Living Like A Lion-The Circus

Chapter 7-Punishment

7.Punishment

I woke in a pitch black room and the only reason I could see is because I was a lion. I padded around the wall, trying to discover an exit, but I didn't find any. All I found was a tiny pile of meat and a little puddle of water. I scratched the walls and discovered that they were made of wood. I laid down again and fell asleep.

I woke later, not knowing what time it was. I padded over to the tiny pile of food and ate a little because I was famished. I started to walk back to the middle, when the room started to move. I dug my claws into the floor and pulled myself to the center. There I laid down, only to fall asleep to the rocking.

When I woke the third time to the pitch blackness, the room was still moving. I pulled myself over to the food and water. I ate all there was of the food because I couldn't stand it any longer before lying down again.

I got up again to the darkness over and over. I found no more food and the water drained out a hole in the floor; so I just didn't get up and all I would do was sleep.

Then one day, the room stopped moving and light shown through the top. I tried to jump out, but I was too weak to jump that high. I ran to a corner, when I noticed meat falling through the hole; and as soon as it stopped, I rushed towards the meat and dug in happily. When I had finished, I dozed off again.

I woke up the next morning in my individual cage, surrounded by the other big cats. Karen was staring at me strangely as I asked frantically, “Karen, where is Annie? Is she okay?”

“She is fine and she should be back soon,” Karen purred as her eyes shown amusement.

“What has happened?” I inquired as I glanced around.

“Oh, we moved,” she chuckled as she flicked her tail around.

“Moved? Well, that explains why the room I was in was moving,” I whispered to myself, but I always forgot other cats have very good hearing too.

“Ah! So you were in the detention cage. I have been there before,” she replied sadly as she glanced away; then her curiosity got the best of her. She turned back to me and excitedly, “What did you do? Wait! You are the one who scratched Louis!”

“Yes. He found out my secret and now he wants me to speak at the show,” I answered as I looked away.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” Karen said quickly, but she quieted down at the sound of approaching footsteps.