The Cuddly Koala

by Amelia Cobb

  She left the light off and they tiptoed across to her sleeping bag in the dark, trying not to disturb the butterflies any more. Zoe wriggled inside first, and Meep curled up into a little ball on her pillow. It was warm, cosy and quiet, and they quickly fell asleep with the peaceful fluttering sound of butterfly wings all around them.

  Zoe woke up to a funny, soft tickling against her nose and cheeks, and opened her eyes to see a pretty green butterfly fluttering against her face. Sunshine was streaming through the windows.

  “Good morning!” she whispered to the butterfly. “Thanks for waking me up!”

  Great-Uncle Horace was frying eggs and buttering toast in the kitchen, with Kipp perched in a basket on the kitchen table. “Good morning, my dear!” he called when he saw Zoe. “Did you sleep well? After breakfast we’ll head straight to the koala enclosure. I’d like us to start introducing Kipp to his new home as early as possible, even if he’s not quite ready to live there just yet. I think this little fellow missed you,” he added, chuckling. As soon as Kipp saw Zoe and Meep, he squeaked “hello” eagerly, and Zoe whispered “hello” back when Great-Uncle Horace’s back was turned.

  When they’d eaten, they got dressed and headed off. Because it was the school holidays, the Rescue Zoo was already bustling with visitors by the time Zoe and Great-Uncle Horace made their way along the path to the koala enclosure. Kipp was cuddled in Zoe’s arms, Meep scampered along next to them and Kiki fluttered overhead. Lots of visitors gasped when they saw such a funny group wandering along, and Zoe felt proud when she heard one girl say, “Mum, that girl is allowed to hold the animals! Do you think she’s a proper zookeeper?”

  Lucy was waiting for them at the koala enclosure, and smiled when she saw them arriving. “How was your sleepover, love?” she asked, kissing Zoe on the forehead. “I missed you!”

  “It was really fun – and I’ve got lots to write about for my project already!” Zoe told her. “Kipp loved the pap we gave him, and he tried a few leaves too. He hasn’t got the hang of climbing yet though, but I want to try again today.”

  “It sounds like you’ve been working really hard. Well done, Zoe,” said Lucy. “Now, do you want to carry Kipp into the enclosure?”

  Zoe nodded. “I hope he likes it,” she said.

  Lucy held the gate open for them, and Zoe carried Kipp inside. She walked all the way around the enclosure with Kipp in her arms, whispering to him whenever she felt sure that her mum and Great-Uncle Horace couldn’t hear her. “This will be a lovely bed for you to sleep in,” she explained quietly. “And look at all these tall trees! They’re perfect for you to practise your climbing – and if you manage to go a little bit higher today, I’ll pick the biggest, juiciest eucalyptus leaf I can find for you, as a reward!”

  Kipp loved the enclosure and squeaked a shy hello when he saw Matilda, the other koala he would be sharing his new home with – but he still didn’t seem ready to start climbing. Zoe put him down gently at the bottom of a tree and he crept towards it, sniffing curiously, but paused when he got closer. “Go on, Kipp!” she whispered encouragingly.

  “Zoe?” called Lucy. “I’ve got to go back to the zoo hospital now so I’ll see you at the cottage for lunch, OK? Great-Uncle Horace is going to stay with you, in case you need any help.”

  “OK!” replied Zoe, waving. “Oh, Mum, before you go, please can I borrow your phone? I want to use the camera on it to take some pictures of Kipp for my project.”

  “Of course!” said Lucy, passing Zoe her phone. Zoe snapped a few shots of Kipp, and then of the tree he was standing next to. Just as Lucy left the enclosure, Zoe heard another set of footsteps approaching – and then a cross voice. “What is going on here?”

  Zoe groaned quietly. Mr Pinch! The moany old zoo manager was always complaining, and she just knew he would be unhappy when he found out that Zoe was looking after Kipp. He thought Zoe and Meep were a nuisance around the zoo, and had told Zoe before that only “real, grown-up zookeepers” should be allowed to help with the animals. She thought this was very unfair.

  Mr Pinch strode into the enclosure, looking suspicious. His uniform was spotless as usual, and his shoes and hat polished to a shine. Mr Pinch hated mess!

  “I heard from some of the keepers that we had a new koala - and that you are looking after him. By yourself,” he told Zoe sternly.

