Things Change

The Zoo?

(Pic of Danny played by Luke Bilyk)

*Danny*

The zoo.

He wanted to go to the zoo.

But not just any zoo. Nooooooo... the small animal hospital zoo that wasn't really a zoo but its real name was too long to say every single time.

Technically it was really "Richard's Bird and Mammal Hospital and Sanctuary". See what I mean by too long?

I should probably explain.

My best friend Taylor and I were hanging out, playing video games when he suddenly declares he was bored and wanted to go somewhere. Then went on to say that he wanted to check out this animal hospital that had opened a few months ago. I wasn't all that into it but as there was nothing better to do and he wouldn't take no for an answer so we went.

We pulled up to this fence with a path way and a sign above it reading: "Richard's Bird and Mammal Hospital and Sanctuary". We went through the pathway and there was lots of cages with different birds in them. It was outside, right in front of a beach and on the opposite side of the cages was a table where a girl sat.

But this wasn't just any girl. This girl was beyond good looking. She was so perfect I was pretty sure I was just imagining her. But man, was she fine. She had long brown hair and big blue eyes and when she stood and walked towards us I swear none of the girls at my school had nothing on this girl, even in a tee shirt all the volunteers there had to wear.

But she looked at me as though I was growing a second head. That clued me in that I was staring and it creeped her out a bit. Or a lot.

"Hey! Welcome to Richard's Bird and Mammal Hospital and Sanctuary. My names Juliet. Would you like a tour?"

With her? Oh hell yeah!

"I don't know we might just look-"

"We would love a tour." I interrupt Taylor who just gave me a questioning look. When she was putting our cash in the cash box he pulled me aside.

"What the heck dude?" He whisper violently me.

"Have you seen her man? She's hot. I wanna see if I can get a shot." I said and he rolled his eyes at me.

"So are you guys ready?" Juliet asked us and we nodded.

The place was a ghost town so the tour was a little longer than it was supposed to be. Not that I minded, the more time with Juliet the better.

"Hey Alex!" Juliet called out to another girl who was cleaning a one eyed bird's cage. She had a punk like look going on with bright red hair and spiky boots, in the middle of summer mind you, with her employee shirt. Alex, as I presumed her name was, came up to us to talk to Juliet. Looking closer at her I noticed she had a nose ring and some tattoos on her arms. The girls were obviously friends which was a little odd figuring they seemed like polar opposites. Juliet was the obvious girly girl with a skirt and big blue eyes while Alex was the tough one with ripped up black shorts and lots of black eyeliner.

"This is Danny and Taylor. I'm giving them an exclusive tour." Juliet said as she gestured to us. Alex and Taylor shared a look, a weird one at that but I ignored it as he shook her hand. I gave her a wave which she returned with a nod.

"Do you wanna come with us for the rest? We don't have much left, just Suze and Gregory." Victoria offered.

"Suze and Gregory?" I asked.

"Our panthers. Here come on." Juliet explained and we followed her and Alex. Then I came up with a genius plan.

I pulled out my phone and texted Taylor:

I'm gonna ask juliet out and ur gonna ask alex to go with us so she def says yes.

He phone made a dinging sound and he took it out, read my text and snapped his head towards me. He looked annoyed and mouthed 'No'.

I mouthed back 'yes' and he mouthed 'no' again; it continued like that until he mouthed 'fine' and looked away obviously upset. What a baby.

"Meet Suze and her cub Gregory." Juliet said.

"What happened to her?" Taylor asked.

"Shot by a hunter. She was just left there but luckily someone saw her there and called us. She barely made it out alive and little Gregory here wasn't hurt. We can't really put them back into the wild 'cause Suze would probably die after a while and Gregory needs her to survive." Alex explained.

Wow, that's quite the story. Even though we lived in Florida by a beach there is still a forest preserve a few miles from here and there are all sorts of animals in there. Trust me, I would know. I was dared a while ago to spend a night in there without anything but the clothes on my back only to be chased back out by a very angry bird.

But since this is Florida I'm not all surprised that places like this exist with the insane drivers and the crazy amount of animal life there is around every corner.

By the time we got back to the entrance I decided it was time to make my move.

"So, are you girls free tomorrow night because me and Taylor here would love to take you out somewhere." I asked. It was to the point since there really is no reason to be sly about it if they were just going to give the same answer either way.

Juliet looked at Alex, who just shrugged, and turned back to me agreed to the date. We exchanged numbers and Taylor and I set off. Mission accomplished.