The Messy Meerkat

by Amelia Cobb

  “I know,” Zoe replied. “Maybe we should go over and keep him company.”

  But before they could move Max started yelping really loudly.

  “What’s he doing?” Meep asked.

  “I don’t know.” Zoe looked around to see what could be making Max bark. But, apart from a few zookeepers finishing their morning jobs, no one was around.

  Max’s mum and dad gathered the babies together and raced inside a burrow beside one of the logs.

  Max ran over to Zoe.

  “Where have they gone?” Zoe asked. “And shouldn’t you go with them?”

  Max chattered his reply.

  “Oh! What are they hiding from?” Zoe asked.

  Max yelped.

  “An eagle?” Zoe looked up into the clear blue sky. It was totally empty apart from a couple of fluffy white clouds. “But there’s no eagle up there!”

  Max chattered some more.

  “Oh dear,” Zoe said.

  “What’s wrong?” Meep asked.

  “He said he was bored so he decided to practise his warning bark. He didn’t mean for it to be so loud.”

  Meep chuckled. “He’s a very cheeky meerkat!”

  Zoe noticed that the little meerkat looked a bit sad. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll go and tell them it’s OK.” She went over to the entrance of the burrow and called out softly. “It’s all right, you can come out now. It was a false alarm.”

  One by one, the meerkats emerged from the tunnel. Max scampered back on to the rock and the others started burrowing again.

  Max chattered to Zoe as he stood guard.

  “There are plenty of fun things to do here at the Rescue Zoo – that don’t involve scaring your family,” Zoe said. “We’re having a treasure hunt here on Saturday and that’s going to be loads of fun.” She smiled as she watched Max shake the dirt from his fur. Something told her life certainly wasn’t going to be dull with this messy little meerkat around!

  Chapter Three

  Babies in a Burrow

  The next morning Zoe’s friend Nicola was coming to spend the day at the zoo. Zoe was really excited as Nicola had been away for most of the summer holiday so she hadn’t seen her for ages.

  “I’ll have to take her to see the meerkats and show her the banners for the treasure hunt,” Zoe said to her mum as she sliced some banana for Meep’s breakfast. “And then we can check the treasure-hunt map and start writing the clues and go and get ice creams from the café and look around the gift shop and feed the elephants and pet the goats and—”

  “Slow down.” Lucy laughed. “If you’re not careful poor Nicola will be so tired after her day at the zoo she’ll need another holiday!”

  Zoe grinned. “Well, I’m definitely going to take her to see the meerkats.” She put Meep’s breakfast bowl on the table and Meep pounced on it hungrily. “Mum, do you think Mo would let us bring one of the meerkats back to the cottage for a while?” Last night, when she’d been trying to get to sleep, Zoe had been thinking of ways to make things fun for Max.

  “I don’t see why not,” Lucy replied as she put a plate of hot buttered toast on the table. “But check with Mo first and if he says yes then make sure he gives you a travel basket to carry the meerkat in. And you’ll have to look after him properly; we don’t want any more runaway meerkats! And I’ll be here at lunchtime to see how you’re getting on.”

  Zoe nodded and grinned. “OK. Thanks, Mum.”

  As soon as Nicola arrived and Lucy had gone to work, the girls set off for the meerkat enclosure with Meep perched on Zoe’s shoulder.

  “I can’t wait to see the meerkats,” Nicola said excitedly. “They’re my favourite animal in the whole world!”

  Zoe was excited to see the meerkats again too, but as soon as they got to the enclosure her heart sank. Max’s dad was barking crossly.

  “Uh-oh,” Meep chirped in Zoe’s ear. “I think Max might be in trouble again!”

  Zoe looked through the glass wall of the enclosure. Max was standing by one of the logs, his fur covered in dirt and sand. His dad was standing on top of the log barking at him. There was a huge mound of sand in the centre of the enclosure and Max’s mum was crouching beside it, making a sad chirping sound. There was no sign of the babies.

  “Ah, look at that little meerkat with all the dirt on his fur!” Nicola cried, pointing at Max. “He’s so sweet.”

