The phone rang loud in my ear the next morning. With a moan, I rolled over and glared
evilly at the clock/phone. It's big red numbers flashed 5:20 at me. I knocked the phone
off the hook and yawn before craddling it to my ear. I muddered something towards the
sound of hello as I rested my head back down. " Morning, Raye! Wakey wakey!" the voice
at the other end said in an all too cheery voice for that early in the morning.
" Serena? This had better be good!" I moaned, wanting to strangle for waking me up so
early." Oh, Raye. Don't be such a big ol' grouch. Lita just called me a few minutes ago.
We're all booked for some tour this morning. We need to meet out front of the lobby in
five minutes. See you then, sleepyhead!" she replied as she hung up. I stared at the phone
in disbelief while it obnoxiouly beeped the dial tone at me. " No frickin way," I yelled
into my pillow. After regaining control of myself, I rolled out of bed and quickly got
ready for the tour.
The nine of us and three other elderly couples boarded a big blue bus later that morning
around 5:30 to go visit the Zoo.
" Hey, Raye. I was talking to that guy who works here last night, the one who you've been
hanging around a lot."
" And..."
" He sugguested going on this trip. Said it was one of the best Zoo's in the entire world!
Great place for couples too! Did I ever tell you that he reminds me of my old boyfriend.."
" Lita! Do I look like I care? And another thing, I'm not a couple like all you guys are!
Why must we always bring that up? I wish I had a decent boyfriend who treats me like the
goddess I am, but I'm not having much luck with that right now, am I? So, DROP IT!"
" Ok, ok. Calm down. And here I thought you were a morning person."
" Not on vacation I'm not...sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that, Lita. I'm just
cranky. Got in late last night."
" That's ok. Go to sleep. We'll wake you up when we get there."
* * *
" Please follow me folks!" the tour guide said as she led us through a special entrance.
We walked through the entrance gate and came face-to-face with a giant green pond full
of big, pink flamingos. Our guide talked a few minutes and used wild jestures towards
the birds as she explained a little bit about them. I tuned her out and watched the
awkward birds as they stood on one foot and bent their necks into odd positions. Mina
elbowed me to get my attention. I pulled my gaze away from the flamingos and realized
that the group was moving on. Mina and I quickly caught up with the rest of them as the
mountain goat of a tour guide charged up the path talking away about the plants in the
area.
We walked down a long, steep path covered by vegetation on both sides. The path ended up
near the tigers that sat lazily on some rocks, trying to hide from the burning sun.
" Looks like Serena," I joked with Lita as I pointed to the one stretched out. " Not
funny!" squealed Serena as she hugged Darien tighter. Lita and I just laughed as we moved
on to see the panther in the next exhibit over. I then noticed a food stand up ahead.
Dying from the heat, I decided to go ahead of the group and buy myself a large drink.
A few minutes later, I was sitting in the cool shade sipping on a Coke. I put my purse
down on the table and started to dig through it for my sunglasses. Suddenly, a hand
reached out and grabbed my purse. I looked up to see some kid running away with my purse
in hand. Infuriated, I stood up too quick and knocked the chair over and started to run
after him. " Theif! Give it back!" I screamed as I ran after him. He led me on a long
chase full of twisting turns, only looking back to see how close I was getting once. I
was about ready to collapse when the kid was knocked down by some tall, brown-haired guy
who he had ran into. As I ran up, the guy had the kid pinned down to the ground. The kid
tried his hardest to get free, but gave up after awhile, realizing that he was beat.
" This yours?" the guy questioned me in a British accent as he held up my purse. " Yes,
thank you. The little brat stole it and ran off," I replied. His blue eyes looked over me
for a moment before he looked back down at the purse. A few seconds later,two security
guards came up to the kid and dragged him away with them, promising that he'd be taken
care of.
" You should be more careful next time. He almost got away with it. I had my wallet stolen
from me last week."
" Yes, yes...I will. Nice take down, by the way."
