Ask for help.

In the end, Lauren decided to go ask for help. She had no idea what was behind that door, or what animal was in that exhibit. So she snuck along in the bushes until she reached the picnic area.

“Um…excuse me?” Lauren asked quietly, trying to call to them without any unwanted attention.

It didn’t seem to be working as one girl was was still whining about the train ride, despite the mother saying they had the whole day to see animals.

“Excuse me?” Lauren asked, a little louder; that was as high as she was going, not another octave.

Still, the family didn’t notice her. Lauren groaned, thinking how to grab their attention. She saw a pebble on the ground and picked it up. Taking careful aim, she threw it at the table, hitting the soda bottle and knocking it over.

“Hey!” the other daughter shouted. “Mom, Janet spilled my soda!”

“Nuh-uh!” Janet whined. “Amanda’s lying”

“I am not!” Amanda said

“Are to!” Janet screamed.

“Am not!”

“Are to!”

“If you girls don’t stop right now, we are going straight home!” their mother finally said, “Honestly, Molly is acting more grown up than you two.”

Oh, for the love of Pete! Lauren thought angrily. She decided she had to bite the bullet. Looking around to make sure they were the only people in the picnic area, Lauren emerged from the bushes; covering herself the best she could. This got the attention of Janet.

“Mommy, there’s a naked girl!” Janet cried out, pointing in Lauren’s direction.

“Don’t make things up, little missy!” the mom scolded, “You know I don’t like lying.”

“Uh, Mom...” Amanda said, looking at the direction Janet was pointing.

The mom turned her head in the same direction and her eyes shot wide open when saw Lauren coming forward.

“Good gracious, girly!” the mother gasped in shock, “What do you think you’re doing here, running around in your birthday suit?!”

Lauren looked around again nervously, blushing beet red. The woman shouted that so loud that she was surprised that the whole zoo didn’t hear her. Thankfully, people didn’t seem to notice.

“I…um…” Lauren began, stammering. How was she going to put this? She decided to just come clean. “I fell in the mud. And when I was getting, cleaned up, some mean person stole my clothes. Please, do you have anything I can wear?”

“Sorry, sweetie, I…” the woman began, looking Lauren up and down. Suddenly, the woman smiled, as if she had gotten an idea. “Actually, I think I do have something of my daughter’s that will probably fit you. It won’t be anything extravagant or fancy, but it will keep you covered.”

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!” Lauren said in an excited whisper. Whatever it was, she’ll take it! Anything was better than being in this situation right now; even wearing eight year old clothes!

The woman pulled out her…purse? Lauren wasn’t sure; it was a big bag, but it looked like the same material a purse would be made out of. The woman then opened the bag and pulled something out of it, holding it out for Lauren to see.

She saw it, alright. And she went bright red.