“And this, my friends, is a bird of paradise. They are found in Australia.” I held the colorful bird a little higher for the crowd to see. They oohed and aahed.

I continued to give my practiced speech, when a scream rang out. A roar followed. The crowd of people scattered, children wailing, feet pounding. I had no idea what was going on.

And then I saw it; a majestic tiger that the keepers had named Reign was stalking towards the stage on which I stood. She looked hungry.

I backed away slowly, as I was taught. Never run from a wild animal; they might think you are prey. Reign just got to me as I was entering the nearest restroom, closing the door quickly behind me to shut out the tiger.

After I sat with the bird of paradise in the bathroom for thirty minutes before I peeked back outside. Reign was struggling to get out of a giant cage on the back of a truck. Animal wranglers, along with my boss stood around, talking in deep, serious tones. I had no idea how I didn’t hear the wranglers wrestling the giant animal. I quickly checked the door’s thickness.

I stepped outside. As soon as my boss noticed me, his face got red with anger.

“Why would you endanger park guests like this?” he yelled.

“Wh-what?” I stuttered, “I don’t- I didn’t… What?”

My boss pointed at me. “You’re fired.”

I blinked. “Wh-what did I do?”

My boss pointed towards the entrance gate. “Go. You know very well what you did.” I didn’t respond. I didn’t know how to. My boss groaned. “You let the tiger out, for Pete’s sake.”

“I-I don’t k-know what y-your talking ab-about.”

“Go.” With the word, I winced. I turned to the gate and walked to the parking lot.

What would I do now? My parents and I were trying our hardest to support my eight younger siblings. Could I get a fair-paying job that soon?

I started my car and pulled out of the zoo’s parking lot. I got to my parent’s house, and shamefully marched inside.

My eldest sister, who was 14 and therefore three years younger than me, noticed me as soon as I walked in the door.

“Why are you home so early?” She put a hand on her hip.

“Igotfired.” I said quickly and quietly.

“Huh?”

“I. Got. Fired.” I repeated.

She gasped. “But you’ve had that job for a year!” Like that made a difference.

I shrugged. “I didn’t even do anything.”

“What will you do now?”

“I don’t know, Beatrix. Just leave me alone.”

She stuck her tongue out at me. “Don’t call me that. It’s Bea.” She made to swat me, but I dodged, and headed to the kitchen to start dinner.

Bea was right. I needed to know what I was going to do now. I figured I’d just get a quick job, but would anyone hire a seventeen-year-old?