Truth

Mandeville Zoo {Short Story}

I think it all started when I went on a little trip. It was to the local zoo, because, well, I had been forced to go by my best friend, Liza. As it turned out, she had won them from a radio station about a week ago, thinking they had said ‘two tickets’. As it also turned out, not only did she only get one, she refused to go alone, as she was deathly afraid of giraffes. I think she said something along the lines of: ‘They’ll eat me, Elle. Or-or, they’ll wrap those long necks around me ‘till I die! I mean...’ So, story short, I went alone.

It only took me five minutes or so to get there, as I lived on the outskirts of the main drag of the city. I parked a block away so I wouldn’t have to worry about paying for parking. It was a short walk to the big gate. It was all for show, of course; all you had to do was give it a little nudge and it opened easily. First, though, you had to have your ticket checked. Why did this zoo have tickets, anyway?

“Ticket, please.” A chirpy woman said to me as I stopped outside the gate. I quickly handed her the ticket to be...inspected?

“There you go,” she said, putting down the ticket and pushing open the shiny front gate. “Enjoy your time at Mandeville Zoo.”

I stepped through and heard the gate snap shut behind me as I took a couple steps forward on the sidewalk-like path. I looked back, briefly wondering how the heck I was supposed to get out of here. I shrugged.

There were so many exhibits, I wasn’t even sure if I had time to see them all. I checked my watch: 1:00 p.m. Maybe I should have come sooner.

I ventured over to look at the monkeys, hanging from trees or poles or just sitting there on the ground, looking as close to bored as a monkey could get. I went into a small butterfly house, where two little yellow butterflies had to be extracted from my jacket. Then I went and saw the reptiles and then the birds and the hippos. I got a Popsicle and went over to a shaded bench where I just looked around at the people walking by and awing at the little lambs, or the wise old owl nestled in his cage.

I sighed and leaned back. Today felt good. The zoo definitely didn’t smell good, but it made me feel good. A little bit, anyway. I looked up at the sunshine reflecting gold light off of the green leaves of the poplar trees. I finished my Popsicle and stood up, inconspicuously wiping my sticky hands on my jeans as I walked over to a trash can. After throwing the Popsicle stick away, I just walked in the direction everyone else was going, wondering where it would lead.

Eventually, after seeing so many exhibits and people and hearing so much information on animals I may never see again, I stepped away from the group again and sat down on the waist-high brick wall to the right side of the trail, which was severely shaded by the dense covering of trees growing to the side of it. I sat down on the hard stone, just sitting there, changing positions every five minutes trying to get comfortable. Finally, I just swung my legs up onto the wall and laid on it. What can I say; I was tired.

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, listening to the chatter of the people to my side and the birds above me.

“Watcha doing?” I opened my eyes abruptly to see a little blonde-headed girl looking down at me. She looked at me questionably.

“Why are you trying to sleep in a zoo,” she asked, puzzled. I laughed.

“I wasn’t...well, I mean, I was just resting. That’s what happens when you get old. You start getting tired and fall asleep-I mean rest- in zoos.” I told her, slowly sitting up.

“Oh...well, I’m not old and I’m tired.” She looked at me and exclaimed, “I’ve been here for five hours!”

“Wow, that’s impressive. Are you here with your family?”