The Silky Seal Pup (6 page)

Chapter Nine

The Big Day

For the next few days everyone at the Rescue Zoo rushed around getting ready. The paths were swept, the fences were painted and lines of cheerful bunting were hung between the trees. Zoe raced home from school every day to help and every night she crept into the zoo, collected Star, then helped the parrots rehearse.

Mr Pinch had been bossier than ever. He marched around with his clipboard, snapping orders. But he couldn’t find a thing to complain about, because as well as the zoo staff working extra hard, the animals were being especially tidy. The keepers noticed it too. “The orangutans swept up all the empty peanut shells in their enclosure today,” commented Stephanie, the large-mammal keeper. “It’s almost as if they know about the fundraiser, and want the zoo to look its best!”

Zoe and Meep winked at each. Of course, the animals
did
want to do everything they could to save their home!

When Zoe woke up on Saturday, the delicious smell of baking was drifting through the zoo. “Yum!” chirped Meep,
poking his little nose above the covers. “What’s that?”

“I think Great-Uncle Horace has been making carrot cake!” said Zoe. She hopped out of bed and looked outside. It was a sunny morning, and Zoe thought the Rescue Zoo looked even more beautiful than usual.

Great-Uncle Horace had set up a table in front of Higgins Hall, and was piling it high with tasty-looking cakes and biscuits to sell to hungry visitors. Outside the penguin enclosure, Will was organising a lucky dip. Frankie had stuck up a
life-size
drawing of a giraffe, and was going to colour in his long neck as the day went on, to show how much money had been raised. Next to the lake, Annie was putting out chairs for Zoe’s parrot show.

Zoe smiled at how lovely her home looked, but she felt nervous too. Everyone had worked so hard – especially the parrots. They had practised for hours every night, and were keen for every trick to be perfect! Zoe just hoped it was all worth it. After all, today was their only chance to save the Rescue Zoo.

“Come on, Meep,” she said, trying her best to sound cheerful. “We’ve got to put out our information packs before the visitors arrive!”

Zoe got dressed and rushed downstairs. Lucy had just finished printing the packs off, and was stuffing them into a big rucksack for Zoe. She’d added a picture of each animal to the front, and a price sticker in the corner. They looked even better than Zoe had hoped.

Zoe and Meep sped around the zoo, placing the packs outside each enclosure. As they dropped off the very last ones at Star’s enclosure, Zoe heard a grumpy voice and her heart sank. “Trust you two to be making a mess on a day like today! Why are you leaving bits of paper all round the zoo?” Mr Pinch snapped.

The grumpy zoo manager snatched up a copy of the pack that Zoe had written about Star and peered at it suspiciously. Zoe held her breath. If Mr Pinch stopped her
selling them, all their hard work would have been for nothing! But Mr Pinch looked surprised, then gave a small nod. “I see. This is quite a good idea. Well done, Miss Parker,” he said awkwardly. “I’m glad to see you helping out.”

As he marched off, Zoe and Meep stared after him in disbelief. Mr Pinch
liked
their idea? “Zoe, I think that was the first time Mr Pinch hasn’t told us off!” chirped Meep.

“I know. I can’t believe it!” Zoe replied. “Well, if
Mr Pinch
likes the packs, the visitors should too.”

Just then Lorna rushed past, speaking into her walkie-talkie. “Those posters seem to have done the trick. There are hundreds of visitors queuing to come inside!” she was saying.

Zoe and Meep grinned at each other hopefully. Lots of visitors was exactly what they wanted today!

Within five minutes of the gates opening, the zoo was bustling and buzzing with noise. People crowded outside each enclosure, chattering excitedly about the animals. There were queues for the raffle and the bouncy castle. Best of all, everyone seemed to love the information packs! Zoe felt really proud when she saw people reading them curiously.

Everything seemed to be going to plan – but Zoe couldn’t hang around for very long. It was time to get ready for the parrot show!

At twelve o’clock, Zoe and Meep met Annie outside the parrot enclosure. “I
can’t wait to see the show!” Annie said as she unlocked the gate. “You’ve been very mysterious about it.”

