The car slowly came to a halt, as Ruben looked outside the window.
The house was a ranch house with a giant green field behind it where the inhabitants would ride their horses.
The house itself wasn't too bad either, it looked basically like a smaller mansion, but still quite luxurious!
Marlene turned around from the passenger's seat, looking at Ruben with an encouraging smile.
"You ready? Remember what we told you, keep in control of the changer, and if you do lose it when changed, all the current transformations are temporarily, so don't worry, also the pad locks after a while and only your fingerprint and password can unlock it, so don't worry. Have fun!", she said quickly explaining again, what Jackson and her have repeated the entire car ride.
"Thanks, you'll be here after it ends right?" Ruben asked, still nervous about what was about to happen.
Marlene simply nodded, confirming his question.
Ruben stepped out of the car, looking at the house, it was still pretty intimidating to get such an assignment, on just his second day!
He was so nervous, he almost jumped when Jackson put a hand on his shoulder, he didn't even realize that he got out of the car.
"Relax! You did great yesterday. Here it works just like the ones back at the zoo!". Jackson comforted Ruben and handed him the portable changer and a present form the zoo. It was a simple voucher for the next time they were to visit.
The older man said his goodbye's and got back in the car, and drove off.
Ruben walked up to the door and rang the door bell.
"Just a second!", a female voice called out from inside the house. After a bit, the door opened, and a woman stood in the door way.
"Hi, what can I do for you?" The lady asked, with an inquisitive look. She was definitely expecting someone it seems, but she did not believe it to be the young teenage boy.
"Hi I'm Ruben, my... uh.. job, send me? I work at the zoo." Ruben stuttered a bit, as he tried to explain his presence, still very new at all of this. The woman looked at him, still not quite sure... But then her eyes widened as if she finally figured it out.
"Oh, wait, you're the one my son requested! I'm sorry for the confusion, please come on in!" She said, as she motioned Ruben to enter the house. The woman turned towards the entrance hall, looking up the round stairs. "My son did joke about 'renting an animal' from the zoo, I didn't know yet to which zoo he went, but that is now clear to me, you do look quite young to be working there", she said explaining her earlier hesitation. Ruben simply shrugged of the age comment, "Yeah I get that a lot, I am 16, but I am an emancipated youth, so don't worry!".
"Oh, that's interesting to hear!" she said, still unsure what to think about his age, she turned her attention back to the stairs. "Chris, you're animal is here!" she yelled, calling her kid over. "Coming mom!" a familiar voice called out from upstairs.
Ruben recognized the voice, but couldn't place a face with it.
A young looking boy with brown hair, came running down the stairs. Ruben thought he looked familiar, he knows he saw him before.
The boy was a teenager, probably the same age as Ruben was. "I'm here!" Chris said as he approached his mother and the teenage stranger standing in his house.
The mother turned to her son, grabbing her keys and coat, "Well, you boys have fun, I'll be back tomorrow night!" she said as she left the house. The boy looked at Ruben, "Wow, I almost don't recognize you without the ears and tail! You're the monkey right?", the boy asked.
Ruben nodded nervously, "Yup, that was me! At least one of them" he said scratching his head. "Cool! Come on up! I'll introduce you to the rest!" Chris said, as he motioned Ruben to follow him.