Tiger Town (10 page)

I had the benefit of seeing my mother’s expression — something my aunt didn’t have — and I knew she was far from amused.

“Cute isn’t exactly the term that comes to mind,” Mom said.

“Come on, Ellen, don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud. I think it’s pretty amazing that I’ve seen my sister’s kids on the news twice as many times as I’ve seen them in person over the past year.”

“Maybe that just means you should visit us more often,” my mother countered.

“Life is busy,” she said.

“If you come, I’ll let you ride on my elephant,” Nick offered.

“
Your
elephant?” Mom questioned.

“Well, it’s like my elephant.”

Mom gave him one of her famous looks — the one that could peel paint off a wall. Usually she saved them for when she was in court, or talking about my father.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted your dinner,” Aunt Elaine said.

“We’re going out for dinner tonight,” Nick said.

“What’s the occasion?”

“We’re going on a date,” Nick muttered.

“You’re all going on a date?” my aunt questioned.

“Mom’s going on the date,” Nick explained. “And me and Sarah are going along.”

“Ellen, I know after being married for a long time you might be a little rusty about the rules of dating, but it’s best not to bring your kids along.”

“None of this was my idea,” my mother noted.

“The dating part or bringing the kids along?” Aunt Elaine asked.

“The date was Sarah’s doing,” Nick said.

“You set your mother up on a date?” Aunt Elaine asked.

“Not really. She wanted to go out with him. They went out together last night.”

“And you’re seeing him again tonight? Two nights in a row?”

“Doesn’t that sound like a trend to you?” Nick questioned.

“A good trend. Sounds pretty serious.”

“It’s not serious,” Mom insisted.

“So, if the date was arranged by Sarah, who decided the kids should come along?” Aunt Elaine asked.

“That wasn’t my idea. That was his idea!” I protested.

“He wanted you kids to come along? Now that sounds even more serious.”

“Elaine, please don’t make more out of this than there is,” my mom pleaded.

“And just what does this not-serious person do for a living?”

“He’s a cop,” Nick said.

“You’re dating a cop?” Aunt Elaine exclaimed. “I remember you saying you’d never date a police officer.”

“First of all, that was a long time ago — before I was even married,” Mom said. “Second, I’m not dating him. I’m just going to dinner with him.”

“Sounds like a date to me,” Aunt Elaine said.

“And third, he isn’t really a police officer. He’s the acting chief of police.”

“Even if he’s the boss cop, that still makes him a cop. Is he good looking?”

“Elaine, please grow up,” Mom said.

“Me, grow up? I’m the one with a husband and three boring kids who never seem to make it on the front pages of newspapers or national news shows. It isn’t me who’s dating. Sarah, is he good looking?”

“Well …” I glanced at Mom. She looked as if she was waiting for my answer. “I guess so. He’s good looking … I guess.”

“All the better. I’ll let you three go now so you can get ready for your date. And, Ellen … don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Nick and I had cut through the fields and come up to Mr. McCurdy’s by the back way.

“I’m going to go check on the cats,” Nick said.

“Be careful.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Sarah.”

“Except for two tigers, a couple of leopards, a pair of lions, two cubs, a black bear and a pair of jaguars.”

“What could go wrong?” he asked. “I’m just going to give them their breakfast.”

“What could go wrong is that you become their breakfast. Just be careful.”

Nick chuckled. “Yes … Mother.”

He cut off toward the barn and I continued on to the house. I pulled open the door and headed down the hall.

“Hello!” I called out as I hit the kitchen.

“Big girl Sarah, be quiet!” Vladimir hissed. “Angus is still sleeping.”

“He’s still asleep at this time?” I questioned. It was almost nine in the morning. He never slept in that late.

“We worked late last night. Angus needs sleep. Wake him later.”

“Sure, that’s fine.” I was suddenly struck by a terrible thought. I didn’t like even to think it, but I couldn’t stop. Maybe he wasn’t asleep. Maybe he was …

“Angus is not dead,” Vladimir said, “just sleeping. I checked already.”