  Great-Uncle Horace burst in quickly. “Oh, Zoe isn’t doing it alone, Percy,” he reassured Mr Pinch. “The two of us are caring for the joey together. We make an excellent team!”

  Mr Pinch frowned. “Well, I’m still not very happy about this. We have lots of proper zookeepers who could do it.”

  As Great-Uncle Horace began to explain how busy everyone was, Zoe heard an excited little squeak from behind her. She turned round and gasped. While she had been listening to Mr Pinch, Kipp had plucked up the courage to try climbing the eucalyptus tree after all. To Zoe’s surprise, he was perched halfway up it, even higher than Zoe’s head, gripping the trunk with his strong claws. And he wanted Zoe to see!

  Meep was bouncing up and down eagerly. “Kipp’s climbing! Kipp’s climbing!” the little lemur chattered.

  “I can’t believe it!” said Zoe.

  But as she watched, she saw the expression on the little joey’s face quickly change. He looked down and realised how far from the ground he was. Suddenly his squeaks became frightened. He wanted to come down right away – but he didn’t know how!

  Zoe stared at the little koala in panic. She didn’t know what to do! She wanted to call out to Kipp and tell him to stay still, and that she and Great-Uncle Horace would help him climb back down. But she couldn’t talk to him with Great-Uncle Horace and Mr Pinch standing right there. Zoe couldn’t risk them finding out about her secret ability.

  Feeling as though her feet were frozen, Zoe watched in horror as Kipp tried wriggling back down the trunk. But he lost his grip – and fell all the way to the ground!

  Chapter Five

  The Poorly Koala

  Zoe rushed over to the poor little koala, with Great-Uncle Horace and Mr Pinch right behind her. Very carefully, she scooped him into her arms. Kipp’s nose twitched anxiously and he was shaking. Zoe could tell he had hurt himself.

  “I’d better take him straight to Mum,” she told Great-Uncle Horace, who nodded worriedly.

  “I told you this was a bad idea,” Mr Pinch muttered, shaking his head.

  Zoe rushed to the zoo hospital, her heart pounding. It was all her fault that Kipp had fallen! Why hadn’t she been watching him more carefully? She felt so upset that she couldn’t even stop to answer her animal friends who called out to her along the way, wanting to know what was wrong.

  She burst through the zoo hospital doors, breathlessly calling, “Mum! Mum!”

  “I’m here, Zoe!” replied Lucy, coming out of her office. When she saw Zoe cradling the trembling joey, her expression became very serious. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

  Almost in tears, Zoe explained.

  “Let’s take a look at him,” said Lucy, gently taking Kipp from Zoe and examining his furry head, arms and legs, and all four paws. When she touched his left leg, Kipp squeaked miserably, and Lucy examined it more carefully. Finally she sighed. “Nothing’s broken, thank goodness. His leg is little bit grazed, and it will be sore for a few days. I’ll give him some medicine to stop it hurting as much, and wrap it in a bandage. Then he’ll need to rest.”

  Zoe nodded. She was relieved that Kipp hadn’t hurt himself more seriously – but she still felt really guilty. Even so, she couldn’t believe it when her mum said gently, “Zoe, I think it would be for the best if you found another animal to write your school project on.”

  “Mum!” gasped Zoe. “Please, it was an accident. I know I should have watched him more carefully, but I promise I won’t let him out of my sight from now on.”

  Lucy nodded. “I know it was an accident, love, and I’m sorry. But a brand-new baby animal is so much responsibility, and I think
it’s a bit much for you. And wouldn’t it be easier to write about an animal you know really well already, anyway – Bertie the elephant, or Rory the lion cub?”

  Zoe didn’t know what to say. She loved both Bertie and Rory, of course – but she had been so excited about helping to look after Kipp, and writing her project on him. Now she had ruined it. “Can I still see him?” she asked in a very small voice.

  “Of course you can, love,” said Lucy, hugging Zoe. “Please don’t be upset. I know you worked really hard and did your best. Great-Uncle Horace told me what a good job you did at the Hall last night! The other zookeepers will pitch in and help to look after him, and I’m sure you’ll still be able to visit and help out.”

  When Lucy went into another room to fetch Kipp’s medicine and a bandage, Zoe rushed over to the little joey, who squealed anxiously at her. “Kipp, I’m so sorry,” she told him. “I feel awful! Does your leg hurt really badly?”