  “Good morning, Zoe!” Mo called as he came out of the shed beside the enclosure.

  “Good morning, Mo,” Zoe replied. “This is my friend Nicola. She’s come to visit for the day. Is it OK if she comes in to see the meerkats with me?”

  “Of course,” Mo replied. “I’m just going to give the hippos their breakfast. I’ll be back soon.”

  Using her special paw-print pendant, Zoe opened the gate to the enclosure and they went inside. She needed to find out why Max was in trouble again but it was going to be hard to talk to him with Nicola there.

  “I wonder why that meerkat is making that noise,” Nicola said, pointing to Max’s dad, who was still barking.

  Zoe moved closer so she could hear him properly. Max was being told off for digging a new twisty-turning tunnel that went round and round in circles. The baby meerkats had gone into it and they were having so much fun they wouldn’t come out again!

  As Nicola went over to see what Max’s mum was doing, Zoe crouched beside him.

  Max gave a little yelp.

  “I know you didn’t mean for them to follow you into the burrow,” Zoe whispered, stroking the top of his head. “But can you think of a way to get them to come back out again?”

  Max tilted his head to one side thoughtfully, then he grinned and scampered over to the burrow entrance. He started barking softly.

  “What’s he doing?” Nicola asked.

  “I think he’s calling to his baby brother and sisters,” Zoe replied. She held her breath and watched the entrance to the burrow. She really hoped Max’s plan would work! There was a scuffling sound and then a tiny pointy nose appeared in the entrance to the burrow, followed by another, and another.

  “Aww, look at the babies!” Nicola cried as they emerged from the burrow. Their fluffy pale fur was covered in dirt.

  When the babies saw Max they chattered and started rolling around on the ground. His twisty tunnel had got them all overexcited!

  Max’s mum nuzzled the babies and Max’s dad yelped contentedly. Max looked much happier.

  When Mo got back from feeding the hippos, Zoe asked him if she and Nicola could take Max to the cottage for a while.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Mo said. “Let me go and get something for you.”

  “He’s probably going to get a travel basket for us to carry him in,” Zoe said to Nicola as they watched Mo go over to the shed by the enclosure. But to her surprise Mo came back with a collar and lead.

  “This little guy is so confident and friendly, I’m going to use him in my demonstrations,” Mo explained, as he carefully placed the collar around Max’s neck. “It’ll be great to get him used to being on a lead.”

  The little meerkat hopped about with excitement. Zoe felt like hopping about with excitement too. She couldn’t believe she was going to be taking a meerkat for a walk!

  “Make sure you keep the lead on at all times when you’re outside and don’t let him eat anything,” Mo said as he handed the lead to Zoe.

  “OK!” Zoe wrapped the end of the lead round her hand tightly.

  “You’re so lucky, Zoe.” Nicola smiled as they began making their way along the red-brick path past the different enclosures. “It must be so much fun living in a zoo.”

  “It is loads of fun,” Zoe replied. She looked down at Max. He certainly seemed to be having fun too now he was out of his enclosure – looking at all the different animals and tugging on his lead.

  Just as they were passing the elephants Mr Pinch appeared, marching up the path towards them. A frown spread across his face when he saw Max.

&
nbsp; “What is this animal doing out of his enclosure?” he said crossly.

  “We’re just taking him for a walk,” Zoe replied.

  “Taking him for a walk?” Mr Pinch spluttered.

  “Yes. We’re going back to the cottage for lunch and to finish the map for the treasure hunt,” Zoe said.

  Mr Pinch sighed. “I don’t know what this zoo is coming too,” he grumbled. “Meerkats on leads and treasure hunts!”

  “He was a bit grumpy,” Nicola said as soon as Mr Pinch was out of earshot.

  “He always is,” Zoe replied with a grin. “Although sometimes he can be quite nice.”

  She opened the door to the cottage and they stepped inside.

  “Hello, girls,” Lucy called from the kitchen. “Come on through. Your lunch is ready.”

  While Zoe and Nicola tucked into a lunch of cheese sandwiches and cupcakes, and Meep tucked into a bowl of blueberries, Zoe put Max in the back garden, attaching the end of his lead to the pole of the washing line. She was so pleased that the little meerkat was having fun and really seemed to be enjoying his adventure!

