A Perfect Time for Pandas

by Mary Pope Osborne

The waiter slapped their check on the table and walked away.

  “Whoa. We should leave,” said Jack, standing up. He looked at the check, then took a twenty-yuan note out of his pocket and left it on the table. “Come on.” He walked quickly around the tables to the exit. Annie hurried after him.

  Back on the sidewalk, Jack sighed. “So, where do we go to look for this weird food now?”

  “Maybe the guide book can help us,” Annie said.

  “Maybe,” said Jack. He pulled out their book and looked up Wolong Town in the index. He turned to a page and read aloud:

  Wolong (say WOO-long) means “sleeping dragon.” Wolong Town is inside the Wolong National Nature Reserve, which is circled by a mountain range called the Sleeping Dragon. According to legend, a dragon fell in love with the beauty of the mountains and trees. He curled around them to take a nap and never woke up.

  “That’s cool,” said Annie.

  “Yeah, but it doesn’t help us,” said Jack. He read more:

  Wolong Reserve is home to rare Asian animals such as giant pandas, golden snub-nosed monkeys, white-lipped deer, and—

  “Wait! Back up!” said Annie. “Did you say giant pandas?”

  “Yes …,” said Jack.

  “Oh my gosh!” said Annie. She covered her heart with her hands. “My life’s dream has finally come true!”

  “What life’s dream?” said Jack, looking at her. “Pandas?”

  “Yes! I’ve always wanted to see real pandas up close! Haven’t you?” said Annie. She took the guide book and flipped through the pages until she found photos of pandas. She read aloud:

  In 1980, the Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda was set up in the Wolong Reserve to be a safe haven for the animals.

  “A panda center! We have to go there!” said Annie. “Now!”

  “Wait, wait,” said Jack. “We have a mission! Why are you acting so crazy about pandas?”

  “I can’t help it,” said Annie. “All my life I’ve wanted to meet real pandas. Remember my two stuffed animals? Roly and Poly? I loved them so much! You know that!”

  “Okay, okay. But we have to stick to our mission,” Jack said.

  “We have lots of time to find that special food,” said Annie. “Wolong has other restaurants. It can’t be that hard to find a weird food. Hey! I have a good idea!” She gave the guide book back to Jack, then started off. “Come with me!”

  “Wait, stop. Where are we going?” Jack said.

  “We passed a bicycle shop earlier,” Annie called over her shoulder. “I’ll bet they rent bikes!”

  “What? Are you crazy?” Jack put their book away and walked after her. “Where is this panda center?” he called. “We might not have enough time to get there and back and complete our mission. Plus renting bikes costs money. We don’t know how much.”

  “Let’s find out!” said Annie. She started running up the street to the Wolong Town Bicycle Shop.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The Sleeping Dragon

  Oh, brother, thought Jack, hurrying after Annie. By the time he entered the bike shop, she was already talking with the man who worked there. “Good news!” Annie said, rushing over to Jack. “He says we can get to the panda center on mountain bikes! And it’s only thirty yuan a day per bike!”

  “Did he say how long it takes to get there?” asked Jack.

  “Not too long,” said Annie. She clapped her hands. Her eyes were shining. “Jack! I can’t believe this!”

  Annie was so excited about the panda center that Jack just couldn’t say no. He reached into his pocket and took out three twenty-yuan notes and gave them to the shopkeeper.

  The man handed Jack and Annie their helmets. “It’s a beautiful ride up the mountain, but be very careful,” he said as Annie put her helmet on.

  “Thanks! See you later!” said Annie. She grabbed a blue mountain bike and steered it out of the store.

  “Be very careful!” the man called after her again.

  Very careful of what? wondered Jack. But tucking his helmet under his arm, he grabbed a red bike and followed Annie.

  “So the bike guy told me to go up this street and turn left onto the highway,” Annie said. “Then we just stay on it until we come to the panda center.”

  “Cool. How far away is it?” asked Jack as he put on his helmet. He snapped the strap under his chin.

  “Not far, just five or six miles,” said Annie.

  “What?” said Jack.