" It was no big deal. I use to play football. I use to live for the thrill of knocking
people over."
" Is there any way I can repay you? My whole life is practically in this bag right now!"
" Oh, there's no need for that. Was pure luck that I was there."
" Let her purse go!" screamed a voice from behind me. I quickly turned around and saw the
girls coming up to us with Lita in the lead. " Oh, no.." I muttered as they came closer
with angry looks on thier faces. " Drop it," Lita demanded as she stood next to me. The
guy gave me a questioning look. " Lita, don't," I said," It's not what you think. He saved
my purse. I never did get your name.." Lita backed down instantly, but never fully let
down her guard. The guy smiled a little and handed over my purse. " Take care," he simply
said as he walked away from us. I felt bad for him since Lita had practically jumped him.
He looked back at me before he turned the corner and was out of sight.
" Sorry. I thought he was the purse-napper."
" Oh, it's ok Lita. Hey, where are all the guys?"
" The tour ended and we got a few hours to explore on our own."
" A mighty good thing too. I couldn't keep up with that lady!"
" Poor Amy. The guys went off on their own to go see their close relatives, the monkeys!"
" (laughing) Good one, Mina."
After talking a little while longer, we decided to go to the petting zoo. Halfway there,
we stopped to buy some drinks. As I suspected, Serena had sneaked over to the ice cream
cart and bought two ice cream sandwhiches and was chowing down on them by the time I got
near the front of the line. I rolled my eyes at her before placing the order. I pulled out
some money to pay for the drinks when I noticed a small piece of paper laying near my
sunglasses. I quickly grabbed the tray of drinks and put it down on our table. I pulled
out the paper and unfolded it. I noticed Amy watching me, so I quickly said," Receipt from
buying the drinks. I want to make sure I got the right amount of change back." She nodded
her head before going back to studying the map. I flattened out the note. The name Jesse
was written on it with a small drawing of a purse below it. Next to the drawing was a 7
digit number, which had to be a phone number. I smiled as I realized that the note was
from the guy who had saved my purse.
evilly at the clock/phone. It's big red numbers flashed 5:20 at me. I knocked the phone
off the hook and yawn before craddling it to my ear. I muddered something towards the
sound of hello as I rested my head back down. " Morning, Raye! Wakey wakey!" the voice
at the other end said in an all too cheery voice for that early in the morning.
" Serena? This had better be good!" I moaned, wanting to strangle for waking me up so
early." Oh, Raye. Don't be such a big ol' grouch. Lita just called me a few minutes ago.
We're all booked for some tour this morning. We need to meet out front of the lobby in
five minutes. See you then, sleepyhead!" she replied as she hung up. I stared at the phone
in disbelief while it obnoxiouly beeped the dial tone at me. " No frickin way," I yelled
into my pillow. After regaining control of myself, I rolled out of bed and quickly got
ready for the tour.
The nine of us and three other elderly couples boarded a big blue bus later that morning
around 5:30 to go visit the Zoo.
" Hey, Raye. I was talking to that guy who works here last night, the one who you've been
hanging around a lot."
" And..."
" He sugguested going on this trip. Said it was one of the best Zoo's in the entire world!
Great place for couples too! Did I ever tell you that he reminds me of my old boyfriend.."
" Lita! Do I look like I care? And another thing, I'm not a couple like all you guys are!
Why must we always bring that up? I wish I had a decent boyfriend who treats me like the
goddess I am, but I'm not having much luck with that right now, am I? So, DROP IT!"
" Ok, ok. Calm down. And here I thought you were a morning person."
" Not on vacation I'm not...sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that, Lita. I'm just
cranky. Got in late last night."
" That's ok. Go to sleep. We'll wake you up when we get there."
* * *
" Please follow me folks!" the tour guide said as she led us through a special entrance.