  Once they’d finished lunch and Lucy had gone back to work, Zoe fetched her paint set. Lucy had left the treasure-hunt map on the dining-room table for the girls to colour in.

  “I’ll just go and check on Max,” Zoe said, as Nicola started sorting through the paintbrushes.

  Meep scampered after Zoe as she went through to the back garden.

  “Uh-oh!” Meep chirped.

  “Oh no!” Zoe exclaimed.

  Max was grinning happily on top of a huge heap of earth where one of the flowerbeds used to be. The grass beside him was littered with uprooted flowers and he had a pansy stuck behind one of his ears.

  Max scampered over and chattered excitedly to Zoe.

  “Oh, Max,” she sighed. “I’m sure you have dug a lovely burrow, but I’m not sure what Mum’s going to say when she sees her flowerbed!”

  Chapter Four

  Looking for Fun

  It took Zoe and Nicola almost all afternoon to try and get the garden back to normal. Luckily, they were able to replant most of the flowers and they managed to sweep up all of the mud. While the girls worked, Max watched them from a lookout post on top of an upturned flowerpot. Every so often he made a little peeping sound. Zoe wondered what the sound meant but she couldn’t ask him with Nicola there!

  “There, it’s done,” Zoe said, replanting the last of the flowers.

  “Phew,” Nicola sighed, her face flushed. “Living in a zoo might be fun but it’s a lot of hard work!”

  Zoe laughed and nodded. “Let’s go and get some ice creams from the café to cool down.” She picked Max up and gave him a cuddle. Max snuggled into her and chattered happily. He really liked being cuddled! Nicola was right, living in a zoo could be hard work, but she wouldn’t change it for anything.

  The next morning, Zoe got up early and quickly made a new treasure-hunt banner for the reptile house. On her way to drop off the banner she called by the meerkat enclosure. Max was standing guard on one of the logs. His mum and dad were both busy on the other side of the burrow, scrabbling about in the dirt with their front paws.

  “What are they doing?” Zoe asked Mo.

  “Foraging for food,” Mo replied, “while Max takes care of his baby brother and sisters.”

  Zoe looked at Max. Every so often he made the same peeping sound he’d made when he’d been standing guard in the garden the day before. “Why’s he making that noise?” she asked.

  “It’s to let the parents know that everything is OK,” Mo said, heading out to check on the hippos. “So they don’t have to worry while they’re getting breakfast.”

  “I’m glad I don’t have to forage for food,” Meep chirped as Mo left. “It looks like hard work!”

  Zoe laughed. Meep was right. Max’s mum’s and dad’s front paws were moving very quickly and they were concentrating hard on finding food for their family. Then Zoe looked back at Max. He was still making the peeping sound but he’d got down from the log and was rolling around in the dirt – and the babies were copying him. They looked so funny and cute. She felt for her paw-print pendant and let herself into the enclosure.

  Max yelped and gave her a cheeky grin. Then he carried on wriggling around with his brother and sisters in the dirt.

  All of a sudden their mum and dad came scampering over. Max’s mum barked at him. She wanted to know why he’d stopped making the peeping sound. Max looked sad.

  “Oh dear,” Zoe whispered to Meep. “Max is in trouble again!”

  While Max’s mum and dad started grooming the babies Zoe put down her banner and gave Max a cuddle. He instantly looked happier and started chattering away to her.

  “I know chores can be boring but everyone has to do them,” Zoe said. “I have some jobs to do now for the treasure hunt. Why don’t I ask Mo if I can take you out for a walk and I can show you what I’m doing?”

  Max yelped excitedly.

  When Mo had agreed that it was OK for her to take Max out, Zoe put Max on the lead and they set off around the zoo. Everywhere they went there were brightly coloured banners reminding visitors about the treasure hunt. Zoe’s heart pounded with excitement – soon it would be time to hide the prizes. She couldn’t wait! As they walked past the panda enclosure Chi Chi and Mei Mei came scampering over. They squealed with excitement when they saw Max on the lead.

