A Zoo By Anyother Name

People. Some short some tall, some fat some thin, all of them observed by me as I stared out of the window of the night bus. The time was now three in the morning, my body clock had allowed me to sleep for a couple of hours and having spent time drinking up the west end had helped to drown my thoughts, but now my instincts were reverting back and the desire for sleep was beginning to return

. My name is Neil Hendon, I am twenty five and live in one of those rundown inner cities filled with rising tower blocks that seem to lock people in like they had been confined for observation, with only their family for company and a few chosen friends that had got passed the instincts that lead to mistrust and suspicions. I also have a few friends, one of them I was hoping to see tonight! In fact, I had been hoping to see her now for the past month. At first, we were very close but then she slowly stopped returning my calls! I expected it was to do with the pressure of things, you know her being a young person like myself and worrying about getting a job! “Her name’s Melanie by the way” yet I did not see that as an excuse not to return my calls; however that would have to wait until morning.

My house is on the fifth floor, most of the neighbors had become known only by sight, except for the few that had chosen to be courteous, the rest of them hid in their little cages for their was no other word to describe it,. When I entered having used my key, I saw there were some letters. Three to be exact, no doubt bills, yet I was tired and did not want to be troubled any further, after all Melanie was not in her usual bar and having texted her three times I had still not received any reply,. Summoning my strength I washed my face in the bathroom, then changed into pyjamas and fell asleep.

The next day I awoke at 11.06 the alcohol obviously contributing to my state. Yet somewhat wearily I made my way out of bed and decided first to confront the three letters before preparing to start another day. I was right, there was a bill, this one from the council, there was also a Dear Sir you have won a list of prizes, although I did not think it would help me with the oncoming bills that, if like me you were unemployed, made things far worse! Especially having a drinks problem and desperately looking for work.. The third one had my name and address showing through a plastic window, the letter itself was bright yellow, I tore it open it read:

Dear Mr. .Hendon

My name is Toby Tiger and me and my pals have all come to live at the Zoo,

Since you are my pal also I have enclosed a five pound voucher for you to enjoy when you come to visit us. Your first visit is free, the usual prices are £6.Adults and £3 for children with a discount for Students and the elderly. We are open weekdays 9.0 till 5.0 and weekends 12.0 till 4.0.

Please come and visit us we look forward to seeing you there, we hope you enjoy your visit!

Your Pal

Toby Tiger.

It was signed with a paw print at the bottom, no doubt to give it an air of authenticity, there was also a map showing me how to get there, this was enclosed on a separate piece of paper. I began to study it, “Strange, that area is completely empty.” I told myself, “Nothing but rubble and a corrugated fence, it was like that when I walked past it this morning on my way to the job centre!” I had hoped to see Melanie there, however no such luck!

Of course, I was curious! And because I did not fancy another day watching television I decided to make an afternoon of it, and besides I was a bit short of cash and when you have no money and no job, you’re grateful of whatever help you can get!

I set off around mid afternoon, expecting it to be a mistake! “They couldn’t have got things built that quickly!” I told myself, “Not with this bloody council and all the cut backs they’ve been making;

I was wrong! There as if it had appeared almost magically was the zoo, it had a curved entrance complete with an attractive blonde woman inside the booth who allowed entrance through the turnstile. I could see the usual glimpses of cages in the distance and a café with white tables and chairs where I hoped to get something to eat! The woman smiled at me and inquired:

“Good afternoon Sir, can I help you?”

“Erm yes, “I began taking out the letter, I received this and I thought I’d give it a try so to speak!”

She extended her hand somewhat politely, her fingernails were bright red and the fingers although long and slender seemed almost primitive! I ignored this, “Probably still half asleep from last night.” I told myself. Finally having confirmed the information she handed it back to me and stated:

“This is a brochure, it shows where all the animals are kept, plus the local café and the wash facilities!” She handed it to me and said, “Enjoy your stay Mr. Hendon!”

I was then allowed to enter through the turnstile and having done so began studying the brochure like some tourist in a strange environment. This was not as unusual as it sounded! first, there was a rather disturbing coldness about the place, a sort of malevolent presence that my instincts told me to flee from, however I was curious and my stomach had overruled my head, so ignoring this I began to look around using the brochure to help me to bide my time!

Of course the first thing I wanted to see was Toby Tiger. This was described as a rare Persian Tiger cub who lived with his Mother and was going to celebrate his one year old birthday in a few weeks, there was even a picture drawing of him wearing a pointed gold party hat complete with red streamers surrounded by cakes and a bottle of bubbly reddened liquid. There was a baby elephant holding a ice cream cone and also a monkey waving and holding a banana!

“What else?” I muttered.

