| October 3, 2023 – 10:00 AM | Lin's Farm
Lin stood in the middle of the open field, hands on her hips, boots digging into the dirt as she surveyed the soon-to-be petting zoo.
To the left, Richard was already unloading wood panels, measuring beams, and muttering under his breath about structural integrity.
To the right, several large tents were stacked in their delivery crates, waiting to be set up.
And in front of her? Two old, run-down buildings that would soon be converted into bathrooms.
Lin exhaled. "Alright. Let's get to work."
| October 3, 2023 – 11:30 AM | Mapping the Animals
Richard secured the first wooden frame into the ground, wiping his forehead as he glanced over at Lin, who was crouched near the fence with a notebook.
"What are you plotting?" he asked.
Lin flipped the page, calculating."Mapping out how many animals we need."
Richard raised a brow."You don't already have a number?"
Lin smirked. "Not an exact one." She tapped the page."I want a mix—big enough variety to keep people interested, but not so many that it becomes a logistical nightmare."
Mini goats – 4 (good for feeding and entertaining kids)
Sheep – 3 (fluffy, non-aggressive, easy to maintain)
Rabbits – 8 (small, adorable, can breed later)
Ponies – 2 (for small rides)
Ducks & Chickens – 10 total (interactive, easy to manage)
Golden Retrievers – Already secured
Richard chuckled."You really thought this through."
Lin smirked. "It's an investment."
Richard rolled his eyes."You and that damn motto."
| October 3, 2023 – 1:00 PM | Setting Up the Tents
The first tent went up smoothly, the second took a bit more effort, and by the time they were halfway through the third, Lin was already regretting not hiring more hands for this part.
Richard, pulling one of the heavy canvas sheets into position, sighed."I thought you had a whole army of workers here."
Lin adjusted the tent pole, grunting."I do, but they're all inside trying to build my fortress before Ethan abandons me for his mystery client."
Richard snorted."That man works faster than any contractor I've ever met. You think he's in debt to the mafia?"
Lin smirked."If he was, he wouldn't be taking my money."
Richard shook his head, securing the final tie on the tent."Alright, that's one more done. What's next?"
Lin tilted her head toward the two old buildings."Bathrooms. We're gutting them and converting them for public use."
Richard grunted."You know you could've just built new ones, right?"
Lin grinned."Where's the fun in that?"
| October 3, 2023 – 2:30 PM | Lin's Farm
Richard was midway through inspecting the old bathroom buildings when Lin stretched, dusted off her jeans, and casually stepped back.
"Alright, Dad, have fun with that."
Richard barely glanced up."Where are you going?"
Lin grinned."Mom and I have plans."
Richard paused, squinting suspiciously."What kind of plans?"
Lin was already walking toward the truck."The best kind—impulse spending."
Richard let out a long-suffering sigh."I should've known."
Lin ignored him, phone already dialing.
Helen picked up on the second ring. "Lin? What's up?"
Lin grinned, leaning against the truck."How do you feel about a little road trip?"
Helen sounded amused."Where to?"
"Six towns over. We're going pet shopping."
There was a pause. Then—"I'll grab my bag."
Lin smirked, climbing into the driver's seat.
This was going to be fun.
| October 3, 2023 – 3:00 PM | On the Road
Lin drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily on the gear shift as the truck cruised down the highway. Beside her, Helen flipped through a printed-out list of available animals from the breeder, eyes scanning every detail like she was reviewing a medical chart.
"Four goats," Helen read. "Do you even know how much goats eat?"
Lin smirked. "Enough to justify clearing some of the overgrown grass."
Helen sighed, flipping the page."And eight rabbits? Lin, they multiply faster than you can blink."
Lin chuckled."That's the plan. If things go south, we'll never run out of meat."
Helen gave her a horrified look."You are not eating the rabbits."
Lin shrugged."Then let's hope civilization doesn't collapse too fast."
Helen pinched the bridge of her nose."I worry about you sometimes."
Lin grinned, eyes on the road."Only sometimes?"
| October 3, 2023 – 5:45 PM | Six Towns Over – The Breeder's Farm
The moment they stepped out of the truck, Lin could hear the mix of bleats, clucks, and soft snuffling from pens and enclosures.
A stocky, older man—Mike, the breeder—walked up, wiping his hands on his overalls.
"You must be Lin," he greeted, shaking her hand. "Heard you're looking to build a petting zoo."
Lin nodded."Something like that. You've got everything I asked about?"
Mike grinned."More than that. Had a few extras I thought you might like."
Helen exhaled."Oh no."
Lin smirked."Oh yes."
Mike motioned for them to follow him deeper into the farm.
Time to go shopping.
| October 3, 2023 – 6:00 PM | Mike's Farm
The moment Lin stepped onto the main lot, she knew this trip was about to get expensive.