  “This is Max the meerkat,” Zoe explained. “He’s from Botswana in Africa. He’s just moved to the zoo with his family.”

  The panda cubs gave Max a welcoming squeak. Max stood up tall on his hind legs, using his tail to support him, and said hello.

  Finally they got to the reptile house. But when Max saw the monkey enclosure opposite he started tugging on his lead, trying to get closer. A couple of spider monkeys were playing a game of chase, hooting loudly as they swung from branch to branch. Max tugged even harder on his lead and yelped excitedly.

  “No, you can’t go in there,” Zoe said. “But we can stay here and watch for a bit if you like.”

  Max hopped about happily.

  Just then Sally, one of the reptile keepers, came out of the reptile house.

  “Hello, Zoe,” she called. “Do you have the banner for the treasure hunt?”

  “Yes, hold on.” Zoe crouched down next to Max and Meep. “You stay here and watch the monkeys,” she whispered, before going over to Sally.

  “Are you looking forward to the treasure hunt?” Sally asked, as Zoe handed her one end of the banner.

  “I can’t wait!” Zoe grinned. “I’m going to be helping hide the prizes tomorrow. We’ve got loads to hide and there’s going to be a really cool special prize.”

  Zoe held her end of the banner straight while Sally unfurled it.

  “Oh, Zoe, it looks amazing!” Sally exclaimed.

  “Thank you!” Zoe said proudly. She’d covered the banner in paintings of lizards and it said: TREASURE HUNT ON SATURDAY AT 11! The S in Saturday was a huge snake. Zoe helped Sally attach it to the railings outside the reptile house, then they stepped back to look at it.

  “Thanks so much, Zoe,” Sally said. “Have fun hiding the prizes tomorrow!”

  “I will,” Zoe replied.

  As Sally headed inside the reptile house, Zoe turned back to the monkey enclosure. But Max and Meep had disappeared!

  Zoe ran over to the monkey enclosure and called to one of the spider monkeys. “Have you seen Meep and the little meerkat I was with?”

  The monkey nodded and let out a shriek, pointing to the open door of the reptile house.

  “Thank you!” Zoe hurried through the door of the reptile house and immediately bumped into Meep – a very worried-looking Meep.

  “Meep, thank goodness! Where’s Max?” Zoe exclaimed.

  Meep raised one of his front paws. Zoe’s heart sank as she realised that he was pointing straight to the snake room!

  Zoe raced inside. As always the snake room was warm and dark. “
Max?” she called softly.

  A huge cobra slithered across the ground of one of the enclosures and gave a loud hiss. Zoe gulped. She didn’t know all of the snakes at the Rescue Zoo as there were so many but normally they were very polite. Why did this one sound so cross? Surely Max wouldn’t have been silly enough to climb into his enclosure… But then she saw a blur of pale-brown fur streak across the back of the enclosure. It was Max! She watched as the little meerkat leapt on to the snake, chattering excitedly.

  “No, Max. You can’t ride the snake!” Zoe exclaimed.

  The snake raised its head and gave another loud hiss, its forked tongue darting about. Then it flicked its long body and sent Max tumbling to the floor.

  “Max, come out of there right now,” Zoe said crossly. “The snake doesn’t want to play with you.”

  The snake looked at Zoe and hissed again.

  “He wants to be left alone to have a nap,” Zoe told Max. “I’m really sorry,” she said to the snake. “He’s new to the zoo!”

  Max looked at Zoe and sighed. Then he scampered over to a tree at the back of the enclosure and shot up the branches. He leapt from the highest branch of the tree and out of a small gap at the top of the enclosure. Then he hopped straight down into Zoe’s arms.

  Inside the enclosure, the snake coiled back down with a contented hiss.

  “What were you doing in there?” Zoe asked.

  Max chirped in her ear.

  “You were looking for fun – in an enclosure with a snake?” Zoe exclaimed.

  Max nodded and smiled.

  Zoe shook her head. She realised she couldn’t leave the curious little meerkat on his own – not even for a minute!

  Chapter Five

  Chores are for Bores!