I was shocked and confused. How did he know what I was thinking?

“I could tell by the look on your face,” Vladimir said, again reading my mind. “Vladimir knows Angus is not dead by looking from the inside.”

“From the inside? What does that mean?” I asked.

“When I was little, maybe six, I had to watch my grandfather while the rest of the family went to work. Grandfather was very old and sick. He was always sleeping. Vladimir always watched for his chest going up and down and the sound of breathing to know he was alive.”

“That would be eerie,” I said.

“I remember once when Grandfather lay in bed and did not move for one hour. I thought for sure he was dead. Finally I went creeping into the room to get a closer look.”

“And he was okay, right?”

“No,” Vladimir said, shaking his head, “that time Grandfather was dead.”

My jaw dropped to the floor. That was probably the least comforting, most upsetting story I’d ever heard!

“That’s awful! Was that story supposed to make me feel better?”

“I did not try to make big girl Sarah feel better or worse … just tell a story.”

“But how do you know Mr. McCurdy is okay?” I demanded.

“I just looked in on him only a minute before you arrived. Angus was making a lot of noise, like a saw cutting wood.”

“You mean he’s snoring?”

“Snoring loud. So loud if my dead grandfather was in same room, he would sit up and no longer be dead!” Vladimir practically yelled and then began laughing.

I smiled, but now I was even more worried. That yelling should have woken up Mr. McCurdy for sure.

“Big girl Sarah, do you want see something good?”

“Sure.”

“Polly!” he called out. The parrot, who was sitting on top of the cupboard, turned to look at him with one big eye. “Polly, come to Vladimir!”

Did he really think Polly was going to come to him? Polly didn’t even listen to Mr. McCurdy.

“You’re wasting your time if you think that parrot is going to —”

All of a sudden a flash of colourful feathers streaked across the room and landed on Vladimir’s outstretched arm.

“Polly is Vladimir’s friend,” he said.

“But … how?”

“I know birds. People say, Vladimir has the brain of bird.”

I started to laugh.

“What is funny?”

“It’s just that calling somebody a birdbrain means that he isn’t very smart, because birds don’t have very big brains,” I explained.

Vladimir snorted. “Watch. Polly, say my name.”

“Vladimir,” the parrot said.

I had to admit, that was pretty good.

“Wait,” Vladimir said.

“Vladimir is amazing!” the parrot said, saying each word perfectly.

“That’s really something!” I exclaimed.

“Whoever says that birds have little brains is not very smart. Birds are smart. Parrots are very smart. Do you know how many words Polly speaks?”

“He says a lot of words. I just wish he could be more polite.”

“I am working on that. Watch.” Vladimir reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny bird treat. “Polly, look at big girl Sarah.”

The parrot turned and aimed first one eye and then spun its head around and aimed the second eye right at me.

“Big girl Sarah is pretty. You say pretty!” Vladimir said.

Polly studied me with what I could have sworn was a thoughtful look.

“Girl Sarah is pretty,” Polly squawked, and Vladimir gave him the treat.

“Wow, that’s amazing, Vladi—”

“Pretty ugly,” Polly squawked loudly. “Girl Sarah is pretty ugly!”

“Hey!” I shouted.

“Still working on Polly,” Vladimir said with a shrug. “It will take time and many, many cookies, but he will say nice things.”

“Stupid!” Polly squawked.

“Do not call big girl Sarah stupid!” Vladimir snapped.

“Vladimir is stupid,” Polly said, and then jumped off his arm and flew across the room, perching on top of the cupboard. I tried hard not to laugh.

“Maybe I have the brain of a bird, but I will not give up making Polly say nice things, especially to you and Nicki and your mother.” He paused. “Can I ask a question?”

“Sure, of course.”

“Why did you not tell Vladimir that your mother is so beautiful?”

