Animal Tales – October 2019

(^62) Animal Tales
“Thattoo!”hermomshotback.
Katiespenttherestoftheafternoontrudging
around,makingsure alloftheanimalswere properly
fed.Shewasjustgoingthroughthemotionsuntilshe
madeherwaytothenewgator.ShewatchedasDaisy
swamaroundslowlywitha scowlonherface.The
swampcreature didn’t eventouchthefoodKatiehad
setoutandseemedtoalwayshavehereyeonthe
doorasif shewasexpectingsomeone.It reminded
KatieofhowsheactedthedayRaynamovedaway.
“You’respendinga lotoftimeoverhere,”Katie’s
momremarked,comingupbehindher.
“Yeah,”Katieadmitted.“We’reliketwopeasin an
unhappypod.”
“Hmm,”Katie’smomthoughtoutloud.
“What’s up,Mom?”
“You mightbeontosomething.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe she was separated from another alligator.”
“I thought you told me gators like to be alone,
though.”
“Larger male alligators do,” Katie’s mom explained.
“But smaller gators are usually found with buddies or
in groups.”
“Oh,” Katie nodded her head. “Wait, what if she was
separated from her friend? That’s terrible! We need to
do something.”
Katie’s mom smiled. “Calm down, kiddo. Let me
make a few phone calls to some of my ranger friends.
It maytakesometime,butwe’llgettothebottom of
this.I promise.”
Katiepacedthesanctuarytherestoftheafternoon,
tryingtogetthealligatortosmile.Nothingshedid
worked,butshedidn’tgiveup.
Shewassobusythatshedidn’tevennoticethat
herphonewasbuzzingawayin herbag.In fact,she
didn’t seethemissedcallnotificationsfromRayna
untilshewasgettingreadyforbedlaterthatnight.
“Youcancallhertomorrow,”hermomsaidsternly.
“Butmom,I ...”
“Ifyoucallhernow,youguyswillbeupallnight
talking.Andthatmeansyouwon’twakeupearly
enoughtocometoworkwithmeagaintomorrow.”
“Okay,you’re right,”Katiebegrudginglyadmitted.
SosheshotRaynaa quicktextbeforehandingher
phoneovertohermom.She loved her BFF, but there
was no question: She needed to go to the rehab
center tomorrow.
The next morning, Katie woke up before her alarm
went off. She was that excited to get back to the gator.
She even showered, got dressed and ate breakfast
before her mom.
“I haven’t seen you so excited about anything in a
while,” Katie mom laughed as they drove to the rehab
center.
Katie chuckled as they arrived and got out of the
car. She was starting to feel like her old self again as
she made a beeline for the alligator area. She came
Story We ❤
“OMG, I have to FaceTime Rayna. She’s never
going to believe this story. Please, Mom!”