Ruby, Cupid and Rio were already waiting for them, their beady eyes bright and excited. With an eager chirp, Ruby fluttered on to Zoe’s arm, while her friends perched on Annie’s shoulders. The crowds on the path gasped as they walked back outside and headed towards the lake. “Aren’t they beautiful? And they look so intelligent!” Zoe heard one lady comment.

“They
are
very smart! And they’re just about to do a special show. If you’d like to watch, follow me,” explained Zoe, smiling at the lady.

Soon all the seats by the lake were filled, and more curious visitors were gathering
around. Zoe stood at the front, with Ruby perched on her right arm, Rio on her left and Cupid on her head. As the crowd stared at her, she suddenly felt a bit nervous. Then she spotted her mum and Annie standing together at the back, and they both gave her a huge smile. She took a deep breath.

“Welcome to the Rescue Zoo’s first ever parrot show!” she called. “My name is Zoe, and this is Ruby, Rio and Cupid.”

As Zoe introduced each parrot, they spread their wings and bobbed their heads, as if they were taking a bow. “Look, Mum! They know their names!” said a little girl in the front row.

“They’re very clever birds,” Zoe announced. “They all came to us because they were being kept as pets, and they
weren’t getting the care they needed. In fact, they’re just as smart as…an elephant!”

Ruby let out a loud trumpeting noise, and the audience gasped. “That was so real!” said a man in the second row, sounding very impressed.

“And…a lion!” said Zoe.

Cupid gave a powerful roar. It sounded so surprising, coming from his small orange beak! “Goodness me. That’s amazing!” a lady in the crowd told her friend.

“And even a whole troop of chimpanzees!” added Zoe.

Together, the parrots screeched and chattered noisily like the zoo’s chimps. The audience burst out laughing. Then, with Zoe’s encouragement, they started calling out the names of more animals. The parrots hooted, clucked, growled and grunted, with the crowd cheering them on.

Then, with a nod from Zoe, the parrots leaped into the air and started their flying routine. They zoomed right around the crowd, and hung upside down from the trees surrounding the lake. Finally Zoe held out a box of seeds to three children in the crowd and asked them to take a handful each. The parrots hopped up on to the children’s heads, leaned down and gently pecked the seeds out of their palms, making them giggle.

Everyone in the crowd stood up and clapped the clever parrots.

“I want to watch them again!” said one excited boy. “I love the parrot show!”

Zoe smiled at the crowd. “I’m glad you’ve all enjoyed it. If you’d like to see the parrots again, please help us to keep the Rescue Zoo open.” She held up a
bucket with DONATIONS written on it.

Lots of people put coins into the bucket as they left, chattering excitedly. Lucy and Annie rushed over to Zoe. “That was amazing!” spluttered Annie. “I can’t believe how clever our parrots are.”

“Well done, Zoe. You were brilliant,” added Lucy proudly.

Zoe peered into the bucket hopefully. It felt heavy! Lucy started to count it up and Zoe held her breath. “Well?” she asked as her mum finished counting.

“Well what?” Lucy said confusedly.

“Is it enough to save the zoo?”

“Oh, Zoe.” Lucy shook her head and Zoe’s heart sank. “You’ve done so well, but the Rescue Zoo needs a lot more money than this. We’ll have to see how the rest of the fundraiser goes.”

Zoe nodded sadly.

“You did a great job,” Lucy said gently, “and everyone enjoyed the show – including the parrots! That’s all that matters.”

“I think we should make it a weekly event!” Annie suggested brightly. “That is …if the zoo doesn’t close,” she added, her face falling a little.

As they packed the parrot show away, Zoe noticed her mum glancing at her watch and looking around anxiously. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

Lucy sighed. “I don’t know where Great-Uncle Horace is,” she explained. “There are lots of reporters here today, and he’s meant to be giving a speech outside the lion enclosure in five minutes. If the reporters write about the Rescue
Zoo in their newspapers, people all around the world will know how important it is. They might even send money to help keep it open!”

“Great-Uncle Horace might be selling cakes at his stall,” suggested Zoe.

Lucy shook her head. “He disappeared a while ago, and no one’s seen him since.”