  “Don’t worry, we can do it. Easy.” Annie pushed off and pedaled away. “To panda paradise!” she shouted, zooming up the street.

  “Five or six miles,” muttered Jack. “Up a mountain. Great.” He got on his bike and followed Annie. She reached the end of the street and turned left onto the highway. Jack hurried to catch up. As he pedaled up the highway, he glanced at the scenery.

  On one side of the road was a steep mountain slope. It was covered with fir trees and bushes with purple and pink flowers. On the other side of the road was a steep drop down into a river valley. The river sparkled with sunlight as it rushed through green farmland. More cloud-covered mountains loomed in the distance.

  A blue bus suddenly roared past. Jack almost lost his balance. “Good grief!” he said. “That was close!”

  Then a car that looked like a taxi flew by. “This is definitely not safe!” Jack said aloud. How could he have let Annie talk him into riding bikes on a highway? They should have taken a bus or a taxi, or better yet, not gone at all!

  “Annie!” Jack shouted. She was so far ahead that he could barely see her. “Annie!” Jack yelled again as loudly as he could. “Slow down! Annie! Slow down!”

  Annie rounded a sharp curve and disappeared from sight.

  Jack stood up on his pedals and pumped with all his might. He imagined Annie veering into the path of a vehicle or driving off the cliff!

  When Jack finally came around the curve, he saw Annie up ahead, waiting beside the road. A big grin lit up her face. “Thank goodness, you’re okay!” she called. “I was worried about you!”

  Jack rode to her and stopped his bike.

  “This road isn’t safe, you know,” said Annie.

  “You’re telling me?” said Jack, panting.

  “But I can understand how that dragon felt. Can’t you?” said Annie. “It’s so beautiful!”

  Jack caught his breath and looked around. “Yeah, it is,” he said. “But how much farther do we have to go? We can’t forget about our mission.”

  “I don’t think it’s much farther. Come on, we’ll hurry,” said Annie. She climbed back onto her bike.

  “I’ll go first,” said Jack. “Let’s stay together and keep as close as we can to the side of the road. I’m serious, Annie.” He gripped his handlebars and started pedaling again.

  Leading the way, Jack hugged the side of the road. He glanced back a couple of times to make sure Annie was doing the same. As they struggled uphill, huffing and puffing, a light rain started to fall. Mist gradually descended over the valley and the highway as they biked higher and higher up the mountain.

  More vehicles roared by, but Jack tried to ignore them. He couldn’t believe they were biking up a mountain on a Chinese highway in foggy weather!

  Finally Jack and Annie came to a sign that said:

  CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE GIANT PANDA

  “Yay! We’re here!” said Annie.

  The rain had stopped. Jack was wet, exhausted, and out of breath. “I hope you’re—you’re happy,” he said.

  Annie gave Jack a big smile. “I am,” she said. “Totally.”

  The panda center was nestled between two tall mountains. It was on the far side of a narrow river. A small bridge crossed the river to the entrance gate. Near the gate a group of grown-ups was waiting to go inside.

  Jack and Annie rode to the parking lot and parked their bikes next to a small blue bus. They took off their helmets and hung them from their handlebars.

  “Oh, no!” cried
Annie. She pointed to the panda center sign. At the bottom it said:

  NO ONE UNDER 18 ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT

  “I don’t believe it,” said Jack. “We came all this way for nothing?” He had to admit he was secretly relieved. Now they could get back to their mission.

  “I can’t accept this,” said Annie. “We have to get in there.”

  “Your attention, please, everyone!” a woman in a uniform called to the group waiting outside the gate.

  “Let’s go listen,” said Annie. She ran across the bridge.

  “Annie!” Jack called. He sighed, and then hurried after her. They stood at the back of the little crowd.

  “My name is Dr. Ling,” the young Chinese woman said to the group. “Welcome to the largest giant panda reserve in the world. This is a place for scientists and animal protectors.”

  “That’s me,” Annie said, “animal protector.”

  Several people looked at Annie, as if they were wondering who she was.

  Oh, brother, thought Jack.

