The Zoo

Maya woke to a knock on her door. Her room was the smallest bedroom at the Dursley's while her brother had the cupboard under the stairs. She didn't have many possessions, or nice clothes; but it was at least better than the hand-me-downs her twin was given when their cousin Dudley grew out of them. Another hard rapping noise on her bedroom door made her jump up and getting dressed as fast as she could.

"Move it! I want you in the kitchen to cook breakfast with your brother. Everything needs to be perfect for Dudley's birthday!" Aunt Petunia's voice was shrill and angry, and Maya did her best to get as presentable as possible before heading down the stairs.

When she entered the kitchen Harry was turning over the bacon and Uncle Vernon grunted in her direction as a morning greeting. Even though she was treated with as much contempt as her brother, she was ignored even more than her brother most of the time; like when Uncle Vernon barely said a word to or about her while he complained about Harry, and barked at him all the time. Maya kept her thoughts to herself as she quietly made her way to the stove to start scrambling the eggs. As soon as Uncle Vernon turned his eyes back to the paper and Aunt Petunia starting fussing over Dudley, Maya and Harry struck up a conversation.

"Good morning little bro."

"Mornin' sis."

"Do you think we'll be stuck at Mrs. Figgs again today?"

"Probably, at least we'll get a decent lunch even if it's a bit boring there," Harry answered.

Maya had finished scrambling the eggs and both kids took as much as they could for themselves, before putting the rest on the table. After Dudley made himself look very dumb after counting his presents, the phone in the hallway had rung. They were quietly eating their breakfasts when Aunt Petunia had gotten off of the telephone and had announced, "Mrs. Figg broke her leg, she can't take em' today."

Maya and Harry exchanged a hopeful look while Uncle Vernon tried to pawn them off to Aunt Marge or one of Petunia's gossip friends.

"You could just let us stay here," Harry had said hopefully.

"What? And come back to find the house in ruins!" Petunia shrieked.

"We won't blow up the house..." Maya had tried to interject.

Maya was crossing her fingers behind her back, if they could miraculously stay they wouldn't have to sneak around as much to have a little bit of fun in the house. That was a very big If though. After a few more words were exchanged Dudley started to make a scene. Maya couldn't help, but roll her eyes when Dudley started to pretend to cry and complain about them ruining everything. The door bell had rung and Dudley shut up. Hardly daring to believe it Maya was in the car going to the Zoo for the first time in her life. It was very cramped since she was almost in her brother's lap while he was squashed up against the window. As usual Uncle Vernon started complaining about something or other. Most of the time it was about work, the bank, or Harry, but today it had been about motorcycles.

"Roaring along like hoodlums..." Uncle Vernon was muttering.

"I had a dream about a motorcycle once. It was flying," Harry had said without thinking.

Uncle Vernon had nearly crashed into the car in front of them, and bellowed, "MOTORCYCLES DON'T FLY!" He gave Harry a nasty look, before continuing on to the zoo.

Maya had known better not to say anything, and had learned a long time ago it was best to keep your mouth shut around Uncle Vernon. She hated fighting and confrontations, and unless the situation warranted it, she tried to stay in the shadows when her brother recklessly talked back, or blurted out the unnatural things that happened around them constantly. Like the one time she accidentally turned the mean girls at school's clothes all the sickly color of yellow pee. Or the time the same girls flew across the room when she had been cornered by them in the hallway. She never rose her fists or did much, but blush red when angry; however whenever her emotions were running high weird things like those incidents happened all of the time. When the car finally stopped in a parking spot, Maya was wrenched out of her thoughts as they walk to the entrance to the zoo.

Dudley and Piers got big sundaes, and Harry and Maya each got cheap lemon ice pops, since the nice lady noticed them before they were ushered away. The two of them hung back a little while they took a look around savoring their rare treats. During a break for lunch and knickerbocker glories, Dudley had demanded a new one and Maya was happily sharing the rest of the first one with Harry. It had been the best day they've both had in a very long time. Maya was hoping not to jinks their luck when they entered the reptile house. When Dudley and Piers had moved away from the biggest snake there Harry had gotten closer and started to "talk" to the snake.

"Harry why are you talking to an animal? It can't understand english!" Maya exclaimed going a little closer to the exhibit.

"Actually it sort of understands me," Harry told her. "He's told me he's never seen Brazil; at least I think so."

What? How was this possible? It was a snake for god's' sake! Maya was staring at Harry incredulously when Piers showed up yelling about said snake. Dudley came up behind Harry and elbowed him out of the way. Maya went over to check on him when it happened; all of a sudden the glass disappeared and both boys jumped back in fright, as it slithered away hissing.

When the kerfuffle all died down and the keeper of the reptile exhibit walked away bewildered, they all headed back to the car. After Dudley and Piers calmed down a little more, Piers ratted Harry out. Maya saw the crestfallen expression on Harry's face fall and knew he was going to really get it this time. She was going to have to help sneak food to him later tonight.

When they got back Harry was ordered into the cupboard, and Uncle Vernon just told Maya to stay out of their way for the rest of the day. She couldn't help him yet and so she had wandered outside to the immaculate pruned garden, and freshly mowed grass. The yard work was thanks to her and Harry mostly. They have been doing it since they were old enough to understand gardening terms. Maya sat on the porch looking around glumly and wishing she could be anywhere, but here. All she's ever wanted was to be accepted and loved, but that was never going to happen. The first time she was old enough to know what a birthday or christmas meant, she had been hoping to get fun toys like Dudley got, but got nothing and cried most of the night away, with her brother by her side. At school the mean girls always targeted her because Dudley would spread rumors about her to them. Dudley mostly targeted her brother however, and he's had to learn how to avoid getting his ass kicked. Maya sighed heavily and headed back inside and went up to her gloomy small bedroom. She stayed awake long enough to get some food to her brother under the stairs, and then fell into an uneasy sleep, dreaming about another day of the same old chores, being ordered around by Aunt Petunia, ignored by Uncle Vernon, and sneered at by Dudley.