Mum's birthday today.
She insisted that effort and presents were not needed. But I still hung fresh flowers around the kitchen, and cut guava and mango into stars for breakfast. A pineapple cake hid under a bamboo cloche on the side.
Her one request was to do something outside. I think her preferred option would be to sit in her room, and work on her projects. By demanding a trip elsewhere she forced a special day.
I still aimed for something robotic. And with my year ticking down, we decided to visit somewhere from our past. The animatronic zoo within the Grass Hut.
Those two words remind me of school trips and holiday weekends. This was close to the center of the city when I was growing up, and must have been such an amazing concept when those gates first opened. A zoo where the animals are not in enclosures, but wandering free. Where everything is available for you to touch. You enter a frosted glass dome to a big open field, with single level buildings dotted around. From there you wander down the paths, or onto the grass, and enjoy the animals trotting around in artificial freedom trip.
What I like is that the concept behind the Grass Hut is only a problem if you choose to make it so. Although apart from the plant life not much within the dome that is alive, everything is realistic enough that you can suspend illusion without much work. And once you have done that, the argument for caging real animals vanishes.
This is an old trick by now. Plants break through the paving stones, and damp marks the wood around the paths. A trilogy of solar panels at the entrance were boxy and ill fitting, and the lines of the old electricity cables still marked the paint. But the animals kept on going. Tigers strolled past us, even if gears screeched in their legs. The remaining working elephant had ragged ears, but the mechanics of the trunk were still impressive. Smells of grease and rubber hung in the air, but this is a living place.
Mum had brought her a new invention. A silver dog shape with a camera for a snout. It trots along beside us, taking snaps of rusty crocodiles, or threadbare pandas. I petted a wandering aardvark, and the skin was so cold and rubbery.
We had a soy latte and a cherry ice at the drinks stand. The voice box of the man behind the counter voice box was fading, and a crack ran across his eyes. He still poured frothing and freezing drinks, and wished Mum a happy birthday. Glad he remembered.
I work with larger and indeed real creatures in the Stitch every day. And something about these animals are more impressive. Imagine the excitement of welding jaguar teeth out of enamel and steel. You understand the passion and the craftmanship that went into a design.
These older models are what lead to Deni after all.
A good day, and nice to hang out with Mum. In less than six months we will not see each other for a long time.
Will I think about the Grass Hut next year? Will these animal be a dream when I am in th jungle?
Deni messaged me. A one word message of hello, and the tone is impenetrable.
We will have to meet up at some point.
Clip: More footage from that vehicle. I am almost getting used to it. But that call! That flash of blue! Must remember this is a new world.