Isabelle (unedited)

" I already told you I do not want to run the zoo!" I screamed at my father. "Why can't you just respect that so we can get on with both of our lives!"

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Isabelle. I have 4 older siblings. From youngest to oldest it is Mathew at 18, Rosie at 21, and then the twins Simon and Clover at 22.

I am 16. My father owns a zoo here in Texas. He wants me to continue it once he passes away. But I don't want to. I've never had a connection with an animal. I've never liked a dog or cat not even a fish. But my father insist on me taking on the buisness.

"As soon as you agree to take the zoo, look I won't be around forever and I need to know that is in good hands." He persuaded. We often had this argument.

I looked at him and then at the floor.

" Fine." I mumbled

My dad's eyes widened. " what?"

He didn't believe what he just heard. I mean I didn't believe what I just said but I feel like saying it agian.

" I said fine" I repeated.

He took a good long look at me before he spoke.

" alright then, go to bed and meet me at the dinner table at 6." He said very professionally.

" whatever" I said climbing up my stairs. Getting up early doesn't really bother me. I've always been sort of an early bird.

Besides it's not like he has much to teach me. I practically grew up in that zoo. And it is not like I don't care about the animals I just don't have that.. connection.

I go into my light blue room and lay down on my soft comforter. I turn around on my back and stare at the ceiling. 'What did I just agree to?' I thought

I wake up the next morning at 5. I took a shower and got dressed.

I walked downstairs in my uniform. I work at the zoo so I still have work today. My father is just going to show me what I need to worry about as the owner.

As I walk down the stairs I see my father.
He looks up kind of shocked. Like he didn't believe I was actually going through with this. Heck niether could I.

He threw me a biscuit and I quickly shoved it in my mouth.

When I was done with my biscuit my dad drove me to the zoo.

As we arrived I looked over and saw the zoo sign. "Super Zoo" it read.

It was a stupid name but my dad started this place when I was like 4.

FLASH BACK

"Isabelle, what should we name our new zoo?" My father asked.

Of course me after just watching Super Why, my four year old brain thought of Super Zoo.

It was perfect and I was so proud of my idea.

"Super Zoo" I responded proudly.

"Super Zoo it is." My dad said writing something down on a piece of paper.

END OF FLASH BACK

I chuckle at the memory of the birth of that terrible name.

We entered the zoo and we're greeted by many staff.

We walk into the staff room and I grab my rake and the pooper scooper and hop in my poop mobile.

Since I am a zoo Keeper here I get my own bugie that I carry around the big black thing of poop after I muck and exhibit.

Mine is my baby. Her name is the Poop mobile.

Dad hops in the passenger seat and I start to drive down staff roads to the different exhibits.

We have our own little pathways to each enclosure so we don't run over people.

"Where to first?" I ask slowly driving.

"Where should a head keeper go to first?" My dad starts quizzing me. The head zoo keeper is also the owner. Just incase that was unclear.

I sighed. He knew I already knew everything.

"The big cats because they tend to escape." I replied

"Wrong. You check the reptiles because they are harder to see and get out easier." He replied matter of factly.

I looked at him confused.

"But you always have checked the big cats first."

"No you were always too scared to go into the reptile house so eventually you just forgot about it."

"Oh." I replied quietly. Maybe I didn't know everything.

I drove up to the reptile house and took a ragged breath. I always forget how much the reptile house terrified me. I don't know why it is just something about them. All the other animals I don't mind much. But these reptiles give me nightmares.

We walked into the small building with a fake snake wrapping around it. We were met by Sabrina. She is assigned the reptile house.

She looked panicked.

"What is wrong Sabrina?" I asked.

"It's George!" She screamed.

"He got out and we haven't found him. HE COULD BE ANYWHERE! We have to close the zoo. We can't just let people die. That will be a lawsuit. WE WOULD BE OUT OF BUISNESS! I would loose my job. Oh how would I pay my house note? This is bad. Very bad." She brambled on and on.

I stood there shocked. I didn't know what to do.

George the king cobra was loose in the
zoo.