Trouble at the Zoo (3 page)

The sun continued to shine as the morning wore on. The animals were in good spirits. Even Agro, the zoo’s grumpiest croc, seemed to be smiling today.

The staff wandered throughout the zoo, making sure everyone stayed happy and safe. “Puffer Fish One to Dolphin Two, state your position, over.”

“I’m over by the cotton candy, Puffer Fish One. There’s been an incident, over.”

“What sort of incident, Dolphin Two, over?” Starfish Three was concerned and started heading toward the cotton candy stand.

Dolphin Two explained: “Nothing serious, Puffer Fish One. Just a sea anemone with cotton candy stuck in her hair, over. It’s almost…” Puffer Fish One heard a yelp over the walkie-talkie as Dolphin Two pulled the cotton candy out. “…There you go. All under control again, over.”

Puffer Fish One smiled to himself and continued scanning the crowds.

The zoo’s PA system crackled. “Attention, everyone. It’s time to make your way to the Crocoseum for Bindi’s birthday croc show. It starts in five minutes. You won’t want to miss it.”

Holly Brown was thrilled. “Let’s go, let’s go!” Her family started to move off toward the Crocoseum, but Zac lagged behind. “Ah, Mum, Dad, I’ll join you in a moment. I just…ahhh…need to go to the bathroom.”

Bindi’s earlier comment about the eastern water dragons being every-where at Australia Zoo had given Zac an idea. Perhaps his birthday was going to turn out okay after all!

“We can wait for you if you like, darling?” his mum offered.

Zac smiled sweetly. “I’ll be fine, Mum, promise. Save me a seat.” He pointed at Holly, who was almost dragging their dad toward the Crocoseum. “You don’t want Holly to miss out on the croc show.”

“Well, okay, but don’t take too long,” said Mrs. Brown.

Zac, still wearing his goggles, pretended to head off in the direction of the restroom, as the crowds headed toward the Crocoseum.

If the zoo has heaps of eastern water dragons, they’re not going to miss one, are they?
All he’d done so far today was baby-sit his sister. It was time to spend some time doing what he wanted to do.

He started scanning the ground and the foliage next to the paths. He did try to keep an eye out for the zoo staff, but most of them were wandering toward the Crocoseum, so he figured no one would notice his hunting mission.

“Come on, lizards, I know you’re in there somewhere…”

He caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye and darted off the path into a landscaped palm garden. He tried to grab the tail of a disappearing dragon, but he wasn’t quick enough.

Instead, he ended up face first in a huge mound of mulch, with a brush turkey squawking furiously at him. His goggles had fogged up during the chase, so he took them off and wiped them clean, while scowling at the brush turkey.

“Okay, okay, I’m getting off your nest. Calm down.”

The brush turkey squawked indignantly and started rebuilding his precious mound.

Zac made his way back to the path. This was only a minor setback. He was not ready to give up yet!

Robert had a few minutes free before he was needed at the bird demonstration, so he left the Crocoseum in search of a drink. The zoo was practically empty, as most of the guests were now enjoying the croc show. He was heading toward the food court when he spotted that same boy he’d seen frowning at the entrance earlier in the day. He wasn’t really looking any happier and was staring pointedly at the ground. Robert had another couple of underwater-themed jokes. Maybe he could give goggle boy another chance? He decided to wander over to the boy and try to make him laugh. After all, his pride was at stake!

Zac had finally spotted another dragon. He glanced around him, seeing a staff member dressed as a puffer fish off to the left picking up some trash. No one was watching him. This eastern water dragon, who was a small one, about 12 inches long, was sunning himself on a rock just off the path, looking relaxed and happy. Zac was thrilled. This would be a perfect birthday present. His very own reptile.

He picked him up gently, and stroked him. “Hello, fella.”

Quickly, he zipped open his backpack, placed the lizard into it, and zipped it shut again. He casually glanced around him, saw no one, and hurried toward the Crocoseum, a big grin on his face—the first one of the day.

What Zac failed to notice was the small blue-ringed octopus hiding behind a trash can only a few feet from where he had stolen the reptile. Robert stood upright, flicked an angry tentacle, and hurried into the Crocoseum after Zac.

The Crocoseum was a huge outdoor stadium where all the zoo’s big animal shows were staged. There were large video screens at either end, so you could see the action taking place on stage, up close and personal. Having just finished the croc show, the zookeepers and Bindi were getting ready to start the bird demonstration. Robert raced over to his sister and whispered something to her. She looked concerned, and Robert pointed up into the bleachers. Bindi whispered back to her brother, they both nodded seriously, and then Bindi turned on the mike.