“You think my mother is beautiful?” I asked in shock.

“Most beautiful … like a movie star.”

“You think my mother looks like a movie star?”

“Like a movie star. Your father went away and did not come back … right?”

“Yeah, he hasn’t come back.”

“He must have a birdbrain to leave.” Vladimir paused. “Maybe I should not say bad things about your father.”

I opened my mouth to say something in defence of my father but didn’t.

“Does your mother wish to get married again?” Vladimir asked.

“I guess so.”

“Marriage is good. People need to be with people. I wish to get married, too!”

Did that mean Vladimir wanted to marry my mother? Maybe I was right and he really was jealous of the acting chief seeing my mother.

“Why didn’t somebody wake me up?” Mr. McCurdy asked, walking into the kitchen.

I was relieved he’d interrupted this conversation but disappointed I couldn’t get more information to confirm my suspicions.

“I thought you needed sleep. We worked hard yesterday,” Vladimir said.

“I’ve worked hard every day of my life and today ain’t going to be any different. Have the animals been fed yet?”

“I gave them fresh water. Food is next.”

“Nick’s already down at the barn feeding the cats,” I said.

“Good to know that somebody’s working instead of sleeping or jawing!”

“What is jawing?” Vladimir asked.

“Talking, gossiping, wagging your tongue,” Mr. McCurdy said. “Like we’re doing now.”

“First eat, then work,” Vladimir said.

“Haven’t you eaten already?” Mr. McCurdy asked him.

“Yes, but a long time ago. I need to eat again,” Vladimir said.

“Again! You’re practically eating me out of house and home!”

“He’s not the only one,” Nick said as he came into the kitchen. “I just fed the cats the last of the chickens in your freezer. We need more.”

“Me and Vladimir were talking about that,” said Mr. McCurdy. “Figured I’d go today, and he’d come with me. That is, if the two of you are going to be around to watch the animals.”

Nick shrugged. “I’ve got no place better to go. Can I ride Peanuts?”

Mr. McCurdy looked at Vladimir, then they both stared at me. “Sarah?” Mr. McCurdy asked.

“Why are you asking her?” Nick demanded. “It isn’t like it’s her elephant.”

“But she’s in charge when we’re gone.”

“That’s not fair!” Nick protested.

“Well, how about this for a compromise,” I offered. “You can ride on Peanuts —”

“That’s great, Sarah!”

“Let me finish. You can ride on the elephant if it’s for a legitimate reason.”

“Legitimate? What do you mean by that?” Nick asked.

“It means you can ride him if it’s for a purpose and not just because you want to ride him,” I explained. “Understand?”

He shrugged.

“Do you agree with that?”

“Sure,” he said, and smiled.

I didn’t like either his quick agreement or the smile that accompanied it. He had some idea up his sleeve.

“How long will you be gone?” I asked.

“A couple of hours at most,” Mr. McCurdy said. “While we’re gone, could you bring some hay up from the barn for the deer and buffalo?”

Nick nodded. “No problem.” Something about his expression made me think I’d soon find out what his idea was.

•

Peanuts dropped the bale of hay right at my side as I stood at the pen.

“Good boy!” Nick said as he gave the elephant a big pat on the top of his head.

I had to hand it to Nick. Not only could he ride that elephant, but he’d figured out a legitimate reason to do it. The bales were pretty heavy, and it would have been awfully difficult for Nick and me to drag them from the barn to the pen. With Peanuts’ help it was effortless.

“Do you want me to get another bale?” Nick asked.

I’d been counting them as he’d been bringing them up. “That’s the twelfth. That should be enough for today.”

“It’s no problem, I can get some more.”

“We’d better save some,” I suggested. At twelve bales of hay per day we only had food for the animals for another four days.

“Don’t worry. Mr. McCurdy said he’d be getting some more,” Nick said.

“I’m not worried,” I said. “I just don’t think there’s any point in bringing any more than we need.”

