Zoo At School

First published in 2021 by Jaja’s Publishing

The moral right of the author has been asserted

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.

ePub ISBN: 978-1-735733-51-7

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-578-63866-9

Author’s website: www.deeouellette.com

Contents

1 - What’s That Shadow?

2 - It’s a Texas-style Zoo

3 - Family Feud

4 - Taking Care of the Zoo

5 - First Day of School and the Town Meeting

6 - The Chimp Can Dance

7 - There’s a Zoo at School!

8 - End of Chic-a-ta Zoo

9 - County Fair

10 - Roundup

11 - The Chase

12 - The Chase Continues

13 - What Happens Next?

14 - The Great Spirit

15 - Between a Rock and a River

16 - Blockade

17 - One Step Ahead

18 - The Final Journey

1 - What’s That Shadow?

She could feel the strength of her horse through his shoulders. He moved, with little or no effort, in a slow canter, enjoying the ride as much as she. He could go on forever, she thought, and so can I.

Riding Ajax, her white albino, had a calming effect on Anna. As she rode, she reviewed her argument with her mother.

Go out and make some friends in the neighborhood, she’d said, as if that were easy to do.

Mom, I’m the new kid. I can’t just walk up like a dork and say, ‘Hi, you want to be my friend?’ 

Why not? You’re a nice girl, and everyone you meet likes you. Just walk up to someone your age and introduce yourself.

I’m fourteen! I can find friends on my own time and in my own way. School will start in three months, then I’ll meet people.

I am just trying to help, her mother had shouted. I’m tired of seeing you moping around the house or spending all day with that horse.

Argh! There’s no talking to you. I’m goin’ for a ride! Anna had said as she stormed out.

She’d thrown a bridle on Ajax and jumped on his bare back. She ran him hard for the first few minutes and then settled into a canter. The Texas landscape around her neighborhood was open range. Farmers and ranchers didn’t like putting up fences. Only the wealthiest bothered to build fences in the year 1970.

She slowed slightly as she passed a park and saw young people her age sitting at a picnic table chatting. Maybe Mom’s right, she thought. Maybe I should just ride over there and introduce myself.

When the teens turned and saw her, they pointed and snickered. Embarrassed and angry, Anna kneed Ajax into a gallop.

After she calmed down, she let Ajax walk for a while. He ambled along with his tongue out, shaking his head occasionally to get rid of the flies.

You are the goofiest horse, hanging your tongue out like a dog.

At her voice, Ajax’s ear perked up.

Anna looked around at the dry, dusty landscape, small mesquite trees, and scrubby brush that defined this part of Texas. Goofy horse in a town with a goofy name. Chic-a-ta? What does that mean anyway? Anna often talked to Ajax; after all, that horse was her best friend. I wish you could have seen Hawaii, Ajax. We went to the beach every day.

Anna was quiet for a while as she reminisced about their previous home on the army base in Hawaii. So many years of moving were now over, as her dad had retired, and they’d settled here in Texas.

I’m glad I have you, boy, she said as she reached down to pat his neck. Mom is such a nag! I can make friends at school. After all, I’ll have four more years before I go off to college. She reined Ajax to a stop under a clump of oak trees. Don’t think I’ll forget you while I’m at college either, mister! When I’m a veterinarian, I’ll come back here and set up an office to take good care of you and Mr. Kitty.

She looked around to get her bearings. She had ridden further than she expected but wasn’t concerned. Her parents and brother had gone into town shopping and wouldn’t be back for hours. Come on, boy, let’s keep going. I want to explore.

She rode on for another fifteen minutes, when suddenly she could feel Ajax tense up, and at the same time he slowed down.

What’s wrong, boy? she asked, reining him to a stop.

Ajax sniffed the air and looked around frantically. He began to pace and snort, then, without warning, reared up in fear, knocking Anna off his back. As she landed on the ground with a thud, she looked up in time to see Ajax running and kicking as he headed for home without her.

Darn it, Ajax! she complained as she got up and brushed off her jeans. What the heck are you afraid of anyway?