  But Kipp didn’t seem to mind about his leg. He was more upset that Zoe wouldn’t be able to look after him any more! He nuzzled his little head against her, squeaking sadly.

  Zoe stroked his furry head. “It’s not your fault,” she said. “You weren’t being clumsy. You mustn’t think that! It’s all my fault.”

  As she heard her mum coming back into the room, she dropped her voice to a whisper. “Listen, Kipp – I promise I’ll think of a way to look after you again. I don’t know how, but I’ll come up with something!”

  Three days later, Zoe went back to the zoo hospital with Meep to visit Kipp. She had tried to keep busy around the zoo, helping to feed the penguins and clean out the giraffe enclosure. Nicola and Jack had come to the zoo for the day, and she had shown them all the different animal enclosures, which her friends had loved.

  But the whole time she had been thinking and worrying about the little joey and his poorly leg. She felt so guilty about his accident.

  “Hi, love,” called Lucy as Zoe popped her head round the door. “Come in! Your little friend is doing much better today.”

  “Is his leg getting better?” Zoe asked anxiously, walking over to where her mum was unwrapping the bandage from the joey’s leg. Kipp squealed happily up at her, pleased to see her again.

  “It’s almost completely healed!” Lucy said. “That’s the good news. There’s some bad news though, I’m afraid.”

  Zoe looked at her mum. “What? What’s wrong?”

  Lucy sighed. “Kipp’s fall seems to have made him even more nervous – not just about climbing but even being carried around,” she explained. “Jess, Frankie and some of the other zookeepers have taken him into the koala enclosure several times this week to try and encourage him to have another go. As well as building his confidence back up, climbing would exercise his leg and help it to heal quicker. But he just clings to the keepers and won’t let go. It’s as if he’s frightened that they’re going to drop him.”

  Lucy sighed and stroked the koala’s furry head, looking worried. “They all love cuddling him, of course,” she added. “But the problem is, he’s getting bigger and heavier every day, and it’s becoming really hard for them to carry him all the time, especially when they have other animals they need to take care of.”

  “Mum, could I have another go at looking after him?” Zoe asked hopefully. She felt sure that if she could speak to Kipp privately, she’d be able to convince him to climb again!

  But Lucy looked unsure. “I don’t know, Zoe,” she said. “I know how carefully you’d look after him. But Mr Pinch saw Kipp fall the other day, remember. He’s still very cross about it. If he knew that you were taking care of Kipp again, he’d make a fuss. Now, I think it’s time for Kipp to have a nap – he’s had a very tiring few days and he still needs to rest.”

  As her mum carried Kipp into the next room to settle him down for his nap, Zoe and Meep huddled together.

  “Zoe, what shall we do?” chattered Meep. “Shall we come back in secret tonight and talk to Kipp when there’s no one around?”

  Zoe shook her head. “If Mum finds out, we’ll be in even more trouble,” she whispered. “But we do need to think of a plan, Meep. We need to help Kipp climb again!”

  Later that day Zoe and Meep were sitting on a bench outside the zoo café. Zoe was trying to work on her school science project, but it was hard now that she couldn’t write about Kipp any more. She couldn’t decide what to do instead, and all she had managed to write so far was her name at the top of the page.

  Naughty Meep was restless, and was not being very helpful. First he had nibbled the corner of Zoe’s exercise book, and then he’d knocked her pencil case on to the floor, scattering her pens and pencils everywhere.

  “Meep, are you chewing my red felt tip now?” asked Zoe with a frown. “You’ve got red ink all over your face. You look like you’re wearing lipstick, you cheeky thing!”

  Meep scampered up on to her shoulder and cuddled against her neck. “I’m bored, Zoe,” the tiny lemur complained.

  Zoe sighed. “And I just keep thinking about Kipp,” she said. “I wish Mum would let us look after him again. And I wish he wasn’t growing so quickly! If he was climbing by himself, it wouldn’t matter. But because all the zookeepers are having to carry him around everywhere, it’s a big problem. He’s getting too heavy for any of them to hold him for long, and they have other jobs to do.”

  “It’s a pity he’s not tiny and light like me,” chattered Meep.

  Zoe cuddled Meep. “I wonder if we can think of a way to make it easier for the zookeepers to carry him?” she said thoughtfully. “Then Kipp could build his confidence back up slowly, and try climbing again when he feels ready.”

