Kiss an Angel(59)

To her relief, Lollipop didn’t try to spit at her again, but she still gave the llama a wide berth. In addition to Lollipop, Sinjun, and Chester, the menagerie contained a leopard named Fred, a vulture who’d had his wings clipped, and a gorilla. There was also a boa constrictor, but to Daisy’s relief, the snake had become Jill’s pet, and she kept him in her trailer when he wasn’t on display.

Following Digger’s sketchy instructions, Daisy fed the animals, then began cleaning out the cages, starting with Sinjun’s. The tiger regarded her with lofty condescension as she gave him his shower, acting as if he were granting her a privilege by letting her serve him.

“I don’t like you,” she grumbled as she turned the water on him.

Liar.

She nearly dropped the hose. “Stop it,” she hissed. “Stop putting thoughts in my head.”

He yawned and ducked into the spray, making her feel unbelievably foolish.

When she was done with Sinjun’s shower, she wandered back into the tent and stared at the lowland gorilla named Glenna who was caged in the corner. Her dark chocolate eyes were sad and resigned as she stared out through the iron bars of battered old cage that seemed much too small for her. Something about the animal’s quiet resignation fascinated Daisy, and she found herself approaching the cage.

Glenna sat quietly watching her, assessing this new human being in what must have seemed like an endless parade of humans who passed by her cage each day. Daisy stopped and waited, feeling as if she somehow wanted Glenna’s permission before she came closer, as if in this one small event, the gorilla should have a choice.

Glenna moved to the front of the cage and observed her. Slowly she raised her arm and pushed her hand through the bars. Daisy stared at it and realized the gorilla was reaching out to her.

Glenna waited patiently, her hand extended. Daisy’s heart thudded. She could barely bring hers if to pet a kitten, let alone touch a wild animal, and she wanted to turn away, but the gorilla seemed so human that to ignore the gesture would have been an unforgivable breech of good manners, and she walked hesitantly forward.

Glenna’s hand rested palm upward. With the greatest reluctance Daisy extended her own hand and, using the tip of her index finger, gingerly touched the tip of Glenna’s finger. It was soft and smooth. Feeling a bit braver, she stroked its supple length. Glenna closed her eyes and gave a soft gorilla sigh.

Daisy stayed with her for some time, stroking her hand and feeling as if her life had somehow found a sense of purpose.

As the morning slipped by, her questions about the proper care of the animals multiplied. Several times she ran over to ask Digger for advice about feed and daily routine, and each time she approached, Tater trumpeted at her like a playground bully.

Digger answered her questions reluctantly, and she knew he was still put out by what had happened between them yesterday. As she turned to leave after her second series of inquiries, he spat, barely missing her sneaker.

“Don’t have time for any more of your questions, Miz. Wouldn’t want nobody to think I’m lazy.”

“Digger, I didn’t say you were lazy. I was just worried about the conditions in the menagerie.” She secretly wondered how much Digger really knew about the proper care of the menagerie animals. He loved the elephants, but he didn’t really care about the others. He certainly hadn’t known that tigers loved water. She resolved to do some research herself in her free time.

His rheumy eyes were full of resentment. “I been around animals for fifty years. How long you been around?”

“Only two weeks. That’s why I need your advice.”

“I ain’t got time for no talk. Got too much work to do.” He looked past her, and his lips parted in a grin that showed yellowed teeth curling in on several gaping holes. Too late, she saw the source of his amusement Tater had sidled up behind her.

Swat!

She felt as if she’d been hit in the chest with a tightly rolled piece of carpet. With no time to brace herself, she flew across the ground before stumbling against a bale of hay. Her hip hit the dirt, sending shards of pain shooting up into her body. Digger’s wheezy laughter echoed in her ears. She lifted her head just in time to see an expression in Tater’s eyes that looked very much like a smirk.

Fireworks went off in her brain. She’d had enough!

Ignoring the pain in her leg and hip, she vaulted to her feet and descended on the baby elephant, shaking her fist. “Don’t you ever do that to me again! Ever! Do you hear me?”

The elephant took a lumbering step backward as she went after him. “You’re rude, nasty, and mean! And the next time you swat me, you’re going to be sorry! I won’t stand for being abused! Do you understand me?”

Taper let out a pitiful little elephant bleat and ducked his head, but she was a woman who had been pushed too far. Forgetting her aversion to touching animals, she poked his trunk with her index finger. “If you want my attention, you earn it by being nice! You don’t earn it by swatting me every time come near!”

His trunk drooped, and one of his ears turned inside out as it flopped forward. She reared herself up to her full height. “Do we have an understanding or not?”

He lifted his head just far enough to butt it gently against her shoulder. She crossed her arms, rejecting his peace offering. “I can’t just pretend none of this happened.”