Chapter Text
Layla had been thinking about something.
She loved Gracie.
And she had gotten close to the family.
But there were three people she especially wanted to impress:
Connie.
Remi.
And Avery.
Layla smiled to herself.
“I have a plan.”
Gracie looked over.
“That usually worries me.”
Layla laughed.
“I want to become their favorite person.”
Gracie raised an eyebrow.
“You’re competing with their entire family?”
“Exactly.”
Gracie laughed.
“Good luck.”
⸻
Part 2 — The Secret Planning
Layla spent several days planning.
She researched the zoo.
She looked at animal exhibits.
She checked feeding experiences.
She found a place where they could have lunch.
She even made a little schedule so they wouldn’t have to rush.
Gracie watched her from the couch.
“You’ve really thought this through.”
Layla nodded.
“I want them to have the best day.”
Gracie smiled.
“That’s actually really sweet.”
Layla grinned.
“Operation Favorite Person begins.”
⸻
Part 3 — The Invitation
Layla arrived at the house one afternoon.
Connie was sitting on the floor coloring.
Remi was playing with Avery.
Layla crouched down.
“Hey, guys.”
Connie looked up.
“Hi!”
Layla smiled.
“I have a question.”
Avery looked suspicious.
“What?”
“Would you three like to go to the zoo?”
All three froze.
“The zoo?!”
Layla laughed.
“Yep.”
Connie immediately jumped up.
“ANIMALS!”
⸻
Part 4 — Getting Permission
Layla looked toward Mimi and Rei.
“Would it be okay if I took them for the day?”
Mimi smiled.
“That sounds fun.”
Rei nodded.
“As long as everyone stays together.”
Layla gave a serious salute.
“Absolutely.”
Avery whispered to Remi:
“She has a plan.”
Remi whispered back:
“Definitely.”
⸻
Part 5 — The Early Morning
The next morning, Layla arrived early.
She had snacks.
Water.
Sunscreen.
Extra clothes for Connie.
And a giant bag full of supplies.
Remi stared at it.
“What’s in there?”
Layla smiled.
“Everything.”
Avery laughed.
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is today.”
⸻
Part 6 — The Drive
Everyone climbed into Layla’s car.
Connie sat comfortably with her things.
Remi and Avery sat together.
Layla started the car.
“Ready?”
“YES!”
The kids cheered.
Layla turned on music.
Connie started bouncing in her seat.
Remi laughed.
“This is going to be fun.”
Layla smiled.
“That’s the goal.”
⸻
Part 7 — The First Animals
As soon as they entered the zoo, Connie spotted the giraffes.
She pointed excitedly.
“GIRAFFE!”
They walked over.
The giraffes were tall enough that Connie had to tilt her head way back.
Avery laughed.
“That’s huge.”
Remi smiled.
Layla crouched beside Connie.
“Want to know something cool?”
Connie nodded.
“Giraffes have really long tongues.”
Connie’s eyes widened.
“Long tongue?”
Layla nodded.
Connie immediately became fascinated.
⸻
Part 8 — The Penguin Exhibit
Next came the penguins.
Remi loved them.
“Look!”
A penguin waddled across the exhibit.
Avery laughed.
“They walk so funny.”
Remi smiled.
“I love them.”
Layla grinned.
“Then we’re staying here for a while.”
They watched the penguins swim underwater.
Connie pressed her hands against the viewing area.
“Fish bird!”
Everyone laughed.
“That’s one way to describe them.”
⸻
Part 9 — The Elephant Encounter
The elephants were next.
One walked right up near the viewing area.
Avery stared.
“Whoa.”
Layla explained some facts about elephants.
Remi listened carefully.
Connie watched the elephant’s trunk.
“It has a nose hand.”
Layla burst out laughing.
“A nose hand?”
Connie nodded confidently.
“Yes.”
Avery laughed.
“She’s not wrong.”
⸻
Part 10 — The Animal Feeding
Layla had secretly booked a special animal-feeding experience.
When they arrived, the kids had no idea.
The guide handed them approved food.