  Meep wrinkled up his little nose in concentration. “Maybe Goo can help?” he suggested.

  “I think I have an even better idea,” said Zoe. “Let’s go back to the koala enclosure and talk to Matilda! She might have some ideas about how we can help Kipp.”

  Zoe swept her books and pencil case back into her school bag, threw it over her shoulder and they set off. Five minutes later they arrived at the entrance to the koala enclosure, and Zoe reached for the necklace she was wearing. It was no ordinary necklace – it had been a present from Great-Uncle Horace, and the pretty silver paw-print charm dangling from it opened every single door or gate in the zoo. It was Zoe’s most special, precious possession.

  Zoe touched the charm against the gate, and with a click it swung open for her.

  “Matilda?” called Zoe as they stepped inside. “It’s us, Zoe and Meep. We want to ask your advice!”

  She looked around, but all she could see were tall, leafy eucalyptus trees.

  Then there was a friendly squeak from high up above her head.

  “That’s Matilda!” said Zoe. “Meep, will you climb up the tree and talk to her?” Meep agreed, looking very pleased to be asked to do such an important job. He leaped from Zoe’s shoulder on to the tree trunk and scurried up it, disappearing into the leaves at the top. Zoe waited, hearing the two animals talking in low voices. Then she heard Meep say, “Thank you!” and his little face popped through the leaves again.

  “What did Matilda say?” asked Zoe as Meep scampered down and jumped back into her arms.

  “I explained the problem,” Meep told her. “I said we needed a way to make carrying Kipp easier. Matilda said that in the wild, grown-up koalas carry their babies on their backs.”

  Zoe nodded. “Yes, I remember seeing pictures of them,” she said. “But how can the zookeepers carry Kipp on their backs? They’re much bigger than a koala. Wouldn’t he fall off?”

  Meep frowned. “I don’t know, Zoe,” he admitted.

  Zoe cuddled her little friend. “Never mind, Meep. We’ll think of something. Come on.”

  She reached down to grab her school bag and suddenly stopped, staring at it. “Meep – I think I might have an idea after all! Quick – we need to go back to the cottage!”

  Chapter Six

  Zoe’s Plan

  As they
rushed through the zoo, Meep wanted Zoe to explain her idea – but Zoe just smiled at her little friend. “Wait and see, Meep,” she said. “I think you’re going to like it!”

  When they reached the cottage, Zoe ran up the stairs to her bedroom and threw open her wardrobe door. Poor Meep was more confused than ever!

  “Are you getting changed?” he asked.

  Zoe laughed as she rummaged around inside her wardrobe. “I’m looking for something. I’m sure it’s in here…” she called. “Yes – here it is!” She pulled out a yellow rucksack. “My school bag from last year. I had to stop using it because the zip broke – but I kept it, just in case it came in useful one day. I’m glad I did now!”

  “But what do you need your old school bag for, Zoe?” Meep wanted to know.

  “You’ll see very soon,” Zoe promised, scooping him up and dashing back down the stairs. “Now, we’re going over to Higgins Hall again. We need some help from Great-Uncle Horace!”

  When they reached the Hall, Zoe heard a funny noise coming from inside. “What’s that, Meep?” she asked, peeping through a window. “It sounds musical! Is it … singing?”

  As she pushed open the door, the sound got louder. Now Zoe could make out whistling coming from the kitchen. She peered round the door. Kiki was perched on the kitchen table chirping a tune, and Great-Uncle Horace was humming along cheerily and tapping his feet while he put custard cream biscuits on a plate. Zoe couldn’t help giggling, and Great-Uncle Horace looked up.

  “Zoe! What a nice surprise,” he said. “Come in, come in! How can I help you, my dear? You look as though you’re up to something,” he added, smiling at Zoe’s excited expression.

  “I am! I have an idea to help Kipp,” Zoe told him, putting her old school bag on the kitchen table in front of him. “He’s getting too heavy for the zookeepers to keep carrying around, so I want to turn this rucksack into a special harness for him! It would make him much easier to carry, and it’ll mean the zookeepers can keep their hands free for the other stuff they have to do! And, if Kipp feels safe, and isn’t worrying about being dropped, it should help his confidence. Then he might even start climbing again!”