Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Hansen leaned on his cane and strolled over to where some old-timers were playing chess. He watched for a couple of minutes, soaking in the quiet competition, then wandered off. After a few more steps, he spotted a group rehearsing for a play and chatted with them for a bit. But as soon as Henry's voice rang out "Grandpa, come on!"-Hansen made a beeline for his grandson.

He found his little monkey waiting. Henry's eyes went wide with excitement, and he tossed his toy aside. "Monkey! Mommy, it's a monkey!" he squealed.

Mia tried to hand her son a piece of bread to feed the monkey, but Henry shook his head, cheeks puffed out in protest. "No, monkeys want bananas!" he insisted.

What could they do? He was their one and only precious boy. Mia just smiled, went off, and came back with a bunch of bananas, handing one to her son. "Here you go, buddy. Feed them this."

Then Mia got playful, teasing Henry, "Let's go see Bobo!" Henry's whole face lit up with anticipation. But when they got there and saw the huge black bear lumbering around, it was nothing like the cute "Bobo" he'd imagined. Henry burst into tears in his dad's arms, sobbing, "That's not Bobo!"

Mia, ever the mischief-maker, grinned and said, "That is Bobo! He loves eating naughty little boys-especially chubby, rosy-cheeked ones!"

Henry's whole idea of bears was ruined in a heartbeat.

Wayne wasn't much braver. He clung to his dad's neck, pressing his little face tight against his father's cheek, silently begging for protection-please don't let the bear eat me!

Chad just smiled, feeling his son's soft cheek against his own, and gave him a quick kiss. “You scared too, buddy?"

And just to make things worse, the big black bear turned around and thumped the glass, showing off his teeth right in front of the sobbing Henry.

Henry had to be carried out, still crying.

Hansen couldn't help but shake his head. "Mia, did you have to drop the truth on Henry so soon? Look at him, poor kid's heartbroken."

Mia just shrugged. "He drives us up the wall every day. Sometimes parents have to get their own back. He needs to know the world isn't all sunshine and rainbows."

Hansen patted his grandson's back. "Hear that, kiddo? Your mom's getting her revenge."

Later, Leo came back from outside with three helium balloons shaped like cartoon bears. He tied one to Henry's jacket-instantly, the tears stopped. Wayne got his tied around his ankle and stared at it in O amazement. The last one, Leo slipped into Anya's hand earning himself a look that said she was even more in love. noveldrama

Some time after, Andre and Officer Chad were carrying their kids. One boy gazed up, fascinated by the bear balloon floating above, while the other bent down, trying to figure out what was tied around his ankle. No matter how much their dads tried to explain things, those two were in their own little worlds.

When they reached the peacock garden, Henry dashed after a peacock, insisting his dad help him grab its tail feathers. His father. scooped him up before he could get into trouble, and Henry started

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wailing in protest.

At the lake, Henry licked his lips as he watched the big white swans gliding past. Andre, quick on the uptake, swept him up and carried him away-just in case Henry got any ideas.

He complained that the wild boars were ugly, the leopards too skinny, the giraffes too tall, the gorillas too dark-until...

They stopped by a sturdy railing. Mia nudged her husband. "Put him down. Go on, that's your family in there."

Little Henry stuck his butt out and peered through the bars at the massive creature inside.

Andre crouched down next to him, patience and love in his eyes. "Do you know what that is?"

Henry gave the secret signal: "Raaawr!"

Like magic, the tiger inside opened his mouth and let out a thunderous roar-right on cue with Henry.

The zookeeper came running, startled by all the noise, trying to figure out what in the world had gotten the tiger so wound up.