Suddenly Mr Pinch bustled over. “The reporters have started to arrive,” he hissed. “Where is Mr Higgins? If he doesn’t show up soon, I’ll have to make the speech myself!”

Zoe and Meep glanced at each other anxiously. If grumpy old Mr Pinch talked to the reporters, it would be a disaster! Where
was
Great-Uncle Horace?

Chapter Ten

Chrysalis Surprise

As Annie took the parrots home, Zoe and Lucy followed Mr Pinch to the lion enclosure. Zoe wanted to ask her animal friends if they’d seen Great-Uncle Horace, but there were too many visitors around. So Meep scampered along the tops of the fences, calling down to them. “Has anyone seen Goo?” he chattered. “It’s very
important!” But no one had.

Zoe held her breath as Mr Pinch strolled importantly to the front of the crowd of reporters. “Quiet, please!” he said bossily. “My name is Percy Pinch. I am the zoo manager here at the Rescue Zoo. As you can see, I run a very tight ship. Messiness is not allowed! I’m sure your readers will be interested to know what a tidy place the Rescue Zoo is.” He nodded smugly.

Zoe heard Lucy groan under her breath. This was awful! Mr Pinch wasn’t making the zoo sound like a fun, exciting, special place. She glanced around and saw one of the reporters yawn, and another check his watch.
Great-Uncle Horace, where are you?
she thought desperately.

Mr Pinch took a deep breath, but he was interrupted by a squawk from the
air. Zoe looked up, her heart thumping. It was Kiki! The beautiful macaw landed in a nearby tree, and suddenly Great-Uncle Horace came rushing down the path.

“Thank goodness!” Lucy whispered to Zoe.

“I’m so sorry, everyone. I’m terribly late, aren’t I? I’ll explain why in just a moment!” Great-Uncle Horace announced, beaming. “My name is Horace Higgins, and I am the owner of the Rescue Zoo. Thank you to Mr Pinch here for that, er, interesting start.”
He tipped his safari hat to Mr Pinch, who looked annoyed at having been interrupted.

Great-Uncle Horace smiled at the reporters. “I hope you have all had a chance to explore the zoo. I am sure you will agree that it is a truly special and wonderful place. I have travelled all around the world, and I can assure you that there is nowhere else quite like the Rescue Zoo! Every creature who needs a home will find one here, from the biggest elephant to the smallest caterpillar.” His eyes twinkled. “And speaking of caterpillars, I’d like to show you all something very exciting. Follow me, please!”

He set off in the direction of Higgins Hall. Muttering curiously, the reporters
followed, with Zoe, Lucy and Meep at the back. “What’s going on?” Zoe asked her mum.

Lucy squeezed Zoe’s hand excitedly. “I don’t know. But it looks like Great-Uncle Horace has something up his sleeve!”

The crowd piled through the doors of Higgins Hall, and Great-Uncle Horace led them into the warm, colourful butterfly ballroom. Zoe suddenly knew why he’d brought everyone here, and her heart sank.
Oh, no
. He was going to show the reporters the chrysalises! What was so interesting about them?

But Great-Uncle Horace was pointing at three
empty
chrysalises. Fluttering just above them were three very small butterflies, about as big as Zoe’s littlest fingernail. Their delicate wings were
a deep rose-pink colour, with flecks of pure white in the middle. “Meet the Rescue Zoo’s newest creatures,” Great-Uncle Horace announced. “I discovered their chrysalises last week, in Alaska. I brought them back to the zoo and they hatched just half an hour ago. That’s why I was late for my speech!”

The reporters nodded, but they didn’t seem very excited. Then a short, bald man pushed to the front of the crowd and gasped. “I’m from
Buzz Weekly
, a special insect magazine,” he explained. “I’ve never
seen this type of butterfly before!”

“That’s because
no one
has seen this butterfly before. This is a brand-new species!” said Great-Uncle Horace proudly. “I suspected this when I found them, but I couldn’t be certain until they hatched. I think they might be the smallest butterflies in the world, although we’ll have to wait until the experts can come and measure them.” He glanced around, smiling. “Now, where is my great-niece, Zoe? Is she here?”

