Since Abby was planning on participating in the Animalian Games, she could hardly keep it a secret from her parents. There wasn't really much of a reason for her to conceal it. Her parents could accept her choices, they just had a little trouble understanding them.
"I'm sorry, but I'm having a little trouble imagining you as a triathlete," said Farmer Brown.
"Well, I know my swimsuit isn't the best fit, but I am starting to improve my swimming time," said Abby, "And as soon as I get the custom bike, I can start training with that."
"I think your father meant is that he's having trouble understanding why you'd want to be a triathlete," said Mrs. Brown, "Would you'd think a marathon runner would be more your speed?"
Abby snorted and said, "Every horse is being expected to run. We shouldn't be pigeonholed into the sport we're most likely to succeed at. I might not be the best swimmer and I don't know how well I can ride a bicycle like this, but I want to show that Animalians don't have to be confined to one field."
"Well, not all horses are running the marathon," said Farmer Brown, "I believe Samson has gone into the bodybuilding competition, right?"
"Yes, he's been bulking up. He's been showing me how big his muscles are getting," said Abby, her mind drifting to the last time Samson let her feel his muscles.
Mrs. Brown cleared her throat and said, "Maybe you could do bodybuilding as well."
"I think I have all the muscles that I need," said Abby, "Besides, I don't think I could get bigger than Marlysa. How can an iguana get that buff?"
"Well, Coach Williams was a professional bodybuilder before he retired," said Farmer Brown, "I guess some of that rubbed off on his mate."
"That reminds me, they did send us wedding invitations," said Mrs. Brown, "It seems you two had made an impression on them. Now what am I going to get for you two to wear?"
"They might be wearing what the other bridesmaids and best men are wearing," said Farmer Brown.
"Oh, I don't think we're close enough to be that," said Abby.
"Well, they might decide you are," said Mrs. Brown, "But it will still be at least a month. There's plenty of time to get ready."
"I just hope that Marlysa won't turn out to be a bridezilla," said Farmer Brown with a chuckle. Both his wife and his daughter gave him an annoyed look at his bad joke.
"Mom, can you smack him?" asked Abby, "I wouldn't want to accidentally hurt him."
"Of course," said her mother before she smacked her husband.
"I'm going to miss making animal jokes before the year is out," muttered Farmer Brown.