We walked through the entrance gate and came face-to-face with a giant green pond full
of big, pink flamingos. Our guide talked a few minutes and used wild jestures towards
the birds as she explained a little bit about them. I tuned her out and watched the
awkward birds as they stood on one foot and bent their necks into odd positions. Mina
elbowed me to get my attention. I pulled my gaze away from the flamingos and realized
that the group was moving on. Mina and I quickly caught up with the rest of them as the
mountain goat of a tour guide charged up the path talking away about the plants in the
area.
We walked down a long, steep path covered by vegetation on both sides. The path ended up
near the tigers that sat lazily on some rocks, trying to hide from the burning sun.
" Looks like Serena," I joked with Lita as I pointed to the one stretched out. " Not
funny!" squealed Serena as she hugged Darien tighter. Lita and I just laughed as we moved
on to see the panther in the next exhibit over. I then noticed a food stand up ahead.
Dying from the heat, I decided to go ahead of the group and buy myself a large drink.
A few minutes later, I was sitting in the cool shade sipping on a Coke. I put my purse
down on the table and started to dig through it for my sunglasses. Suddenly, a hand
reached out and grabbed my purse. I looked up to see some kid running away with my purse
in hand. Infuriated, I stood up too quick and knocked the chair over and started to run
after him. " Theif! Give it back!" I screamed as I ran after him. He led me on a long
chase full of twisting turns, only looking back to see how close I was getting once. I
was about ready to collapse when the kid was knocked down by some tall, brown-haired guy
who he had ran into. As I ran up, the guy had the kid pinned down to the ground. The kid
tried his hardest to get free, but gave up after awhile, realizing that he was beat.
" This yours?" the guy questioned me in a British accent as he held up my purse. " Yes,
thank you. The little brat stole it and ran off," I replied. His blue eyes looked over me
for a moment before he looked back down at the purse. A few seconds later,two security
guards came up to the kid and dragged him away with them, promising that he'd be taken
care of.
" You should be more careful next time. He almost got away with it. I had my wallet stolen
from me last week."
" Yes, yes...I will. Nice take down, by the way."
" It was no big deal. I use to play football. I use to live for the thrill of knocking
people over."
" Is there any way I can repay you? My whole life is practically in this bag right now!"
" Oh, there's no need for that. Was pure luck that I was there."
" Let her purse go!" screamed a voice from behind me. I quickly turned around and saw the
girls coming up to us with Lita in the lead. " Oh, no.." I muttered as they came closer
with angry looks on thier faces. " Drop it," Lita demanded as she stood next to me. The
guy gave me a questioning look. " Lita, don't," I said," It's not what you think. He saved
my purse. I never did get your name.." Lita backed down instantly, but never fully let
down her guard. The guy smiled a little and handed over my purse. " Take care," he simply
said as he walked away from us. I felt bad for him since Lita had practically jumped him.
He looked back at me before he turned the corner and was out of sight.
" Sorry. I thought he was the purse-napper."
" Oh, it's ok Lita. Hey, where are all the guys?"
" The tour ended and we got a few hours to explore on our own."
" A mighty good thing too. I couldn't keep up with that lady!"
" Poor Amy. The guys went off on their own to go see their close relatives, the monkeys!"
" (laughing) Good one, Mina."
After talking a little while longer, we decided to go to the petting zoo. Halfway there,
we stopped to buy some drinks. As I suspected, Serena had sneaked over to the ice cream
cart and bought two ice cream sandwhiches and was chowing down on them by the time I got
near the front of the line. I rolled my eyes at her before placing the order. I pulled out
some money to pay for the drinks when I noticed a small piece of paper laying near my
sunglasses. I quickly grabbed the tray of drinks and put it down on our table. I pulled
out the paper and unfolded it. I noticed Amy watching me, so I quickly said," Receipt from
buying the drinks. I want to make sure I got the right amount of change back." She nodded
her head before going back to studying the map. I flattened out the note. The name Jesse
was written on it with a small drawing of a purse below it. Next to the drawing was a 7
digit number, which had to be a phone number. I smiled as I realized that the note was
from the guy who had saved my purse.