“Well, everyone, now it’s time for you to see just how clever and gorgeous our macaws are. We need a volunteer from the audience…You, standing up over there.” She pointed up to the bleachers. “Please introduce yourself to the crowd. What’s your name?”

Zac was standing at the top of the bleachers, searching for the rest of his family but still looking pleased with himself. He didn’t realize he was the one being spoken to until everyone turned to look in his direction.

“Oh, umm, it’s Zac.” He looked around, saw himself on the big video screens, and started to feel a bit uncomfortable. “Umm, I don’t really want to—”

Bindi interrupted his excuse, smiling up at him. “Come on now, Zac, we need you. You’re our parrot perch volunteer. Thanks so much.” Bindi gestured to the bird keeper, who now stood next to her, carrying a magnificent green-winged macaw.

Zac didn’t know what to do. All of a sudden his good mood disappeared, and he began to think that taking an eastern water dragon and putting it in his backpack was a big mistake. You couldn’t just take animals from a zoo. Could you be put in jail for doing something like that? His goggles fogged up again, this time from nervousness.

Bindi continued her speech. “Now, here we have one of my favorite birds, Chilli the green-winged macaw. She’s still in training, but let’s see if she’s as clever as I think she is.” Bindi leaned over and whispered something to the bird.

“Okay, Zac, put both your arms out straight, like you’re making a capital T.”

Zac’s breathing became shallow. He needed to calm down. He wouldn’t go to jail. He was too young…wasn’t he? Trying to stop thinking about what he’d done, he held his arms out, just as Bindi had asked.

“Okay, Chilli, do your thing!” Bindi pointed toward Zac, and the parrot took off, flying over the crowds, and landed on Zac’s left arm.

The crowd burst into applause.

“Well done, Chilli. You’re such a clever bird. Now, back you come,” Bindi called out, but kept her arms at her side.

Instead of flying back, Chilli ignored Bindi’s request and moved closer to the zip on Zac’s backpack.

Zac looked horrified and did his best to convince the macaw to fly away. “Hey, Chilli, fly back, fly back!”

The macaw shook her head slowly and inched even closer to the backpack. The crowd thought the performance was wonderful.

Bindi continued trying to coerce the bird away. “Chilli, back now, come on, I’ve just told everyone what a clever bird you are.”

Chilli now had the zip of Zac’s backpack in her beak and was pulling hard.

Zac wanted to faint. This was now, officially, the worst day of his life. It was his birthday, and he was going to end up in jail for stealing an animal from the best zoo he’d ever been to. How could he have been so silly?! He hoped like crazy the large bird would just leave him alone, and maybe he’d get a chance to return the lizard without anyone knowing.

Bindi was looking confused. “Gee, Zac, do you have birdseed in there? Why is Chilli so interested in your backpack?”

Zac started to reply, “I don’t know. I don’t have anything in—” but was interrupted by a collective gasp of surprise, as the eastern water dragon crawled out of his open backpack and jumped onto his right shoulder.

With the macaw on one shoulder and the eastern water dragon on the other, Zac looked like a professional animal handler, and the crowd broke into applause. What a clever trick!

Bindi and Robert turned to each other, smiling, and clapped along with the audience. “Well done, Chilli, you
are
just as clever as I thought you were.” Bindi clicked her fingers and the majestic macaw flew off Zac’s arm and back down to rest on Bindi’s shoulder.

“Well, folks. As you can see, all the animals at Australia Zoo are one big happy family. They look out for one another, and I hope that you understand how important it is to respect these wonderful creatures and the habitats they live in.”

Although Bindi’s speech was made to all the crowd, Zac turned a deep shade of red. He had no right to take an animal from the zoo. Not only was it stealing from the zoo, but this was the reptile’s home. He felt so bad he wanted to run away right then and there, but he knew he couldn’t leave without his family. And, after all, the eastern water dragon was still happily perched on his right shoulder.

Terri the emperor penguin waddled over to Bindi the sea horse and gave her a quick hug. She turned to the crowd. “It’s now time for the cutting of the cake and—” Bindi interrupted her mum and quickly whispered something into her ear. “Oh, okay, honey.” Terri turned back to the crowd. “Zac, the parrot perch boy up there. Bindi tells me it’s your birthday too. Come on down, and you can help her cut the cake.”

Zac couldn’t believe it. What was going to happen now? Was this some sort of trap? But Bindi was smiling at him and gesturing for him to come down. She didn’t look like she wanted him arrested.

Five rows down in the bleachers, Holly Brown was almost dying with excitement. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, my brother’s going to cut the cake with Bindi. Oh my gosh, take a picture, Mum, take a picture!”