  “Good,” Dr. Ling said to Annie. “Pandas are one of the most endangered species in the world. For at least three million years, they have lived in China’s dense bamboo forests. Now those same forests are being cut down to make room for farms and roads.”

  “How many pandas are left?” asked Annie.

  “Throughout the world, only about sixteen hundred in the wild,” said Dr. Ling. “Today the species is threatened with extinction.”

  “That’s terrible!” Annie said.

  “Shhh,” said Jack.

  But Annie didn’t shhh. “Can we save them, Dr. Ling?” she asked.

  “We hope so. We’re working hard to do just that at the panda center,” said Dr. Ling. “We are responsible for about two hundred pandas here. Many were rescued after an injury or illness. And many more were born here. Last year we had sixteen new babies.”

  “Wow!” said Annie.

  “While the panda center is not a place for tourists,” said Dr. Ling, “we do allow volunteers to come in and help us. So without further ado, let’s all get suited up!”

  Annie started walking with the crowd. “Annie, come back,” Jack whispered loudly.

  But Annie just signaled to Jack to follow her. Then she stepped boldly into the Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Get Suited Up!

  “I don’t believe her!” Jack grumbled to himself. He had no choice but to follow Annie into the panda center. When he walked through the gate, he saw a group of low buildings with tree-covered mountains looming behind them.

  As Dr. Ling led the group along a stone path, Jack saw Annie talking to an elegant older woman with snow-white hair. He quickly caught up with them. He pulled on Annie’s sleeve, but she kept talking to the woman. “I’ve always loved them,” Annie said. “You too?”

  “My goodness, yes,” the woman said. “I’ve come all by myself from New York City to see them.”

  “That’s great,” said Annie. “We’ve come all the way from Pennsylvania! What’s your name?”

  “Sylvia,” the woman answered. “And yours?”

  “I’m Annie. This is my brother, Jack. Do you mind if we tag along with you, Sylvia?” said Annie.

  “Of course not,” said Sylvia. “I’d be delighted.”

  “Great.” Annie smiled at Jack.

  Dr. Ling led the group into one of the buildings and gave each person canvas coveralls, paper shoes, and rubber gloves. “All volunteers must wear these over their clothes,” she said. “That way, we’ll know you’re here to help us.”

  “We’re going to get caught,” Jack whispered to Annie.

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “We actually are with an adult now.”

  Jack shook his head. But he took off his pack, and he and Annie each pulled on large, bulky coveralls. They rolled up their sleeves and pant legs. Then they slid the paper shoes over their sneakers and tugged on the rubber gloves.

  “We’ll all go into the nursery first,” said Dr. Ling.

  Annie grabbed Jack’s arm. She looked like she might explode with happiness.

  Dr. Ling opened a door at the back of the room and herded everyone into the panda nursery. “We have only one newborn panda cub now. As you walk by the incubator, take a quick peek.”

  The group paraded slowly past the incubator. Almost everyone who peeked at the baby murmured with surprise. Jack quickly found out why—the newborn didn’t look like a panda at all. It looked more like a fuzzy pink mouse.

  “Incredible,” said Jack.

  “It’s so teeny!” whispered Annie.

  “Yes,” Sylvia whispered back. “I’ve read that newborn pandas weigh less than half a pound. But they can grow into two-hundred-and-fifty-pound bears.”

  “Whoa,” whispered Jack. He and Annie walked with Sylvia out of the nursery.

  “Now let’s go meet some of our panda keepers!” said Dr. Ling. She led the group over a stone walkway beside bamboo woods. Near a goldfish pond, several men in blue coveralls were waiting for them.

  “These gentlemen are the panda keepers,” said Dr. Ling. “You volunteers will work in pairs in the different panda houses. Each pair will spend a little time helping take care of a panda.” She pointed to Jack and Annie. “You two go with Master Lee. He’s Bing-Bing’s keeper. He’ll take you to her house. I hope your grandmother doesn’t mind.”

  Sylvia smiled. “Oh! I’m not—” she started to say.

  “Bye, Grandma!” Annie said with a laugh.

  Sylvia laughed, too, as if she thought Annie was making a joke, and she waved good-bye.

