Zoo

``Mommy mommy! Why does that horse look so sad?''

``What do you mean it looks so sad?'' Tiffany sighed as she replied to Tim. It was the first time that they were at a zoo, and Tiffany was already finding it more tiring than she would want to admit. The day was hot and dry, and the zoo itself was at the time of the day where the animals just had their lunch and had evacuated their bowels this place and that. Which meant that near every enclosure was the slightly musty smell of animal dung.

Tiffany looked at the horse that Tim had pointed out. True enough, its head was drooping and it looked lethargic. It was trying its best to hide under the cover of the tree overhead but it seemed to not be doing its job well.

``I think the horse is sad looking because it feels hot in this weather.''

``Really, mommy? Can we help it in some way?'' Tim asked, his concerned eyes looking up at Tiffany. It was hard to try and brush off his questions whenever he looked like that---it was just too adorable.

``I don't think so,'' Tiffany said. ``The zoo tries its best to take care of the animals, and we should let the professionals do what they do best.''

``Okay mommy,'' Tim replied, somewhat dejected.

Tiffany took one more look at the horse when suddenly she sensed a voice in her head.

``The zoo doesn't really take care of us that well you know. It seems as though they take care of us well, but it's only on the surface. They just do barely enough so that people will think that they are treating us well. If you have a conscience, maybe you can help do something about it.''

Tiffany looked about, startled. Then she looked harder at the horse, and realise that it was looking at her. Staring at her, in fact.

``You are wondering if it is I who is speaking to you. Yes, it is I. Poor old me, standing here behind the fence so that all of you can see me like an animal. Well, I mean, I am an animal, but you people stare at us like we were enclosed and somehow not worthy of any care or concern. Please, if you can, do something to help us.''

``Mommy, let's go. I'm feeling thirsty.''

Tiffany shook her head to clear it and looked down at her son before nodding and walking away from the enclosure with him.

Behind them, the horse continued to stare till they got out of its line of sight.

(Based on an exercise generated by WriteThis - 01-Mar-2014 22:33:18)