The zoo was tiny. Like really tiny. Super-duper tiny. It was fit for four animals to live in, and especially a lion and a zebra who lived next door to each other.
As soon as the sun had fallen in the sky, time after sundown had approached.
And then, a loud voice occured out of the blue.
Raising his torso from the ledge he was resting on, the curious lion shot a glance in the direction of the familiar voice. It was a loud, upbeat, and such a perky voice. His eyes widened in excitement, and a large grin ran across his rims in an instant. The lion rose up to his feet.
"Marty?" he called out.
"ALEX!" Marty shot back, returning the smile.
Alex scratched the back of his head, catching his mane in the process.
"Marty, why are you wearing a cape? I mean, it's awesome! Red is an amazing colour!" Alex remarked.
At the time Marty arrived, the zebra shook his head while a chuckle rumbled in his throat. He lifted himself up onto his hind feet and placed his paws onto the concrete ledge. The toothy grin he wore never seemed to fade away.
Marty exclaimed, "Alex, you really don't get it, do ya? It's your birthday, man!" Marty leaned in and proceeded to whisper so that the other two animals couldn't hear, "I wanted it to be a surprise! This cape's for you. Sorry I took forever to get ya a present, but I thought it's better to buy it for ya now rather than tomorrow."
Taking the crimson cape from Marty's back, Alex went on to clip the collar around his neck so that the cape would descend down his back. The lion glanced over his shoulder, seeing the cascade of scarlet covering his tan fur. Alex's beam grew much, much wider, and it showed his set of sharp teeth.
"You bought this cape?"
"Hell yeah, man! It cost me all my savings!" Marty answered, "I mean, I was only saving up real cash this entire month but-"
"Your ENTIRE savings?" Alex panicked, feeling his heart rate drum ever so rapidly. His gaze shot back at Marty, and this time, his grin shortened into a frown.
"Yeah, my entire savings," answered the zebra.
"You know what that means, Marty? That means you wasted all your money - real dollars - on a birthday present for me. That doesn't make me feel good, man. It doesn't make me feel good at all."
That little worry earned Alex a loud, heartened laugh.
"Don't be stupid, Alex. I was saving up real cash just for your birthday," stated Marty with a noticeable eyeroll. He lifted his paws from the ledge and pressed them onto either side of Alex's mouth, forcing a smile to stretch across Alex's rims, "I suggest you turn that frown upside down."
Alex glanced off to one side, making the attempt to break eye contact with the zebra.
"Thanks, I guess. I mean, the cape's cool. Don't spend all your money on me next time..." Alex groaned, just letting Marty play around with his face.
"Stop thinkin' about the money side of stuff and just enjoy the present. I can do more work for those penguins anyway. They pay a fair wage."
Marty didn't budge from Alex's face; he still forced the lion to smile.
"Fine, sure," exhaled the lion.
"I knew you'd accept the gift! It looks great on ya!"
His gaze settled on the zebra's another time, and finally, a genuine smile painted his rims. Alex wrapped his arms around Marty's neck and pulled the zebra in for a hug.
"Thanks, Marty."
Marty responded with a cheeky comment, "I knew you'd like it! You'll never stop surprising me!"
That came to a halt when a very loud noise bellowed out from the speakers of the night clock, giving the signal that it was now nine o'clock in the evening.