“Why? Do you think they might overeat and get too fat?”

“Funny, Nick, very funny.”

“How about if I bring them up and we leave them here, on this side of the fence, until we need them tomorrow?”

“They’re better in the barn. What if it rains tonight?”

“Then they’ll get wet. Big deal. I’ll just go up and get the bales and —”

“No!” I snapped, cutting him off.

“Why not?”

“Because I told you not to, and I’m in charge. But if you’re really desperate to bring up some more, be my guest.”

Nick broke into a big smile.

“But you can’t use the elephant,” I said.

“What?”

“You were only to use Peanuts for legitimate reasons. There’s no need for any more bales, so bringing them up today isn’t legitimate. If you want to get more bales, I’m afraid you’re going to have to carry them yourself.”

“That’s not fair!” Nick protested.

“You better listen to me, Nick, or I’ll make sure you won’t be riding Peanuts again for a long time.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Not threatening. Promising. Think about it, Nick.”

“All right, all right, you win!” Nick said, holding his hands up as if he were going to surrender. I’d really expected a much bigger fight.

“Take Peanuts to the barn. Then come back up here and help me break down the bales and toss the hay into the pen.”

“How about if I get Peanuts to step on the bales so they’ll be broken up? Then he can use his trunk to toss the hay into the pen.”

“Take him to the barn … now.”

Nick scowled but kept his mouth shut. He gave Peanuts a command, and the elephant turned and began to lumber toward the barn.

I took the cords off one of the bales and started pulling it apart. Grabbing an armful of hay, I walked along the fence. The buffalo and big deer had been hogging all the hay I’d already tossed into the pen, and I wanted my girls to get their share. They were still nursing from their adopted mother, but they had begun to graze, as well. All the animals — except my babies — ignored me as I moved down the fence. The two little deer shadowed me on the other side of the fence. Finally, certain that I was far enough away from the other animals, I stopped and stuffed a handful of hay through the fence. They greedily ate. While there was grass growing in the pen, it was obvious they liked the hay a whole lot better.

I heard the sound of a car coming down the lane and turned around. I wasn’t expecting them back this early. Maybe they hadn’t been able to get the chickens. A white minivan appeared, moving slowly down the bumpy lane. There was a lady driving, and I could see kids bouncing around — why weren’t they wearing their seat belts? The vehicle came to a stop on the lane opposite me, and almost instantly the doors flew open and released a flood of children — there were at least six of them — and the driver.

“Hello!” the woman called out as she waved at me.

I didn’t know who she was. Reluctantly I waved back as I slowly walked toward her. The kids were charging around, pushing one another and shouting, and two of them seemed to be in a fistfight. The woman did nothing. Either she hadn’t noticed or didn’t care.

“Can you tell me who’s in charge here?” she asked.

“Me, I guess,” I said. “For now, anyway. Mr. McCurdy and Vladimir have gone somewhere. If you want to come back later, they’ll be here in an hour or so.”

“Oh, goodness, there’s no way I’m waiting that long. My son insisted on seeing the animals we saw on the news last night. My little Malcolm is just crazy about animals, aren’t you, Malcolm?”

The one boy, who had been punching the other, stopped for a second and looked at her. “Sure,” he said, and then continued to pummel the other kid.

“He’s gifted,” the woman whispered to me.

The only thing I could see gifted about him was that he had a pretty good punch.

“Are these all your kids?” I asked.

“Oh, no. These are Malcolm’s friends. This is his sixth birthday, and we were going to Chuck E. Cheese’s, but Malcolm decided we simply had to come here instead.”

“The elephant,” Malcolm said without either turning around or stopping his assault on the other kid. “I want to see the elephant and ride on it like that boy on TV.”

“That’s not possible,” I said.

“I want to see the elephant now!” he screeched. “I want to ride the elephant now!”

“Only people who have been specially trained can ride the elephant,” I lied. “It’s too dangerous.” At least that wasn’t a lie.