Roxan ~ In My Life with the Beatles

33

As the party split into groups of fours and fives they were lead through the park and introduced to different animals, I was one of the last off the yacht so my group was Brian, Freda and Mal. The lads had, unsurprisingly, disappeared the moment we docked.

Two hours later we reassembled at the giraffe enclosure with many getting the opportunity to feed the beautiful animals carrots and celery, the giraffes taking the food with their long tongues.

"Did you see those crocodiles over yonder must have been eight metres long; this little skinny lass fed them a whole chicken off a Spindlerly stick!" George rushed up falling over himself to tell Brian and myself his adventures, his eyes shining with excitement.

"We missed the feeding there but we were able to pat and feed the elephant, what was her name again Roxan?" Brian smiled broadly remembering the animal.

"Rosie, yes she was so gentle taking one peanut at a time in her massive trunk!"

"Boo!" John dashed up and yelled over Brian's shoulder "What are you lot chatting about- work I suppose" rolling his eyes.

"Actually" George grinned widely "We were recounting out meetings with the wildlife and another one just turned up over Brian's shoulder!!"

'Hey!" John grasped George and put him in a headlock under his arm fluffing a flailing Georges' hair up. "I'll have you know I'm only an animal when I've 'ad a few"

"Everybody. Could I have your attention please" Lauren, the head keeper, spoke up to get everybody's attention. "We have one more section to take you to! We would like to introduce you to all the lovely cuddly Australian animals we have here. Please follow me"

Everyone soon found themselves surrounded by kangaroos, all hungry for the little bags of pellets we had for them. Rich was fervorously taking photographs of everyone so when he came up to me I quickly took his new camera off him.

"Hey! Rox carefully with that!"

"I'm not going to hurt it Richie I just want YOU in some photos too! Now let's get you down on the ground laying next to that sleepy 'roo there. Great pretend YOUR asleep. Gear. Ok pretend to ride him- John!! quit getting in the picture. Stop your sulking Lennon, there must be a hundred of you already, right Rich!?"

"Oh hundreds of the lads I would think, yes" Rich smiled as he patted the roo feeding out of his hand "Hey that tickles!"

I laughed and took a shot of Rich holding his head back laughing with the kangaroo having a puzzled look on his face from the noise.

"Koalas, look Rox" John bounded up like a excited puppy as the keepers walked out with four sleepy koalas "Where's Paul he should go first!"

"Paul. PAUL" John bellowed toward the back of the enclosure, a boy in man's clothing he had the charming ability to turn it off and on instantly.

"I'm right here, Johnny boy!" Paul said looking up from his spot on the ground no more than five feet from John. The kangaroo calmly munching food pellets from Paul's outstretched hand.

"Oh right missed you son. Come on get up, let's see these little koala bears over here. Get a couple of pics of the birthday boy!"

"OK Roxy give back my camera, your turn, get over there with Paul and John. Right OK, smile. John turn this way. Rox look at me for a moment. Paul yep. Smile. John this way! Loverly!" Rich was a natural photographer.

The beautiful soft grey koalas lazed in our arms like sleeping babes but slightly heavier. "Gorgeous, aren't they?" I whispered to both the boys.

"That they are Roxan. That they are. Do you think I can take one home?" Paul whispered quietly back as not to startle the sleepy bundle of grey.