The next morning, Howard arrived early for work and was surprised to find Vince fast asleep in the ape enclosure.
"Oi." Howard called, shaking the sleeping boy's shoulders. "What are you doing in here, eh?" he asked as Vince sat up, rubbing his bleary eyes.
"I got a bit scared in the hut all by myself. There were lots of weird noises and I swear there's a ghost or something. So, I came in here for a chat with Bollo and I must've fallen asleep. It's quite comfy actually, I might sleep here tonight too."
"You can't do that!" exclaimed Howard
"Why not? Bollo doesn't mind, do you Bollo?"
Bollo grunted something in response.
"See. He doesn't mind."
"I can't understand him." Howard reminded Vince.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. I can teach you to speak ape if you like." Vince added excitedly "It's the easiest of all the animal languages coz they're the most like humans."
Howard looked sceptical for a moment and then said "That does sound quite good actually but it doesn't mean you can sleep in here."
"Well I'm not sleeping in that hut." Vince said huffily "It's scary!"
"What if I was there?" Howard asked quietly.
The mods eyes widened with surprise and delight. "Well that wouldn't be so bad... but you've got a home."
"Not really. It's my parents house and I think my dad would quite like to see the back of me if I'm honest. This could be the perfect opportunity and I get to live with a friend."
"This is going to be fantastic!" cried Vince, leaping up to hug Howard. But the older boy was ready for it and took a step backwards
"Don't touch me." he warned.
"Sorry" Vince smirked.
"Aha" said a foreign voice, distracting them from their thoughts. "Mr Fossil told me to bring a zooniform (Bob Fossil insisted they call it that) down for the new employee. But I've only got one, I didn't realise there was two of you."
"Morning Mrs Gideon." Howard said cheerfully "But there is only one new person."
"But I don't recognise either of you."
"I've worked here for almost a year." Howard reminded her, ignoring the sniggers from Vince and Bollo.
"What's your name?"
"Howard, Howard Moon."
"I don't remember you. And who are you, with your fabulous hair?"
"I'm Vince."
"Hello Vince, would you like a jacket?"
"Not really." Vince said, screwing up his face "It's ugly."
Mrs Gideon laughed and passed him the plain green jacket.
At that moment an announcement came through the tinny sounding tanoy.
"Attention. There's been a break-in in the snake house. Lot's of tiny little snakes have broken into the pregnant snakes tank. It's anarchy in there. Anarchy!"
"Idiot." Mrs Gideon muttered under her breath. "Anyway, I have to go, it sounds like my python's given birth. I'll see you around I'm sure. Bye Vince. Bye…." she looked at Howard, trying desperately to remember his name but, after a few awkward moments she finished "Bye." and scurried off in the direction of the snake house.
"Bye Mrs Gideon." Howard called, waving after her.
Vince and Bollo exchanged a knowing glance.
"What?" Howard asked.
"Nothing." smirked Vince.
"No! What?"
"Well… d'you fancy her?" the smaller boy giggled.
"N-" Howard started before realising that if Vince thought he was in love with Gideon he was less likely to suspect Howard's feeling towards Vince. "Yes." Howard lied. "I love her. She's so sophisticated and… wonderful."
"Woah. You got it bad." Vince chuckled as he slipped the thin jacket around his thin shoulders. "Oh no." he groaned "I can't wear this! It's so plain. This jacket needs customising."
"It's fine as it is." Howard reassured him.
"Yeah right." Vince scorned, looking up to see Howard putting on his own zooniform. "Oh my god!" he cried dramatically "I look like you!"
"Thanks." frowned Howard.
"It's okay though, I think I've got a 'Kiss' army badge somewhere. And maybe I could sew 'Noir' by here." he said pointing at his lapel. "And I might buy a new zip too, this one's boring. What d'you think Bollo?"
Bollo growled deeply.
"Oooo, good idea." Vince agreed as the tanoy sounded and Bob Fossil's harsh voice ripped, yet again, through the peaceful morning.
"Wakey, wakey, rise and shine dingbats. Work stars on 3. 5, 4, 3... You'd better be working... and that means you Moon. Oh and Moon, make sure your ugly girlfriend doesn't mess up. If she does it's on your head."
"Ugly!?" exclaimed Vince.
"He also called you a girl" Howard pointed out.
"I get called a girl all the time. I've never been called ugly." Howard could believe that, Vince was gorgeous. He even looked gorgeous this morning when he was tired and his hair was full of straw. He was a mess, but it didn't matter, Vince was the most beautiful mess Howard had ever seen. His eyes were sparkling. His clothes were sparkling. He was sparkling. He was so…
"Hey Howard." Vince said, snapping Howard out of his daydream. "Can you cover for me this morning? I have to customise this jacket before people see me?"
"Well, I…"
"Thanks Howard." Vince grinned, running off to the hut before Howard had time to stop him. As Vince disapeared through the door Howard heard a rather high pitched scream, followed by "MY HAIR!!"
--
Late that evening, (after a few problems with a rather devious llama, who kept disguising itself as various members of staff) the two boys led on the uncomfortable floor of the hut, in big thick sleeping bags, staring up at the ceiling.
"You were amazing today Howard!" Vince breathed, sounding genuinely impressed. "You were like king keeper. The only one in the entire zoo who knew how to calm it down. No one could get near that llama, Howard. Except you, you got off with it."
"It's the one of the few ways to calm a llama down."
"I bet Mrs Gideon was impressed and if not, I was. I know it's not the same but…" Howard wanted to tell Vince the truth. He wanted to say that he was much more interested in what Vince thought than Mrs Gideon, but he didn't have the guts, so he stayed silent. "D'you know what you reminded me of?" Vince continued.
"What?"
"Action man."
"I'm more a man of action than action man."
"Either way, it was cool." Vince yawned, rubbing his tired eyes.
"You tired, little man?"
'Oh God' thought Howard 'Little man, where had that come from?' That's what Howard's favourite uncle used to call him when he was a kid. It was such an affectionate nickname but Vince just giggled.
"You're an action man, I'm a little man. We're the perfect duo."
"We are," agreed the older boy. "and tomorrow we're both signed up for the porpoise derby."
"Mmm," Vince agreed sleepily "M'gonna beat you."
"You will not."
"Will. M'lighter." Vince murmured and Howard could tell he was close to sleep now, so he whispered.
"Night Vince."
"Night How"-yawn-"ard. See you in the morning."
Howard dreamt of his future in the zoo. He was going to show Vince everything about the zoo. He'd make sure Vince was safe. He'd find Tommy. He'd be the best zoo keeper there ever was. Everything would be fantastic.
Vince dreamt about being the greatest rock star of all time. Howard could play instruments, he could be part of the group. And until then, Howard would teach him stuff, like how to calm llama's down and not to shake with newts. He liked Howard, he really liked Howard - it was just a shame that Howard so in love with Mrs Gideon.
And Bollo? Well, he dreamt of Banana's.
I'm not really happy with the ending but I'm not really sure what to do, I am thinking of changing it though. Any advise would be VERY much appreciated and all idea's will be taken on board.
Just hit that lil' submit review button - go on, you know you want to! - and just let me know what you think! It doesn't even have to be long shakes head I'm not greedy (well I am, hense the begging, but still...)!!
Anyway…
Thank you to everyone who's read this story and thank you to absolutely everyone who's reviewed!! You're all wonderful!! And loved muchly by me and Swedish Monks.Sisi…xx