  “See you later!” Annie called. Then she grabbed Jack by the arm again and pulled him along after Master Lee.

  Master Lee was quiet and very serious-looking. Without a word, he led Jack and Annie to Bing-Bing’s house. The panda’s house was a giant cage with a door that opened into a yard. The yard was surrounded by a rock wall.

  “Bing-Bing lives by herself here,” Master Lee said. “She is an eight-year-old adult who joined us when she was quite small.”

  When they entered the cage, Jack saw leaves and bamboo stalks scattered across the concrete floor. But there was no panda inside.

  “Where’s Bing-Bing now?” said Annie.

  “Somewhere in her yard,” said Master Lee. He grabbed two brooms from the corner.

  Jack and Annie looked through the bars at the yard. They saw trees and bushes, but no sign of a giant panda.

  “She must have found a good hiding place,” said Annie.

  “Yes. I do not think you will see her today,” Master Lee said matter-of-factly.

  “Oh, no,” said Annie.

  “Can we look for her?” asked Jack.

  “No, Bing-Bing is very shy. We have to respect that,” said Master Lee. “I am going to get fresh bamboo now. You can clean her house by removing yesterday’s uneaten bamboo stalks and sweeping the floor.” He handed brooms to Jack and Annie.

  “Is bamboo Bing-Bing’s favorite food?” asked Jack.

  “Yes, all pandas eat bamboo for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” said Master Lee.

  “Wow, they must really love it,” said Annie.

  “Can humans eat bamboo, too?” Jack asked.

  “If they tried, they would break their teeth,” Master Lee answered without smiling. “Only a creature with superstrong jaws can eat bamboo.”

  “So it’s very tough,” said Jack, growing excited. “Is it as tough as wood?”

  “Well, yes …,” said Master Lee.

  “And I’ll bet it’s really healthy, too!” said Annie.

  “Uh, no …,” said Master Lee. “Bamboo is not very nutritious. That’s why a panda must eat a lot of it. Some pandas at the center eat eighty pounds a day.”

  “Oh, okay,” said Annie, her shoulders sagging. “And I guess it’s not baked with love, either. Is it?”

  Master Lee stared at Annie. He looked confused. “No … of course
not,” he said.

  “Darn,” said Annie.

  Jack was embarrassed. Like the waiter in the restaurant, Master Lee must think we’re really weird, he thought.

  “Well!” said Master Lee. “Shall we get to work now?”

  “Sure,” said Annie.

  “Sweep up the stalks, as well as the panda waste,” said Master Lee. “Then discard everything there.” He pointed to a trash bin in the cage.

  “Panda waste?” said Jack.

  “Yes,” said Master Lee. Seeing Jack’s expression, he added, “It’s not bad, I promise you. Their droppings look like little dry straw baskets.”

  Jack looked around. He saw what he thought Master Lee was talking about. It didn’t look that bad.

  “I will be back,” said Master Lee. “I am going to get fresh bamboo from the farmer’s truck.” Master Lee then left through the door at the back of the cage.

  “Darn,” said Jack, “we struck out.”

  “No special food here,” said Annie. She looked out in the yard. “And no panda here, either. I really want to see Bing-Bing!”

  “How did this happen?” said Jack. “We should be working on our mission. Not stuck in a cage picking up panda poop.”

  Annie giggled. “Don’t worry, we’ll leave soon,” she said. “Let’s just do our job first. It’s nice to help out here.”

  “Yeah, sure,” said Jack. “Sweep fast.”

  Jack and Annie began sweeping up old bamboo stalks and panda droppings. Jack filled a dustpan. As he dumped everything into the trash bin, Annie gasped.

  “I see her!” she whispered. “She’s up in a tree!”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Bing-Bing

  Annie pulled Jack to the bars of the panda house and pointed out to the yard. “See? Over there,” she whispered.

  A giant panda was climbing down the trunk of a maple tree, rump-first. She touched the ground, then sat up and raised her head. She was bigger than Jack had expected. Her head was the size of a basketball.

  “Oh, wow!” said Annie. “She’s amazing!”

  “Yeah, she is,” whispered Jack.