For A Moment

The Zoo

Willy and Zoey were behind a carriage as Noodle did her job. "So Zoey, what's it like to have Mr. Slugworth as a father." Zoey rolled her eyes and said, "He's not acting like a father. I would rather be an orphan." Willy looked at Zoey with a sad face when Noodle came back. "What is it really?" Willy looked at Noodle and said, "It's called A Big Night Out, a single chocolate that perfectly mimics a night on the town. The outer layer is champagne truffle." As he explained what the chocolate does, and the zookeeper did. "Finally, he hits some old port from the back of the cupboard and..."

Zoey giggled as she watched the zookeeper fall asleep. She looked at Willy with a small smile as Willy looked at Zoey. Their eyes met as they leaned close to each other. "That's a pretty powerful chocolate!" Willy snapped out of it thanking Noodle as they headed into the zoo.

"Why don't they fly away?" Noodle talked about the Flamingoes. "I don't know. Perhaps they haven't thought of it." Zoey looked at Willy confused as he grabbed her hand, and they went to a building where all the keepers took care of the animals. "Where are we? Giraffe... giraffe... Ah! Giraffe!" Zoey quickly closed the door as she looked at Willy and said, "You were nearly eaten by a tiger!" Noodle then walked over and said, "He doens't know how to read." Zoey looked at Willy as he said, ""Nearly" is the key word there, ladies. I've nearly been eaten by a lot of things. And none of them got more than a nibble." Zoey smiled at Willy as the two walked through the door Noodle opened.

"Good evening, um..." Willy said as Zoey walked up to the giraffe and said, "Hello dear Abigail. The last time I saw you, you were just a baby giraffe." Willy walked up to Abigail and said, "I've brought acacia mints." Abigail walked over to Willy as Willy explained. "Giraffes are just crazy about my acacia mints. Love them more than anything else. Except being scratched under the chin. See?" Zoey walked beside Willy and brought Noodle over to him. Willy looked over at Zoey as silence happened around them. "Now, Miss Abigail, if my colleague here gives you a good scratch, could you possibly spare us a pint or two of milk?" Abigail seemed ok with this. Noodle scratching her chin. Zoey watched Willy getting some milk from Abigail.

"Have you done this before?" Willy looked up at Noodle and said, "Once. In Africa. Magnificent beast." Zoey looked at Willy. "Was she wild?" She asked Willy, Willy looked at Zoey with a smile and said, "Wild? She was absolutely furious! But once my hands warmed up, I think she kind of liked it." Zoey laughed as Noodle said, "You sure can be silly, Willy." Willy and Zoey looked at Noodle as Willy said, "I suppose that's true-dle Noodle." Zoey looked at Willy and said, "True-dle?" Willy looked at Zoey and said, "That doesn't work, does it? But nothing rhymes with Noodle. Where'd you get that name, anyway?" Noodle didn't want to tell him, but Zoey said, "She has this ring that has an N' for Noodle. Or Nora, or Nina -- or nothing at all." Willy looked at Zoey and said, "Can't you trace the owner?" Zoey stayed quiet making Willy take that in as Noodle said, "You don't think I've tried? I've been to every jewelry store in the city."

Zoey looked at Willy as she got closer to him as he looked at her with a smile. "She has always dreamt of finding her parents. They'd live in this beautiful old building full of books. And her mom would be waiting for her at the door, and she'd run into her arms, and she'd give her this big hug like she wouldn't ever let her go. But then we both realized it was just a stupid dream." Willy took Zoey hand as they stared at each other.