I do not own Anaconda. I only own Michelle Harker.
Story Start
Working at a zoo in the reptile department was always my dream job as a child, and I reached that dream. I had been working at the Atlanta zoo for the last few years, and I had even done a few internships with other zoos in my early years. I always worked in the reptile departments since that was my field of study. I loved snakes, chameleons, komodo dragons, and more. My colleagues are great people, but they don't always give me the highest respect since I'm only 27 years old.
Today was just another prime example of my knowledge based on years and experience coming into play. I was helping one of my coworkers handle the feeding of the alligators, and he was getting too close to the animal's strike zone. "Don't get that close, you know he's cranky when it's cold like this," I told Bill, who should have known that Rodney the alligator was always cranky during the cold months of Georgia.
"I know what I'm doing Michelle, I've done this longer than you anyways," Bill muttered. He was one of the ones who was afraid that I would take his position in the department, which with his performance today I probably could. However, I was all right with learning and growing as time went on, not striving to steal something from somebody.
"Fine, just don't be mad when Rodney," I started say before watching Bill jump back when Rodney curved his body and almost bit down on Bill's leg. "Never mind," I said before throwing my piece of raw chicken in the water towards Rodney to distract the gator before it decided to eat Bill for lunch instead.
"Don't say a word, Michelle," Bill snapped before tossing the chicken somewhere in the exhibit and storming outside.
"It'll warm up soon, Rodney, so try not to eat Bill again when you're cranky, even though he might deserve it some days," I said with a wink of my green eyes to the gator, who happily ate the chicken.
My walk back to the department building was fun since I got to watch little kids ooh and ahh over the amazing animals in the zoo. I wished I could actually go see these animals in their natural habitats, but I was paying off student loans still so I was not going to be able to afford a trip any time soon.
The door to the department building opened easily like normal, but all I heard upon entering the building was Bill complaining about Rodney and the gator's temper. It's an alligator, not a pet poodle, and the man needed to remember that unless he truly did want to lose something.
"He may live in a zoo, but he's not tame," Zoey, my other coworker and best friend, grumbled to Bill. She had been here even longer than Bill so she had superiority in the department. "Hey Michelle, your babies are hatched," Zoey said excitedly when she saw me and my heart jumped.
"Babies," I cheered before rushing to the birthing area in our department to see the new snake hatchlings. They were baby pythons and they were beautiful. Their scales glinted in the light because of the egg's fluid still on them. They were in a terrarium with a light over them, but the babies were already searching out the entire area for food.
"You guys are gorgeous," I whispered watching the babies in awe. I have always loved snakes. I used to catch them and just watch them slither on my hand and arms as a child. Of course, my mother threw a fit like any mom would. However, she calmed down a bit when I showed her that I knew which snakes were ok to pick up and which were not. She still did not like them or the fact that I spent hours hunting snakes just to enjoy spending time with them, but she got more used to it the older I got.
"I even have a pet snake at home," I thought remembering the day I found an albino python that had been abandoned near my house. I took it in, nursed it back to health, and then next thing I know, it's my best friend. I swear the snake acted more like a cat at times with how comfortable it was moving around my house and resting on my shoulders while I watched my afternoon shows. It was only 4 ft. long. It would not grow any bigger, which was perfect.
"I'll have to tell Luna about you guys when I go home today, she'll be happy to hear about you guys being born healthy," I whispered to the little snakes moving around in the terrarium. One of them looked up at me and its bright yellow serpentine eyes, just made me smile more. The zoo had some great new additions, but it still stung inside since I wish I could see how they are in the wild.
"Quitting time," Zoey shouted making me jump away from the terrarium containing the hatchlings. "You can go home and coo over a snake, those babies will be fine," she said playfully since she knew how obsessed with snakes I was. I even had black snake scales tattooed down my spine, which my family had no clue about at all.
"Oh shush, Zoey, go home and coo over your man," I told her with a laugh since she changed boyfriends every two weeks. I was a single woman who loved snakes, and she was a man-eater, who hated commitment.
"Yeah, yeah, let's go before the traffic is too bad," Zoey said while pushing me out of the department and to the parking lot. The chill on the breeze made me wish she had given me time to put on my coat or at least crank my car before I had to drive home.
My fingers were starting to turn purple as I sat shivering in my car while driving home. My car took forever to heat up, and my condition did not help. I had always been extremely cold natured since before I was born. My mother had a recessive gene that I inherited, which made my blood not flow properly. Therefore, I did not have as high of a body temperature, and I would freeze easier than most.
Getting home was always the most comforting part of the day. Luna was sitting contently under the large lamp that I left on in a corner of the living room. I never left it on in the summer, just the winter. She lifted her head and slowly uncoiled herself while I tossed my keys and bag to the coffee table.
"Hey Luna, the python babies hatched today at the zoo. They were adorable," I said happily while picking her up and putting her around my shoulders. I laughed as she rested her head on top of mine. "I take it you're happy to hear the news," I muttered while walking towards my answering machine, which was flashing.
"Ms. Harker, I'm Dr. Steven Cale, and I have heard about your extensive knowledge about the reptiles and other animals located in the Amazon jungle. I have been advised by my guides that having your expertise down here will help to keep my crew safe. I have already called your employer and spoken with him about you joining my expedition. He has given his consent, and your airfare and travel arrangements have already been made if you decide to accept. Please call me back," the answering machine continued to play as I stared at it in shock.
Luna rubbed her face against mine when I became still and tense. I rubbed her head with my hand before picking up the phone. I had always wanted something like this, some miracle like this to happen. How could I say no? "Dr. Cale, hi, yes this is Michelle Harker, I would love to join you on your documentary trip," I said without hesitation in my voice as I brushed some of my dark brown hair out of my face. "Looks like we're going on a trip, Luna," I thought happily as I went over the details and arrangements with Dr. Cale and then my boss at the zoo. "Time for my adventure," I thought happily wondering what the Amazon jungle had in store for me.