Sample Chapter : Chapter III

Saturday morning was fine and dry. Victoria and Tamara waited for Archibald in the hall. Tamara always insisted on taking her umbrella, with a parrot's head carved on the handle, everywhere and as she pulled it from the stand, Papa said, "Tamara, the sun is shining I don't think you will want that today." The prompt arrival of Archibald saved Tamara from having to put it back, and she clutched it firmly in her hand. They set off to catch a tram and Papa was too busy keeping them all in order to be aware of the strange bulge in the front of Archibald's sailor suit .. Joey!

It was the girls' great delight to go on the trams with Papa as a treat. They climbed to the top and sat in the front with Archibald, pulling the cover over their laps. "Oh Archibald, you haven't brought Joey have you?" said Victoria, seeing the bulge move rapidly. "Oh yes," said Archibald cheerily, "he's been everywhere with me, he came with me from Turkey, you know." "What?" said Tamara, "have you lived in Turkey? Oh do tell us about it when we are home." Archibald clutched protectively at Joey hidden under his shirt. "I was only four and I can't remember much, just being in a large basket with Joey, and going on a ship." The story was cut short by Papa, pointing out things that they could see, only from the top of a tram.

It was a lovely visit to the zoo. They looked at everything, and walked for what seemed miles, until Tamara collapsed on a bench outside the lions' cage. Papa said he would go and bring back some ice creams, if they sat still. They were too tired to do anything else, but not too tired to discuss what they had seen. "I do wish I could have a chimpanzee," said Archibald. Victoria laughed, "What would your guardian say? Everyone in your house says they are too old to look after you ... can you imagine it, you, Joey and a chimpanzee!" She did not finish her sentence. Joey, who had been stuffed in the front of Archibald's shirt for the morning, ran down his leg and out of the bottom of his trousers for some air. This always tickled Archibald and made him double up with laughter, but this time he did not put out his hand for Joey to jump on. Joey's nose twitched as he smelt new smells, and he saw the lions' cage. The lions had just been fed, on the floor of the cage was a hunk of meat, and the remains of buns that people had thrown in. With a whisk of his tail, and before the children realized what was happening, he ran straight into the lions' cage. The children were frozen in horror, they watched Joey run right onto the remains of the lions' meat and nibble it. One of the lions, his tail swishing, started to walk towards the white rat.

Continued...