She looked around. Her first thought was that it was a rattlesnake, since she had seen one a few days ago. She looked down, scanning the dirt for the snake, when she saw a shadow moving toward her. At first, she stared at the shadow, trying to decipher what kind of creature was shaped in it, when it dawned on her. Just look up, stupid, and see what’s coming.

As she looked up, she froze in absolute terror. Her whole body trembled in fear. Her eyes were wide open, but she could barely believe what she was seeing. She opened her mouth, but she was too frightened to scream. There, in the middle of the dusty plains of Texas, walking toward her, was a full-grown African lion.

2 - It’s a Texas-style Zoo

Anna’s legs felt like Jell-O, and she couldn’t move. She closed her eyes and prayed. Oh, God, please let this be a dream. While her eyes were closed, she heard the lion plod up closer and sniff her all over. He’s going to kill me! Jesus, help me! Run! Her mind screamed the word, but her legs would not move.

The lion was rubbing against her and making a strange sound. Could it be? Yes, the lion was purring! It was loud and grumbly, but it was purring.

She opened one eye to see what the lion was doing. He was lying at her feet, rolled over on his back with all four paws in the air—the same position her pet cat took when he wanted a belly scratch. Is he toying with me? she thought, as she tried to control her trembling.

Still too terrified to move, she opened both eyes and watched the lion as he rolled around on his back, purring. Suddenly, he stopped moving, looked up at her with one eye and seemed to say, Whatcha waiting for? Scratch my belly!

She squatted down and tentatively touched him, then immediately drew her hand back. His fur was tawny-colored, smooth, and soft to the touch. She reached out and rubbed his belly in a small circular motion before drawing her hand back again. She saw her hand was now covered in tawny-colored dirt. She smiled.

The lion just lay there and purred loudly at her touch but stopped when she withdrew her hand. Gaining confidence, Anna reached out again and slowly scratched his belly with one hand. He purred louder, so she used both hands and scratched all over his large hairy belly.

Why, you’re nothin’ but a big house cat! she said to him. He seemed delighted at the belly rub and even seemed to smile. Yeah, you’re a good boy. You’re just a silly kitty. You like this, don’t you? Oh!

Just as she was relaxing around the wild animal, he wrapped his big front legs around her and pulled her up to his mouth. Her terror came flooding back as she thought this was her death. Instead, his big scratchy tongue swiped across the side of her head.

Ugh! I’ve been slimed! she squealed.

Before he could lick her again, a whistle sounded, and man’s voice called out, Sampson! Sampson, you bad cat! Where are you?

When the lion heard the noise, he released Anna and rolled over on his side, looking toward the sound. A man with a mop of gray hair came around the corner and stopped as he took in the scene. His face was weathered and tan, and he wore overalls and cowboy boots covered in dust from the road. His long, gray hair was braided and hung on either side of his head, on top of which sat a large western hat.

Anna was too stunned to move as she knelt on the ground, her arms out to her sides. A lion had just slimed her face and hair. She could feel his drool sliding down around her ears. It was gross!

Oh no! the man said, and he broke into a trot. Reaching down a helping hand, he asked, Are you alright, kid? Sampson wouldn’t hurt a fly, but he can be pretty scary until you get to know him.

Anna took his offered hand and rose slowly, keeping her head tilted to one side so the drool wouldn’t slide down her neck.

The man looked at the slime, smiled and said, Sampson likes you. He never kisses people he doesn’t like. He reached in his pocket and offered her his handkerchief. Anna gratefully took the handkerchief to wipe off the lion drool.

Sampson! You bad lion, scaring this poor girl, the man scolded. Sampson just yawned and lay his head down for a nap.

My name is Jack ‘Black Bear’ Caine. Sampson is one of the animals in my zoo, but he’s also an escape artist. Of course, it’s probably not him but Harry who is opening the cage every morning. Harry’s my chimpanzee. Sampson got out this morning, and it took me all this time to track him down. So, what’s your name and whatcha doin’ out here all by yourself? He bent down and hooked a heavy chain to the collar around Sampson’s neck.

Anna. My-my name is Anna, she said, still a little stunned. I was riding my horse when your lion spooked him. He’s run home by now.

I’m so sorry. I can give you a ride home if you don’t mind helping me walk Sampson back first, suggested Black Bear.

Anna wasn’t sure of the way home, and