“Ah, the Prince of Persia.” muttered a well to do sounding gentlemanly voice, I turned instinctively and was confronted with the image of a well dressed city gent in his late sixties, no doubt retired , wearing a blue pinstripe suit complete with bowler hat and umbrella, “My name’s Cartwright!” he exclaimed, extending his hand!

“Neil, I said, shaking it firmly, “Neil Hendon.” “There doesn’t seem to be too many people, “I stated, looking around” I only heard about this place. From this letter”

I showed it to him, he looked at it for a moment as if it was some sort of legally binding document and then he handed it back and exclaimed:

“Oh yes, we’ve all got one!” This is a very select place, you should consider yourself most deeply honoured, they don’t just accept anybody, whatever you may have been led to believe!”

I paused at his somewhat cryptic remark and then he stated:

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the others, just so you know you’re not alone.”

I followed him as he swung his umbrella as if it was a sword, swishing at air as if cutting through a battlefield, I thought I heard him say “That’s another thing they want you to believe.” However I chose to ignore it!

There were other people. first of all their was the young newly wed couple, a man and a woman both twenty six, smartly dressed and sounding as if they’d just come out of college. He wore a black suit and blue shirt and red tie and had short blonde hair, she had auburn hair in half ringlets and wore a yellow cotton dress that showed off her arms. They both shook hands with me and to my surprise the woman kissed me on the side of the face! Her boyfriend who greeted me afterwards did not seem to mind!”

“Hello.” He said in a somewhat polite sounding accent, “You must be new here, my name’s Charles, this is my wife Charlotte, we have only been married a few weeks!”

He held up her hand to indicate the ring, she had her fingers outspread obligingly, “Very nice!” I stated, “Looks like real diamond.”

It was gold with an item of petrol type blue.

“It is!” He replied, “Very expensive, now all we have to do is sort out our bills!”

“When you get the job!” she replied, now clinging to his arm as if they were walking in lovers’ lane.

“Well that shouldn’t be too difficult, I just need to know there’s people I can rely on when I need them!” he replied, looking at me as if he’d made a comment and was now ahead on points .

“What do you do?” She inquired.

“I’m unemployed.” I replied, trying to make it sound neither one thing nor the other.

“Cartwright here works in the city, he owns his own business, going through a bad patch I’m afraid, isn’t it?”

Her voice had sounded somewhat mocking to me, yet if he noticed he refused to rise to the bait. Instead, he replied that the company “was indeed” going through a bad patch and that he had had to make some people redundant. He then spoke of his wife whom had divorced him a few years back because he was spending too much time at the office.

“Fortunately not in a double entendre!” he muttered, come on, let’s go and meet Analese and Clinton her son, there probably over by the walrus enclosure!

I followed them, included but distant ; the young married couple lovey dovey in a false display of affection, Cartwright taking it out on his invisible enemies with every swish of his umbrella, the place seemed warmer, it also seemed darker, and although I was with people I considered to be my friends, it felt very isolated.

We took the guided tour on Cartwright’s insistence, then when we arrived at the walrus enclosure I noticed there was a middle-aged black woman wearing a grey coat and having a motherly persona, the small black child of about seven holding her hand seemed to emphasise the point.. I was introduced to them and the child inquired how long I’d been coming here?

“This is my first day?” I stated, “I got an invitation from Toby Tiger!” “Do you like animals?” I inquired, not knowing what else to say to him.

“I like Tigers, and I like the Walruses.” “My Dad used to take us before-“

He stopped,, I sensed there was something he found difficult to explain, however his Mother offered a response by stating:

“His Father walked out on us, we come here quite a lot”

There was an unusual silence and then I noticed Analese clutch her son’s hands as if this was a prompt and state:

“Come on, we have other things to do!” “It was nice meeting you!” she added.

We all watched them leave and then feeling hungry I decided to do the same, nobody inquired where I was going, it seemed they were all engrossed in there own problems.

I went to the café and ordered an all day breakfast and a slice of fruitcake for £3.50 I considered this a bargain, especially since they were also offering a free cup of tea..

I assumed this was a promotion gimmick although I was not complaining.

Afterwards I brought an Ice cream and a paper, which used up my voucher, and then I walked around admiring the animals in their cages, eating my ice cream and holding the newspaper in my other hand. It did however seem strange that there was nobody else in the Zoo! I looked all around and found no keepers or any other visitors. I know these places don’t always do as well as intended, however usually there are people on hand in case of any incidents, however apart from the blonde woman on the turnstile there seemed to be none! After a while I became bored and thoughts of Melanie began to occupy my mind! Her Parents lived not far from here and I decided to pluck up courage and go and inquire if she had come to visit? I did not consider the consequences as I was only interested in understanding what had happened and why she was refusing to return my phone calls!

