The Visit to the Zoo

 The three friends wandered through the zoo. “Hey Jake,” said Midge. “Look at this strange looking animal.”

Jake stood staring at the animal and looked around for the sign that told them what it was. He walked to the sign and stood reading. “It says it is a warthog,” said Jake.

“Warthog?” said Midge.

“That's a funny name,” said Booker-T. “What is a warthog?”

“Does it have a lot of warts?” asked Midge.

“This says he is in the pig family,” said Jake.

“I never saw a pig that looked like him,” said Booker-T. “He looks funny.”

“He sure looks different,” said Midge.

“Hey,” said the warthog as he walked close to the fenced area. “Why are you out of your cages?”

“We don't have a cage,” said Midge.

“Why?” asked the warthog. “

“You are a zoo animal,” said Jake. “We are house pets.”

“What is your name?” asked Midge.

“They call me Butch,” said the warthog.

“Did you know you are a pig?” asked Booker-T.

“I'm not a pig,” sighed Butch. “I try to eat good.”

“A pig is a type of animal,” said Jake. “Not how you eat.”

“It's nice to meet you Butch,” said Midge. “We are going to check out some other animals.”

“Will you come back to talk to me?” asked Butch. “It gets lonesome with no one to talk to.”

“Sure,” said Jake. “We will come back to say hi before we go home.”

The three walked along the pathway as they looked around for any zoo worker so they could hide.

“Look at this animal,” said Booker-T. “He kind of looks like cat or maybe a dog.”

“The sign says he is a Hyena,” said Jake

“Hi there Mr. Hyena,” said Midge. “What is your name?”

“Who are you?” laughed the hyena.

“I'm Midge.”

“They call me Giggles,” said the hyena.

“Cute name,” smiled Midge.

“Why do they call you Giggles?” asked Booker-T.

“I think because I laugh all the time,” said Giggles. “What do they call you?”

“I'm Booker-T.”

“Why do they call you Booker-T?” laughed Giggles.

“I don't know,” sighed Booker-T.

“Look out Midge,” called Jake. “Run!”

“Got to go Giggles!” said Midge running after Jake. “What's wrong?”

“Someone from the zoo is coming,” said Jake. “Keep running.”

They quickly ran behind a building they saw and laid down behind some bushes.. “Do you see him?” asked Booker-T.

Jake peaked out from the bushes and looked around the area. “I don't see him,” said Jake. “We better wait for a little while before we go back out there.”

“We can stay here and smell all that wonderful food,” said Midge. “Do you smell it Jake? I”m so hungry.”

“Me too, Jake,” said Booker-T. “How are we going to get some food?”

“There are a lot of people out there eating,” said Midge. “Maybe we can beg for some food.”

“We could just go out there and sit down and watch them eat,” said Jake. “Maybe they would share if they saw us just sitting there.”

“Do you see anyone out there?” asked Midge.

“Yes, there are a lot of people,” said Booker-T.

“I mean,” laughed Midge. “Do you see any zoo workers?”

“Oh,” said Booker-T as he peaked out from behind the bushes. “No, I don't see any zoo people.”

“Lets go,” said Midge.

They slowly walked out from behind the bushes and looked around at the people sitting there eating all that good smelling food. “Do you think someone will share their food with us?” asked Jake.

“Maybe,” said Midge.

“We didn't think about this,” said Booker-T.

“Think about what?” asked Midge.

“Think about coming to the zoo and no food to eat,” said Jake.

“I'm hungry,” said Booker-T.

“We can dance,” said Midge.

“Dance?” asked Jake. “Do you think they will give us food if we dance?”

“Remember those guys at the cafe?” asked Midge. “They gave us something to eat when we danced for them.”

“I remember,” smiled Booker-T. “We were so good.”

“Lets go,” said Midge. “We can try.”

“Okay,” agreed Jake. “You start and we will follow you.”

Midge stood up on her back legs and started dancing around near a table where a young boy was eating a hamburger. “Look Mom,” said the little boy. “That dog is dancing.”

“I think it's begging for something to eat,” said the little boy's mom.

“I don't want anymore to eat,” said the little boy. “Can I give it something to eat?”

“Sure,” said the mom patting the little boy on the back.

The little boy laid the food on the ground for Midge and the other two. Midge looked up at the little boy and grabbed the burger and went back to Jake and Booker-T to share. “I found some more food here in this barrel,” said Booker-T.

“Do you think that food is okay to eat?” asked Midge.

“I saw someone throw it in there and I grabbed it out right away,” said Booker-T. “I hope it is okay.”

They shared the food they got and as they were finishing up, Booker-T looked up to see two zoo workers coming toward them.

“Hey you!” called one of them.. “Come on.”

The other held out his hands to the three of them. He had a plate of food, he slowly set down on the ground. “It's okay,” he said. “Come eat.”

“I'm hungry,” said Jake. “Do you think it's okay to eat the food?”

“I don't know,” said Booker-T.

“I don't think they will hurt us,” said Midge. “Do you?”

“I think we are in the zoo and not suppose to be,” said Jake.

“Maybe,” smiled Midge.

“I'm hungry,” said Booker-T. “Lets eat.”

As they ate the food from the plate, the two zoo workers stood by and watched. When they finished and stood looking up at them, they started waving their arms at them.

“Okay guys,” said one of the young men. “Lets go. You don't belong here in the zoo.”

“Maybe it's time to go home,” said Jake. “We still have to get on the train.”

“Okay Jake,” said Midge.

The three walked to the front gate with the two young men following behind to make sure they left.

“There's the train coming now,” said Booker-T.

“We better hurry and get on the back,” said Midge.

“Let's go,” said Jake.

“They ran and jumped onto the back of the train and laid down. “Next time we will go to the little zoo,” said Midge. “And stay close to home.”

Jake and Booker-T agreed as the train began to roll along the track.