Troll Brother

  Chapter 9

  A Zoo Trip, Troll Style

  The Friday evening after the zoo trip seemed to pass in a flurry of non-activity. Both troll and pre-teen were worn out physically and emotionally. Dinner happened, but neither could remember what it was, much to Mom’s displeasure they were sure, but even that didn’t register.

  While Mom was watching a television show after nine Robert went into Little Ricky’s bedroom, having already been tucked under his own sheets for nearly an hour. It was cool enough in the house to refresh him, but he couldn’t quite stay asleep. Sure enough, Kile was engulfed in clothes and blankets and things under his little make-shift troll cave again. Rob slipped into the covers on the bed.

  “Robert?” Kile said quietly.

  “Yes. Just me. Go back to sleep.”

  “Why not sleep in your room?” Kile asked, raising his head.

  “Ummm,” Rob tried to answer, and found he didn’t really have one. “Just wanted to make sure you were okay I guess. And…I’m sorry I yelled at you today.”

  “I am sorry too,” Kile replied, laying his head back down on the pile of things there. “I will try to do what you say.”

  “’Kay,” Rob said with a little snore already.

  After a few minutes pause, while still laying down looking up at the roof of his little cave, Kile asked, “Robbie?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Would you like to see a troll zoo tomorrow?”

  Barely keeping his mind awake long enough to respond, Rob asked, “What’s a toll zoo?”

  “I will show you how we see animals.”

  “Oh. Alright,” Rob said, definitely snoring at that point.

  “We’ll have to do it at night time. We’ll have to sneak out.”

  Having no response from Robert then, Kile closed his eyes and smiled. He drifted off to sleep not but a minute behind Rob.