“Are you coming back soon Mr. Hendon?!” Inquired the woman on the turnstile as if she knew me.

For some reason I felt a feeling of disturbance, it was not unusual to try and entice a customer with professional courtesy, however there was something about the way she said it that I did not like! Infact despite her smile and typical blonde good looks, I did not like her instinctively. There was something about her smile and her nails that made me aware she was not what she seemed!

“Yes.” I said, I probably will, when I’m not too busy!”

“Well we’re always here for you?” she exclaimed smiling.

Melanie’s Parents lived a few yards away on a rundown estate that was far worse than where I lived. They were a nice couple and I assumed it was because me and Melanie had studied at the same college that we all got on so well! They told me of their hopes of going to live somewhere else; however, they were both unemployed and no doubt were relying on their Daughter to get a job.

“Not much chance of a job in these parts!” I muttered, as I made my way up the steps till I reached their house. I knocked and a few moments later her Mother answered.

“Hello Mrs. Creswell, Is Melanie in?” “I’ve just come from visiting the zoo.”

“I’m afraid she’s not Neil! “She stated. I didn’t know there was a zoo in this area!

“Who is it?” Inquired her husband shouting from the frontroom.

“It’s Neil; he wants to know if Melanie’s here?”

“Tell him we haven’t seen her, she hasn’t even phoned!” “Ask him if he’d like to come in and wait just incase?”

For some reason I felt this might be intrusive and so, I smiled and stated:

“That’s Ok Mrs.Creswell, when Melanie comes tell her I called!”

“We will!” shouted her Mother, looking directly at me as if she shared the concern about her Daughter. “If she rings I’ll phone you!” she added.

“Thank you.” I said, smiled and walked off,

I still held the paper under my arm,. There was wasn;t really much to do. I could go and visit Melanie I suppose, but something told me that when she was like this it was not a good idea to rush things. So I took a bus, where to? It does not really matter, however I read the paper, I read of the increases in unemployment, of people finding it hard to cope together under stress with the loss of jobs and finances. Then I read about increases in crime and domestic violence, whilst all the time looking out for the zoo!

It was there, yet it seemed shrouded it an aura of darkness, that appeared to blind anyone else to it because when I looked they all seemed unaware! It was as if I was the only one who could see it.

When I got home I checked for letter, Bills, “Always bills>” “You can rely on bills!” I told myself . However, it seemed I could not rely on Melanie. Not yet anyway.

So I drank a couple of beers and watched television. I had an urge to return to the zoo.

The next day I awoke and instinctively decided to phone Melanie. The phone rang, it kept on ringing and I knew instinctively two things. One, that she was there and two that she was not going to answer. I became angry, and not just at her.the news was talking about more and more people enclosed in inner cities, cooped up like animals, I glanced around at my own personal cage and knew I needed to get out!

It was 12.07 when I finally left, I had wasted time because there wasn’t much else to do when you were in my situation. However, the zoo was still there. Or was it, people walked past it as if they did not notice and when I glanced for them to see they looked at me as if to say “What is it?” We can’t see anything.

“Hello again Mr. Hendon.” It’s nice of you to join us, “I’m afraid it’s the usual fee now, although you’re always welcome here!”

I paid her the money and smiled silently. She seemed to know by my body language what I really thought of her and smiling replied: “You’re friends are waiting for you!”

I went to visit them. However, this time they seemed different, I could sense it, there was even something telling me, something that was part of the zoo! Analese and her son were by the walrus enclosure as usual however there was something different about them. Her son was away from his Mother his head bowed low, his face had a reddened mark on it and his Mother was leaning over the walrus enclosure with her hands on the black rail.

Clinton noticed me with an half turn and I began to approach, instinctively his Mother turned and as if in compliance to some primitive instinct shouted:

“Get away from us.” “Go to your own space, we belong here not you!”

“What happened?” I enquired, plucking up the courage to do so.

“You’re just like your Father aren’t you?” she shouted at her son, useless, can’t stand up to responsibility, you come over here and I will kill you!

I watched the savage look on her face and wondered whether to fight or flight. Something dark yet reassuring seemed to say, that it would never be that bad, that there were barriers even in this place! “For whose entertainment?” I muttered as I turned and walked away.

“So you didn’t get the job!” You can’t do anything, I don’t know why I ever chose to marry you!

It was the woman, she was screaming and it seemed to be coming from the Avery! This was confirmed by the flapping of wings and her husband’s response of “Shut up!” “Shut up you bitch!”

“Bastard.” Can’t keep a job!” “Can’t keep it up!” “I hate you; it’s because of you they brought us here!”

I was running when I heard the sound of a heavy thud mingled with an half scream silenced in mid sentence. I could see the winged birds of non-dangerous species flapping around, the young man was standing over his wife whom was lying on the floor. I rushed in just as he was about to kick her in the stomach shouting” I’ll see to it you don’t have any children at all, I know all about your other men you filthy whore!” “That’s why you want me out of the house isn’t it?”

