A Cliché Family Twentyseven   "Do I have to?" Jinki is standing in the doorway looking at their oldest son. The 16 year old sits on his bed about to write in a journal of some sort but his eyes are now focused on his father. Jinki nods.

"Yes. It's Taemin's birthday, you can do this for him." The teenager groans.

"But dad!" he tries but Jinki is having none of that.

"Jonghyun, we're not discussing this. Get ready, we're leaving in 5 minutes." Jinki leaves the sulking teenager to himself. In another room, Kibum is having the exact same conversation with the 13-year-old Minho.

"Dad, please, do I have to come?" Kibum sighs.

"Yes Minho, you do."

"But..." Minho tries but Kibum sends him a stern look.

"No buts. Get ready." In the hallway is an excited 6-year-old Taemin, all dressed and ready to leave. He wears his favorite shoes and he even had Kibum style his hair. He's waiting for the rest of his family because they're going to the zoo and Taemin can't wait. Jinki and Kibum join him soon after and get ready as well.

"Boys, come on!" Kibum shouts into the now silent apartment and a sulky Minho and an indifferent Jonghyun join them in the hallway as well. Taemin grabs Jinki's hand when the man opens the front door and sends his brothers a huge smile.

"It'll be fun!" He says and the two boys sigh simultaneously.



Taemin is having the time of his life. First off, because it's his birthday so he has been spoiled with candy, lots of candy. Anything he wants, he gets. He enjoys this a lot because Jonghyun and Minho get told off a lot instead. Maybe it's because they seem so moody all the time. Taemin points to the animals in their large cages every time he spots one. Kibum joins him.

Jinki keeps an eye on the two teenagers who continuously lack behind. He thinks that this may be the best birthday of his life and he's glad that his fathers agreed to go to the zoo. He's also silently satisfied with the fact that his brothers have been forced to join. It makes him feel a little sneaky and it makes him feel sort of good.

As time goes by though, the teenagers begin to enjoy it as well. With happiness comes freedom and Jonghyun is allowed to drag Minho back to the tigers because Jinki actually believes they'll behave. Taemin wants to go with them but Kibum takes his hand and tells him he's not old enough to run around on his own. They arrange to meet up at the pet zoo at 3 pm and the teenagers take off and Taemin stays behind.

When they get to the pet zoo to meet up with the other two, Taemin has eaten so much candy he feels awful