The place was packed with animals—rows of well-maintained pens, a fenced pasture for larger livestock, and a barn full of smaller creatures that immediately caught her attention.
Mike led them toward the first enclosure, where a handful of miniature goats stood, lazily chewing on hay.
"Four, like you wanted," he said, resting an arm on the fence."Friendly, used to people, no escape artists—well, mostly."
Lin arched a brow."Mostly?"
One of the goats, a small brown one with bright eyes, immediately climbed onto a hay bale and tried jumping over the fence.
Mike sighed."That's Beans. He thinks gravity doesn't apply to him."
Lin grinned."I like him. We'll take all four."
Helen rubbed her temple."This is already a mistake."
Mike chuckled, leading them toward the rabbit hutches.
"These are all under a year old, good for handling. Easy keepers."****"
Lin crouched down, watching as a group of small, round rabbits twitched their noses at her."I said eight, but let's make it ten."
Helen gave her a sharp look."Lin."
Lin smiled innocently."Insurance."
Mike laughed, shaking his head."Alright, ten it is."
| October 3, 2023 – 6:45 PM | The "Extras"
Mike led them toward the back of the barn, where the real temptations waited.
"I wasn't sure if you were looking for more, but I've got a few extras you might be interested in," he said, already eyeing Lin like he knew she had no self-control.
Helen sighed."Mike, don't encourage her."
Mike just grinned, swinging open a gate.
First up? Pigs.
A group of small, sturdy pigs stood in a separate pen, snuffling at the ground, some lazing in the corner.
"Good breed," Mike said. "Not too big, easy keepers, smart as hell. Good for a farm setting."
Lin leaned against the fence, considering.
Pigs meant waste disposal. Pigs meant a self-sustaining food source if things ever went bad.
"Two," she said. "One male, one female."
Mike nodded."I'll pick out a good pair."
Helen rubbed her temples."I thought this was a petting zoo, not a full-scale farm."
Lin grinned."Details, Mom."
Next? Hamsters.
Mike led them to a side enclosure lined with cages. Inside, a pile of small, chubby hamsters wiggled under bedding, some nibbling on food.
"You wanted small animals," Mike said. "They're good for kids, easy to breed if you want a steady supply."
Lin crossed her arms."Five."
Mike chuckled."You're not even hesitating anymore."
Lin smirked."I've accepted my fate."
And then—the final temptation.
Mike grinned as he led them to another small enclosure, this one holding a handful of Doberman puppies.
"I know you've got a retriever already," he said, "but these guys are from my working line. Smart, obedient, natural guard dogs. Thought you might want a companion for your other pup."
Lin crouched down, scanning the puppies. One, a sleek black-and-tan male, stood apart, watching her with sharp eyes, tail wagging just enough to show curiosity.
She reached out, letting him sniff her hand. After a few seconds, he gave an approving huff and nudged her palm.
Lin grinned."He's the one."
Mike nodded."Good pick. That one's got a strong drive, but he's got a good head on his shoulders. Won't start fights, but he'll finish them."
Lin looked at Rex, the golden retriever puppy still curled up in her arm, and smirked."Sounds like a good balance."
Helen sighed."Lin. We were supposed to get goats and rabbits."
Lin stood, holding the Doberman pup in one arm and Rex in the other.
"I know, Mom. But it's an investment."
Helen groaned."I hate that you actually believe that."
| October 3, 2023 – 7:00 PM | Mike's Farm
Lin was just about to settle the final payment when Mike grinned like a man with one last trick up his sleeve.
"Hang on," he said, motioning for them to follow him toward the barn's side room. "Got something special for you."
Lin raised an eyebrow."Mike, unless it's a freebie, I'm officially out of room."
Mike chuckled."Oh, it's free. Consider it a gift for being my favorite customer of the year."
Helen muttered under her breath."I don't like this already."
Mike pushed open a door, revealing a small climate-controlled room lined with glass enclosures. Inside? Snakes.
Lin's eyes immediately locked onto two in particular—
A sleek, black-and-gold ball python curled lazily on a branch and a bright orange corn snake peeking out from under its bedding.
"These two are calm, easy to handle, and great for educational programs if you're serious about that petting zoo," Mike said. "Figured you'd appreciate something a little… different."
Lin tilted her head, watching the snakes move.
Ball pythons were low maintenance. Corn snakes were escape artists, but manageable.
Helen crossed her arms."Absolutely not."
Lin grinned."Absolutely yes."
Mike laughed, already preparing the transport boxes."Knew you'd say that."
Helen groaned."I swear, this is getting out of hand."
Lin held up the small carrier as Mike handed it over."Relax, Mom. They're just snakes."
Helen gave her a flat look."That is exactly the problem."
Lin chuckled, securing the boxes in the truck.
A few hours ago, she had planned on getting a few farm animals.
Now? She was leaving with a full petting zoo, two dogs, and a pair of snakes.
Best shopping trip ever.