This time instinctively I did interfere, I lashed out with my fist punching him in the face, I felt something silent as before this time urging me on, I knew instinctively what this place was and why I had been sent here. I was about to follow up with another blow in line with his stagger backwards, however I felt his wife grab my legs and force me over on the floor. The birds were flying faster as she began to climb on top of me, her fingers poised like talons aiming for my eyes, they reminded me of the woman on the turnstile.

“We’ll kill you!” shouted her husband, now circling around as if trying to kick me this time and not his wife!

I was holding her hands back yet she was hysterical and it was somehow increasing her strength, I felt her husband was ready to kick me as hard as he could and that if he did so he would not stop, none of them would. I raised my knee into her stomach, somehow managing to force her off my hands steering her wrists for guidance. His foot kicked into her back and she screamed more like an animal than a human. Whils he was confused I got up and ran out. I could see Cartwright in the distance, he was standing near Toby Tiger’s cage, he was screaming and laughing hysterically banging the cage with his umbrella. I could hear a roaring that was of a fall grown animal and not a cub.

“Come on, I’ll take you all on!” “Do you think you bastards can walk all over me, take away my job, my wife my money?” “I’ll kill all of you!”

He turned to look at me, his face reddened in demonic urge!

“You want to see Toby Tiger?” he muttered, “You want to see him, take a look!” he held up the point of his umbrella, it was covered in what looked like thickened red rope.

I looked in at the cage, Toby Tiger was dead, his stomach was ripped open, blood was pouring out of it and his Mother was lapping it up with her tongue as if it was milk. I glanced in horror and then turned to Cartwright’s umbrella as if I needed confirmation. I was right. It was the animal’s intestines.

Cartwright came at me swinging his umbrella shouting. “You want some?” “Come back here and I’ll kill you!” “You hear me?” and then he began laughing hysterically.

“The woman on the turnstile seemed to know, as I left she smiled and stated:

“See you tomorrow Mr. Hendon!”

“No, I muttered to myself, I’ll see you this evening!” I had to know what this place was.

When I got home I phoned Melanie, again she did not answer. I became frustrated and even started swearing at her even though she had not yet responded..

I decided to watch television until ll.0 when I knew what I had to do. I did not know if there was any irony but I watched a program about Deer, and how they responded in the rutting season, I wondered if humans had similar stress levels moved on by similar means.

I waited, I knew the zoo would be empty, it always was. Except of course for the blonde woman on the turnstile that I now know only a selected few could see!

At 11.0 I made my way out into the street, I was careful not to make contact with anyone, especially drunks or gang members, the zoo had heightened my sense of awareness, that was one good thing at least!

I kept my head down, avoiding people, covered by my own personal darkness’ that awaited me. I arrived outside the zoo. The gate was locked and this time the blonde woman was not there. However, it was not going to stop me, I was determined to discover the truth. I glanced around instinctively, yet I knew somehow I could not be seen, then I began to climb over the fence. I could sense a strange presence as I began to make my way along in familiarity. There was silence, yet I sensed their presence as I walked slowly, staring at the cages as I did so. Then I began to hear growling sounds, they were coming from the animals’ cages, except this time, it was not the usual sounds but exaggerated, as if they were somehow being impersonated by something that had taken possession from within. I stopped to listen and then the sounds became growls and the growls became roars. The animals began to throw their selves against the cages, baring their claws and fangs as if to get at me. There were even sounds coming from the walrus enclosure and the Avery, infact anywhere they were. I knew they were trying to get at me, that very soon they would tear the cages apart and then I would remain in this hellish place forever!

I ran, I ran to the fence and began to climb as the sounds became more ferocious combined with the aggressive roars. I turned to look back and saw the hideous looks on the animals’ faces. They were exaggerated like a distorted mirror and somehow it reminded me of the faces on the humans I had seen at the zoo! I climbed over just as I heard what I believed were the cages being forced open, and then I ran swearing never to return to that place.

I did not want to go home just yet, I needed a drink to calm my nerves, so I went to an all night café.! Coincidently Melanie was there. She was sitting alone at a table in the corner, there were other people in the café but they were choosing to ignore her! However she noticed me and smiled. I waved palm up and made my way to the empty seat opposite!

“I’ve been worried about you!” I exclaimed, holding out my hand, “Why haven’t you returned my calls?”

She clenched my hand in a confirmation of a greeting and looked up at me and stated:

“We need to talk Neil, I think you already know what it’s about!”

She indicated at her arm, she was wearing a short sleeve yellow dress. I looked down at her arm. Her arm was covered in scratches!