I didn’t realize the island had a zoo, so I
was pretty excited. We all piled into Sawyer’s car and drove through the
jungle. The ‘zoo’ turned out to be a clearing with several small cages containing four
rabbits, a parrot, two turtles and a mongoose. In the yard roamed a handful of
chickens, two goats and a scrawny peacock that had seen better days. The boys
scrambled out and observed each animal with the intense interest one would
usually devote to lions or giraffes. When they got to the mongoose Rash
hurriedly walked around it, giving the cage a wide birth.
“Come on, Rash, the mongoose won’t hurt you.” Worm called
out to him.
“No! You know I hate that thing.”
He looked at me pleadingly, “I am not crazy, that thing
is creepy, it sizes you up, like he’s gauging your worth. He’s a killer! Don’t
go near him!”
He started shrieking as Sawyer and Worm grabbed him and
dragged him toward the cage.
“You have to face your fears, Rash. It’s not good for
you. He’s just a little, old, mongoose.”
Worm said convincingly.
“Besides he’s in a cage.” Sawyer added.
They dragged Rash to the cage.
“Look at how he’s
looking at me with those yellow eyes! Look! Did you see that? That look of
intelligence? He knows I hate him! He’s plotting! Let me go! Let me go!” He
shrieked while he tried to claw over both Sawyer and Worm. They finally dropped him
like a sack of potatoes and he ran off. I walked up to "the killer."
.... I thought he looked kind of cute. He was curled in a ball and half asleep."Some killer!" I thought.
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