My Golden Eyed Lover

Chapter 5

"Bret where's the truck?!" I called out. The truck carrying the new cat was late. Completely late, by two hours. 

"I don't know. He said he'd be here when I called him thirty minutes ago." Bret answered after coming in to the office to grab some papers. He's been working for the zoo for three years now. And before that had worked at another zoo. I offered him the chance to be assigned to the new cat coming in and he accepted it. 

"Where's the number? I'll call him again. We can't keep the zoo closed any longer."

It was a custom to close the zoo when a new cat came in. Too much excitement, too much stress, bad things happen. Wouldn't want that. Bret came over handed me a piece of paper with the truck drivers phone number. I picked up the phone and gave the driver a call. The phone rang twice before someone answered.

"Look, buddy. I told you I'd get there and I will."

"That's great but you see I need to open my zoo now and I'd appreciate the fact that our cat be here before then." I said to the guy. 

"I'll, uh, be there soon."

"Where are you now?"

"Just down the road."

"Where you've been for the past two hours? Look if your not here in five minutes we won't be doing business with your company anymore." I hung up. Hopefully that would give the guy a good lecture. I leaned back in the chair I sat in and sighed heavily. I rubbed my face before running my hands through my hair. It was a good thing I learnt a few things over the years of watching my parents deal with all this. I sat up and grabbed a clipboard from the cabinet behind me and a few papers from the desk. Then I left the office to catch up with Bret, Gage, Stephanie and a few other workers.

"Alright guys, truck should be here in five. Lets get this done quickly and open up." 

Everyone answered me as if we were a coach and football team getting ready for a game. I laughed to myself. I truly loved working here.

"Hey Alex." I heard Stephanie whisper to me. "You really have changed, ya know?" 

"Who said I changed?"

"Everyone! You've definitely gotten some back bone since that time with your Dad. And now all the workers are starting to look up to you."

I was a bit shocked, yeah sure I was a bit of a wimp back then, but its only been a few days since then, how could I change. Well, I guess I could. Maybe trying to prove to them I'm bot like my Dad. I smiled to Stephaine.

"Thanks Steph, I'm glad you guys haven't given up on this zoo."

"Give up! No way! I love this place!" She skipped away to stand and pester Bret. He was three years older than us. Which surprised me on how young he was when he began working with animals and in zoos. 

The truck finally showed up three minutes after I hung up the phone with the guy. He seemed annoyed with our frequent calling, but I myself was annoyed as well. We managed to finish the job quickly. We hooked up the gates we used to guide the cats from truck to habitat and allowed the cat to make its way to its new habitat. With the cat in the habitat and fed, I paid the truck driver less than half what we arranged to pay and left. He was pissed off about it but he deserved it. 

"Good work everyone, that went faster than planned."

Everyone left to do there own work. I left to the office to organised the paper work I filled out. Once I finished I headed for the house to announce the news with my Mom and let her go over the finances. Quickly, after finishing with her I made my way to the front of the zoo to open it. There were all ready some angry customers for having to wait so long, but they seemed to get over their anger once they saw the new cat. Cat in the exhibit, finances done, and papers organised, I was finally able to go and see Cody like I had promised. He was probably pacing in his exhibit. I ran to Cody's exhibit, opening the gate and walking in.