He was old. Well, old to me anyway; he was maybe 45 or 50. He walked up to the counter causing me to glance up.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes," he answered dully, "I'd like to go back there." He was pointing to the Petting Farm.
"Um...I think it's closed, sorry."
"Well, I'd just like to go take pictures."
"Pictures?" I asked, puzzled.
"Yeah. I'd like to take pictures of animal excrement," he stated, straight-faced.
I jerked to a stop. "You want to take pictures of what?" The man just smiled at me. He was totally serious. "I-uh-we-um... Suzi?*" I turned to one of the caretakers for help.
Suzi glanced up. "What?"
"He..." I coughed. "Wants to take pictures of-um-animal droppings."
Suzi froze, stunned. "Really?" The man nodded, smiling and completely serious.. "Really?" Suzi repeated. the man just smiled.
Suzi 2 and Suzi 3 stopped typing on their computers and swung around towards us.
"Why?" asked Suzi 2.
Always one for asking the tough questions, she was.
"I need them for my family tree," answered the man.
"You want to take pictures of excrement for you family tr-" Suzi 3 dropped off as she realized what the man meant. (Give it a second, you will too.)
Suzi 2 finally spoke up after a highly uncomfortable silence. "By all means, take the man to his poop."
"I... Sure," I said. I slowly walked to the cabinet that held our keys. I grabbed the pink key from it rack, an idea beginning to form in my head. I whirled around to face Bob, who until now, had said nothing. "Would you like to take the man out to help him with his family tree or shall I?" I asked, grinning.
Bob stared at me for a moment. "I...might as well." Slowly, Bob took the key from me.
"Have fun!" I said cheerfully.
I watched from the window as the two men walked out to the barn. The older man pulled out a camera from his pocket. He said something, laughing and Bob nodded,warily. Without turning around, I said: "That was-"
"Really weird," finished Suzi 1 coming over to join me at the window.
Another Weird Ending
* Names have been changed to protect the innocent.