A Day at the Zoo

A Day at the Zoo

“Lola, Lola!” Phoebe hollered at her sister one beautiful spring morning. “Wake up, Lola. We are going to the zoo!”

Phoebe was especially eager on this particular day because she had been waiting to see one specific animal for quite some time. Ever since she borrowed a book at the public library about Zebras, she had been dreaming in black and white stripes. Now, the day had finally come to see one in person.

After a healthy breakfast and a long drive - during which Phoebe tried her best to be patient - they were finally at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

“Let’s go this way,” Phoebe pulled the little red wagon to the right in hopes of finding her braying friends.

“Look, Lola,” she said, pointing to a cream colored cat with a long mane. “That is a Lion. It says Roar!”

Lola giggled when the King of the zoo responded with a lazy yawn.

“And here! Lola, look at the big elephant,” Phoebe led her to the large, grey pachyderm. “Oh, I can’t wait to see the Zebra!”

The day was full of laughter and joy, no one could deny it. The two little girls found the giraffe and Phoebe told Lola how it looked like a tall patch-work quilt. 

Then they watched the monkeys swing from branch to branch and the polar bear dive deep below the water. They even danced with a flamboyance of flamingos!

By the time they reached what Phoebe thought was the last enclosure – one that held a very round baby hippopotamus and its mother – it was time to leave the zoo. Phoebe still had not seen the animal she had been so eager to meet, the zebra. 

She began to pout in defeat when she heard Lola make a joyful cry. When Phoebe turned around to see what made her little sister so enthusiastic, she saw them – the pen full of zebras.

“Thank you, Lola,” she said, dancing on her toes. “You are the best little sister.”

And Lola smiled.