Zoe’s eyes opened wide in surprise. “I’m here,” she said, stepping forward.

“Ah, wonderful. Come here, my dear! There’s something else I must tell you about this butterfly.” Great-Uncle Horace beamed at Zoe. “Did you know that whenever a new species is discovered, the
person who found it is allowed to pick its name?”

Zoe shook her head, feeling puzzled.

“Well,” continued Great-Uncle Horace, smiling as one of the new butterflies landed on his finger, “that means I have the pleasure of naming this new species. And I’ve decided to name it after
you
, my dear. This butterfly will be called
Papilio
Zoeana
– ‘Zoe’s butterfly’.”

The crowd started chattering excitedly. Suddenly the room was lit up with everyone taking photos of the butterflies. “This is amazing!” the man from
Buzz Weekly
was saying. “I’m going to write a special feature all about this. Our readers will love it!”

The reporters all started scribbling in their notebooks and making excited
phone calls about the news. “Yes, that’s right, it may be the smallest butterfly in the world!” one shouted down the phone.

Great-Uncle Horace glanced at Zoe, then bent down, looking concerned. “Zoe, what’s wrong? I thought you’d be delighted to have the butterfly named after you.”

“I am! But…but I still feel sad,” Zoe
explained. “Everyone liked the fundraiser, and my parrot show went well, and the news about the butterfly is really exciting – but we still haven’t managed to save the Rescue Zoo. The butterflies won’t have a home if we have to close down!”

Great-Uncle Horace shook his head gently. “My dear, I tried to tell you, the Rescue Zoo won’t
have
to close down. You see, people will travel from all around the world to see this rare new butterfly. Butterfly experts will come in their thousands. The Rescue Zoo will be famous. Zoe’s butterfly has saved the Rescue Zoo!”

As the sun started to set that evening, Zoe and Meep wandered happily through the zoo, sharing a slice of carrot cake.

The last visitors were leaving, chatting about everything they’d seen at the zoo, and promising to come back soon. Will was packing away the lucky dip, whistling cheerily. Frankie was colouring in the last bit of her giraffe picture, to show that they’d reached their fundraising target. Everyone agreed that the day had been a huge success. The zoo was safe – with a little help from Zoe’s butterfly!

When the news about the rare arrival had spread through the zoo, the keepers had started cheering and hugging each other. Even Mr Pinch had looked pleased. “Nice, quiet, tidy creatures,” he’d commented, nodding. “Yes, I do like butterflies.”

One by one, the news had reached the other animals too. The hippos celebrated
by blowing huge bubbles in the mud. The flamingos squawked happily, and all the big cats joined together in one giant roar of delight. Meep was so excited, he hadn’t stopped bouncing around all afternoon! “Now I can stay here with you!” he’d chattered gleefully, jumping on to Zoe’s shoulder to give her a big hug. “Hooray!”

The first stars started twinkling above them, and Zoe found herself yawning. “I’m sleepy, Meep! It’s been a long day,” she told her little friend. “Maybe we should go home. Great-Uncle Horace said the man from
Buzz Weekly
is coming back tomorrow, to write his special piece about the butterfly. He wants to ask me some questions about living at the Rescue Zoo! So we’d better get a good night’s sleep.”

They started walking back to the cottage, then Zoe stopped suddenly. “Meep,” she gasped. “I’ve just remembered Star! We’ve been so busy, we still haven’t found a way to stop her being scared of the dark!”

“Let’s go and see her now!” chirped Meep.

Zoe’s tummy turned over as they rushed to the seal enclosure, and she opened the gate with her paw-print necklace. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten about the frightened seal pup! But as they burst into her room, Star lifted her head sleepily.

Zoe thought Star would be trembling, like the last time they’d seen her. But, to her surprise, the fluffy pup seemed perfectly happy!

Zoe bent down to give her a gentle stroke. “You don’t look nervous at all!” she said.

The tiny seal nodded proudly. With a contented squeak, she explained that she wasn’t frightened any more. She’d spent so many nights watching Zoe and the parrots rehearse for their show, she knew that there was nothing to be scared of
at night-time. The Rescue Zoo was a friendly, safe place to live, even in the dark!