Ira wandered the streets of Fort Delta without a care in the world, drinking sweet tea and devouring an apple
Such a luxurious snack she was having, but for what occasion? Well, it was her day off today so she had decided to treat herself.
Soon, however, she came across a building with a sign that said "The Animal Kingdom: A collection of facts about the extinct animals of Earth."
Despite how long-winded the sign was, it still pulled her closer as she took the last bite of her apple. Her body unconsciously took a step closer, and then another, until she was finally inside the building; a little bell chimed as she entered. The sound of shoes quickly clacking against the ground as they rushed to the main desk could be heard, making Ira slightly nervous.
"H-hello there, young lady! What a pleasant day it is to have my first customer of the week." A short, stubby man said, his face wrinkled to reveal his incredible age.
Ira opened her mouth to speak, only for the man to continue before she could even utter a single word.
"What animal would you like to learn about, dear?" His tone was particularly soft compared to others, as if the horrors of the world had never scarred him.
"Uh… I-I do not know… Perhaps you could choose for me?"
The man put on a warm smile, patting a cushioned chair next to the main desk.
Once Ira sat down, she saw the old man flipping through pages of an encyclopedia at frightening speeds, before finally settling on a single one.
"Do you know what the Quokkas are?" He asked, a tinge of hope in his eyes.
Fidgeting with her hands nervously, she responded with a quiet no.
"That is a little disappointing… I will teach you!" He seemed even more excited than before. The prospect of teaching a youngling about the animals of old must have been quite an enjoyable idea to him.
"Well, for starters. They are a marsupial and a type of wallaby. They were mainly herbivores and no larger than a cat." He stared deeply at the young girl, hoping she would understand.
Ira tilted her head in confusion, blinking multiple times as her brows scrunched together.
"A… What?" She said, a tone of disarray was evident.
Despite her confused state, her curiosity was piqued. She had always loved the animals of old, and she was always left disappointed after the school she went to never taught them.
The only thing she recognized was the word "cat", and even then she did not know much about the feline.
The old man let out a chuckle, "This will be a lot, so listen closely, dear. A marsupial is a mammal that gives birth to underdeveloped young, which continue developing inside a pouch on the mother's body. While, a wallaby is a specific type of marsupial within the kangaroo family."
Ira listened intently, her eyes widening with gleeful admiration, her sight set upon the old man whose name was unknown.
She did not know what a kangaroo was, so maybe she would ask next time.
Her time off was soon going to end, so she must cut their time short.
"What is your name?" Ira asked, her tone slightly more confident than before.
The old man only chuckled lightheartedly, "Mankin. Yes, yes, such a weird name, am I right? My parents were not right in the head when I was born."
She only smiled lightly, waving to the old man as she left. "Bye… Mankin, see you next time…"