Tag Archives: zoo

Writing

#Fun20090 & WOD Challenges Combined

Thanks to Maggie at From Cave Walls

A Break in the Boredom

‘Obviously, the zoo had to stay open’, he thought, someone had to take care of all the animals. It just wasn’t open to the public during the pandemic. Brutus was a former bartender who had a tattoo of an elephant on his forearm. Not a farfetched idea for him to end up the caretaker at the Dallas zoo, one of the greatest zoos in the world.

Elizabeth was getting tired of having to homeschool her two kids, it was time they got out and got some fresh air. As it turned out, her boyfriend, Brutus was the caretaker at the zoo, a short five minute drive from where she and the kids lived. She rang him up on the phone and they hatched a plan for her to sneak the kids in through the back door.

That afternoon, Elizabeth and the kids, Toby and Sarah were approaching the back door where Brutus was to meet them when they were frightened by a stray dog. Elizabeth said, “Lets hurry up kids”, but looking back, she saw the dog was just scared, he didn’t look mean or rabid. She felt sorry for him and silently prayed that he would get fed or taken in by someone.

Brutus opened the door and ushered them in, just as a drone flew overhead. He thought he managed to get them in undetected, but to make sure, they all waited a bit before starting the tour of the zoo. He didn’t want to get caught breaking the law. Elizabeth suggested they all take time for a quick snack before seeing the animals.

After a while, Brutus walked the perimeter to make sure they were indeed alone and not being observed by anyone. ‘Unbelievable’, he thought as he heard the neighborhood ice cream truck somewhere deep in the city. “Who can come out for ice cream right now?” People are so dumb, but at the same time he figured everyone was just trying to make a living during these difficult times. Maybe he was using proper precautions, using gloves and a mask or whatever.

Seeing the coast was clear, Brutus went and fetched Liz and the kids, he knew she was so bored with them at home and they were too. He decided to take them through all the inside attractions like the snakes and lizards first. After that, they quietly ventured outside and Elizabeth motioned to the kids to stay quiet, bringing a finger to her lips. Nodding, the kids wondered around gawking at the huge elephants, giraffes, and hippos, grinning at each other and holding hands. Liz was pleased she had so far raised them to be obedient children. Brutus hoped they could all be a family some day, he loved Liz and the kids and would do anything for them.

Somehow, the tour went off without a hitch and Elizabeth snuck the kids back out and headed for home, thanking Brutus with a kiss on the way out. The stray dog was still there. Taking a chance she knew could be a big mistake, yet somehow trusting this poor mutt with the sad eyes, she coaxed him into the car. The kids were beyond thrilled.

 

Word of the Day Challenge

Standard
Writing

WOD Challenge 1-7-20- Zoo

Last Christmas with our pups Brandy and Whiskey

I’m literally wracking my brain here trying to come up with a good story for today’s Word of the Day Challenge prompt.

I figured I would speak to life around here with our three fur babies, Whiskey, Brandy, and Callie…how it’s sometimes similar to a zoo, what with all the feedings, grooming, accidents, toys in the way, wildlife being brought in the house-you know, life with pets. Yet somehow the story feels weak, other people have it way worse than us. It’s only like a zoo occasionally, most days are calm and serene, at times you might find us all together relaxing in the living room, the cat on one end of the couch, Whiskey at my feet and Brandy at Dave’s…all of them snoozing away.

Then again you might have heard about the horror story I walked in on one day, after the cat chased a bird in the house and I came home to find a scene similar to a break in with blood (or something) on the floor, feathers EVERYWHERE, and my side tables wiped clean of their contents. Or the time one of the dogs (most likely Brandy) brought in a baby squirrel unbeknownst to us, and I woke the next morning to find this dead thing at the foot of the bed…it had been there all night as we slept!

Our dogs are mixed breed, they are called Shorkies-half Shitzu and half Yorkshire terrier. They are every bit as good as the cat when it comes to hunting and killing rodents. We have had our share of mice in the house, I think the score is even on who has caught and or killed the most. Luckily, if I manage to see them alive, I rescue and relocate them, if they are dead, my hubby usually takes care of that for me.

Then there was the time the possum out back in my neighbor’s yard had her babies on top of the fence, dropped them into my yard and I had to go rescue them. Wait, maybe it is like a zoo around here after all!

 

Word of the Day Challenge

Standard