harley jumped onto a small platform.
"I could still ride the Triceratops."
"Sure you can."
"I'm short and small enough." huffed Harley before bringing his camera up and snapping a shot of the fenced in area. He jumped down, looking around. "Hey, wanna go on the spinning dinosaur eggs?"
"Nope." Peter reached over, grabbing Harley by the back of his shirt and tug him backwards just before he could get ran over by kids. He looked back at Natasha, who was talking into her cell phone. He could hear something being said about his dad and then someone named Clint. He glanced down at Harley before he grinned slightly. "Harley. Scatter."
"What?"
"Go- go, run!" He gave Harley a small push, and realization dawned on the younger before they both bolted into the crowds of adults and children, trying to hold in their laughter as they went. They slipped out of the petting zoo area and into the main street, dodging people left and right before they skid to a stop as a woman's voice came over on the PA.
"The next T-Rex feeding will begin in ten minutes."
"Peter, T-rex feeding!" Harley shouted excitedly. "Come on, let's go!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Peter ran after Harley as the younger made a B-line straight to the gates of the Tyrannosaurus Rex Kingdom as the woman continued.
"Parents beware. This viewing may be disturbing for smaller children."
Harley and Peter both got into the viewing log just as the handler threw a flare at a baying goat. Harley managed to find an opening to nudge through and his eyes grew big at the sight of the large predator who's head was level with the glass of the viewing log. She didn't seem to interested in the sound filled log and only had eyes for the now frightened and frantically baying goat. She bent down and snapped the groat up, silencing its baying and she began to feast.
Peter heard his phone go off in that moment, making him walk a few paces away and fish out his phone out of his pocket and glanced down at the collar ID. He winced when he noticed who was calling before answering. "Hey, Aunt Pepper."
"You were suppose to call me when you landed." Was the first thing she said.
"Yeah, sorry."
"You having fun?"
"Yeah. Dad gave us passes, so we don't have to wait in line."
"I'm guessing he couldn't really get away from work to spend the day with you?"
"No. He promised he would have the day off tomorrow to spend it all day with us."
"That does sound like Tony." Pepper chuckled. "Well, just as long as you keep Harley out of trouble."
"I will."
"I mean it, Peter. Do not go running off with him if you're with...whoever Tony got to watch you."
Peter couldn't help but hold his snicker in. A little late in saying that. "Understood."
"Good. I'll call you later, okay? Love you."
"Love you too, Aunt Pepper." Peter hanged up and then looked back at the window, noting that some of the adults and kids were filtering out as the show came to the end. Outside, he watched as the rex ate the remains of the goat. Her eye seemed to train on those who still stood at the window for a long moment, as if inspecting them. Then, she was letting out a sharp, powerful bellow that seemed to shake the glass before turning and going back into the redwood forest that made up some of her exhibit.
"That was so cool!" grinned Harley as he walked over to Peter and together, they left the viewing log.
"Yeah. Now, do you know where you wanna go next?"
"Hm...well...not yet..."
"Come one, we'll see what pops out at us as we walk around." Peter told the younger as they left the Tyrannosaurus Rex Kingdom.