Jodi's Day At The Zoo

The sun was warm when Jodi woke up that fine summer day. She stretched and yawned her sharp teeth sparkling in the sunshine. Outside her enclosure she could hear the keepers preparing the zoo for a new day of visitors. Their voices were distant, happy, opening shops and preparing food. Jodi stretched again, her long spotted tail flicking gently as she gazed about. The sun was just topping the horizon. The new day cast gentle light throughout her enclosure while Jodi sat atop her favorite sleeping branch appreciating the beautiful view. She could see almost everything from atop her branch. 

Jodi was a young spotted leopard. Her exhibit was nice and she had few complaints. However, slow days at the zoo were boring for Jodi, so she devised a plan. It was quite a brilliant plan in her opinion. She had been working on it for weeks. There was a small hole on the corner of the exhibit that leaves hid from view. For the past month Jodi had been slowly digging away at the dirt beneath the small hole in the fence. After hours of work she finally had a hole large enough for a small leopard to squeeze through. Today, she was going to get out. 

“What’s the worst that could happen,” Jody smiled to herself as she squeezed through her carefully hewn out hole, “Who's going to miss one little leopard?”

With a small squeak of discomfort and a wiggle of her tail she was through the fence. Nervous yet excited she headed out into the zoo. The enclosure right across from hers held the tigers. Often Jodi and Sam the tiger would pass slow visitor days talking and joking. Sam stared in wonder as she passed by. 

“Jodi, what are you doing,” he questioned, “You know we aren’t supposed to be out!”

Jodi opened her mouth to respond when a shout from behind her made her jump.

“Hey!” The voice called, “Stop, how did you get out?”

Jodi flashed Sam a big grin as she darted away with a flick of her tail. She could hear the zookeeper panting, his feet slapping the pavement as he gave chase. However, Jodi was smaller and faster. She squeezed through another fence and disappeared into the trees. After walking along for a few minutes a voice hissed from the shadows.

“Hey, pretty kitty, you got any food?” Confused, Jodi looked around. “Down here.”

She looked down and hidden in the shadows was a large rat. Jodi had seen rats before, but this particular rat was quite large. Alarmingly large! His beady little eyes glinted with hunger as he moved from the shadows. Jodi gulped.

“No, I am very sorry Mr. Rat, but I don’t have any food.”

“Shame,” hissed the rat, “I could go for some fresh meat right now.”

The rat moved forward being  joined by two other alarmingly large rats. Jodi backed away. The hairs along her back raised in alarm. A bush behind her rustled, Jodi spun around and saw more alarmingly large rats emerging from the bushes. The rats moved closer, closing the circle around Jodi. Without warning they pounced, Jodi jumped straight into the air. Below her the rats ran headlong into each other. They cried in distress as Jodi snagged a low hanging branch.

“After her!” The largest rat screamed disentangling himself.

Jodi flew through the trees as fast as she could with the rats nipping at her heels. She leapt from limb to limb as they raced through the trees, Jodi barely managing to stay ahead of them. At last she burst from behind the trees blinded by the sudden sunlight. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision. There, before her, stood an incredibly surprised zookeeper. Jodi raced around the immobile zookeeper and went racing down the walkway, disappearing around the corner. I have met nicer animals in my day, Jodi thought to herself, never did much care for rats.

She paused for a moment to catch her breath. As she lay hidden in the shadows a gentle breeze kicked up and with it came a collection of wonderful smells. Jodi inhaled deeply, remembering how everyday she would watch people walk past flaunting their delicious smelling treats. She wanted to try one. Now was her chance! Following her nose Jodi sneaked carefully through the zoo until she found a food cart.

The delicious aromas drifting from the cart were the best Jodi had ever encountered. She could hear two zookeepers chatting quietly with food sizzling on the grill. A sudden squawk from the radio on a zookeepers belt made all three of them jump.

“We have a spotted leopard loose in the zoo. She was last seen headed in your direction. Will you take a look around and see if you can find her? Over.” 

The zookeeper took the radio from her belt and replied. “Sure thing Stu, over and out.”

The moment the zookeepers abandoned the cart, Jodi climbed in. Food like this only exists in dreams, she thought. There were hamburger patties sizzling on a grill next to a small stack waiting to be put on buns. Fearing the return of the zookeepers Jodi devoured three patties and disappeared as quickly as she had arrived.

She continued her journey passing numerous enclosures. The deer who would have looked quite tasty, if she were not full of hamburgers, the birds, the giraffes, and many other animals stared curiously at the little leopard as she passed. She had a word with the lions, played catch with some monkeys, chased the peacocks around the square, and then raced with the cheetahs. Finally, she came to the sea lions. 

Never before had she seen so much water. She stood at the edge transfixed. At that moment a zookeeper who was frantically searching for a lost leopard rounded the corner.

“There she is!” He cried.

His cry was so loud that it made Jodi jump with surprise. She slipped and fell into the icy cold water. She landed with a splash and paddled frantically. There was water everywhere, how would she ever get out? The zookeeper also made a splash as he jumped in after the poor leopard. He grabbed Jodi under her arms, carefully avoiding her scrabbling claws. The two collapsed on the side of the sea lion exhibit and gasped for breath. At that moment another zookeeper came running with a soft warm towel.

“We have been looking everywhere for you!” The zookeeper scolded as water dripped from his nose. “We had to postpone opening the zoo just to find you.”

Wet and tired Jodi allowed herself to be wrapped into the towel. It had been a very exciting day. Together the zookeepers walked her back to her exhibit and placed her gently inside. Jodi collapsed on the ground in a puddle of sunshine and smiled to herself. It had been a fun adventure but she was glad to be home. 

“Jodi!” Sam’s voice called from his enclosure, “How was it, you know, outside?”

“It was wonderful.” Jodi smiled as she stretched out in the sun, “Next time you will have to come with me.”