Connie looked shocked.
“We feed?”
“Yep.”
Remi carefully held out her hand.
A gentle animal took the food.
She gasped.
“It ate it!”
Avery laughed.
“I think that’s what it was supposed to do.”
⸻
Part 11 — The Monkey Trouble
At the monkey exhibit, one monkey suddenly grabbed something nearby.
Avery laughed.
“That one looks mischievous.”
Layla pointed.
“Don’t let it see your snacks.”
Remi immediately hugged her snack bag.
“I’m protecting these.”
Avery laughed.
Connie giggled.
The monkey stared at them.
Layla whispered:
“See? It knows.”
⸻
Part 12 — Lunch
By lunchtime, everyone was hungry.
Layla had packed everyone’s favorite snacks.
She even remembered Connie’s favorite drink.
Connie looked at it.
“My drink!”
Layla smiled.
“I remembered.”
Connie hugged her.
“Thank you!”
Layla looked incredibly proud.
Gracie had warned her that remembering little things mattered.
Apparently, it worked.
⸻
Part 13 — The Zoo Train
After lunch, Layla surprised them again.
“Train ride?”
Avery’s eyes widened.
“There’s a train?”
Layla nodded.
“Yep.”
They climbed aboard.
The train traveled around the zoo.
Remi leaned over to look at the animals.
Avery pointed out different exhibits.
Connie waved at everyone they passed.
Layla laughed.
“Best seats in the zoo.”
⸻
Part 14 — The Big Cats
They visited the big cats.
Everyone became quiet when they saw the animals resting.
Remi whispered:
“They’re beautiful.”
Layla nodded.
“Very.”
Avery watched one of the cats stretch.
“That thing is huge.”
Connie copied the stretch.
Everyone laughed.
Layla smiled.
“Okay, tiny tiger.”
Connie giggled.
⸻
Part 15 — The Gift Shop
At the end of the afternoon, Layla took them to the gift shop.
“Pick one thing.”
Avery immediately found a space-themed animal plush.
Remi found a cute animal plushie.
Connie found a tiny stuffed animal and hugged it.
Layla paid for them.
Connie looked at her.
“Mine?”
“Yours.”
Connie hugged the stuffed animal.
Then she hugged Layla.
⸻
Part 16 — The Favorite Person Competition
On the way out, Avery looked at Layla.
“Okay.”
Layla glanced over.
“What?”
“You might actually be one of my favorite people now.”
Layla smiled.
“One of?”
Remi laughed.
“You have a lot of competition.”
Layla looked at Connie.
“What about you?”
Connie thought very seriously.
Then she held up her stuffed animal.
“Favorite zoo person.”
Layla laughed.
“I’ll take it.”
⸻
Part 17 — The Sunset Ride Home
Everyone was exhausted on the ride home.
Remi fell asleep first.
Then Avery.
Connie was barely awake.
Layla looked in the mirror and smiled.
Operation Favorite Person had been successful.
Gracie texted her:
How did it go?
Layla replied:
I think I have a chance.
Gracie sent back:
Told you. They love people who actually care about them.
Layla smiled.
⸻
Part 18 — Back Home
When they arrived, Mimi and Rei were waiting.
Remi woke up.
Avery slowly got out.
Connie ran inside holding her new stuffed animal.
“WE SAW ANIMALS!”
Mimi laughed.
“Sounds like you had fun.”
Connie nodded enthusiastically.
“Layla best!”
Layla froze.
Gracie looked at her.
Layla whispered:
“Did she just say I’m the best?”
Gracie smiled.
“I think you won.”
Layla laughed.
“I knew it.”
Remi rolled her eyes.
“Don’t get too confident.”
Avery smiled.
“Yeah. You’re still competing with us.”
Layla laughed.
“Fair enough.”
Connie hugged her leg.
Layla looked down.
Then she smiled.
Maybe she didn’t actually need to be their favorite person.
Being someone they trusted, loved spending time with, and felt safe around was much better.
And judging by the three kids surrounding her…
she was already pretty important to them.