The Wild Wolf Pup by Amelia Cobb
Chapter One
A Special School Trip
Zoe Parker rushed excitedly towards the Rescue Zoo gates, followed by her teacher and the rest of the class.
“We’re here!” she said happily. “Welcome to the Rescue Zoo, everyone!”
“I still can’t believe you actually live here, Zoe,” her friend Nicola exclaimed. “You’re so lucky.”
“I know!” replied Jack, who was walking next to Nicola. “I can’t imagine how cool it must be waking up every morning and seeing elephants and giraffes out of your bedroom window!”
Zoe grinned at her friends.
“It’s so much fun!” she replied. “I’ve lived at the Rescue Zoo ever since I was a baby, and sometimes I still can’t believe it!”
Zoe’s Great-Uncle Horace was a world-famous explorer and animal expert, and he had started the zoo so that any lost, injured or endangered animals he came across on his travels would have a safe and caring home. Zoe’s mum, Lucy, was the zoo vet, and Lucy and Zoe lived in a cosy cottage on the edge of the zoo. Zoe adored animals more than anything, and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. As she and her friends reached the gates, she felt like she might burst with pride.
Zoe had been looking forward to this day for weeks. Halloween was coming up soon, and her class had been learning all about creatures like bats, beetles and spiders. Miss Hawkins had explained that lots of people thought these animals were scary or spooky, but that really there was nothing to be frightened of. Zoe had agreed – they were some of her favourite animals! Now everyone in the class loved them, and when Zoe had mentioned that the Rescue Zoo had a huge spider house, several types of snake and a big family of bats, Miss Hawkins had decided to organise a special class trip to the zoo!
Zoe’s class had had normal lessons that morning, and after lunch they had set off together, walking through their town towards the zoo, carefully supervised by their teacher. Zoe couldn’t wait to get to the Rescue Zoo – and neither could her friends! Lucy, Zoe’s mum, was waiting for them at the entrance. “Hi, everyone!” she said as they walked inside. “You’re right on time! I’m so glad you could all make it.”
“Thank you for having us!” replied Miss Hawkins, smiling. “Where are we going to start?”
“I thought we’d go to the spider house first, which is over in that direction,” said Lucy, pointing. “After that we’ll go and see the bats, and, if there’s time, the snakes right at the end. Zoe, why don’t you lead the way?”
Zoe led her class proudly through the zoo, pointing out her favourite animals to Nicola and Jack as they walked along the path. “That’s Leonard and Rory, our lions,” she explained. “Well, Rory’s a lion cub! And that’s the panda enclosure. Chi Chi and Mei Mei are twin sisters, and they came all the way from China. They’re really naughty, but so cute!”
Her friends peered into each enclosure, grinning broadly. But when they arrived at the spider house, Zoe spotted a grumpy-looking man waiting outside, wearing a spotless zoo uniform and hat, and holding a broom. “Oh no,” she sighed. “Mr Pinch!”
“Who’s that?” whispered Nicola. “Does he work here? He looks a bit cross!”
Zoe nodded. “He’s the zoo manager,” she whispered back. “He’s always grumbling or groaning about something – especially mess. He hates it when anything’s untidy!”
“I heard your class would be visiting the zoo today, Zoe,” said Mr Pinch. “If you ask me, there is nothing that creates more mess at this zoo than school trips. Always dropping litter and chewing gum and bits of packed lunch everywhere! If I see any mess, I’ll know who was responsible.” Mr Pinch narrowed his eyes at Zoe and her school friends, then muttered, “It’s not as if I don’t already have enough to do without sweeping up after you all. Being the zoo manager is a very busy and important job.”
“Oh, you won’t need to sweep up after us,” Miss Hawkins replied firmly. “My class certainly won’t be dropping any litter or chewing gum, and they’ve already had their packed lunches at school.”
“Hmmm. Even so, I still think I’d better supervise,” replied Mr Pinch, frowning.
Zoe’s mum winked at Zoe and then turned to Mr Pinch. “Oh, there’s no need for that, Percy,” she said firmly. “I can look after everyone!”
Lucy and Miss Hawkins ushered everyone inside the spider house and Mr Pinch shook his head, muttering crossly to himself.
First of all, Lucy showed everyone a small enclosure with glass walls, full of moss, leaves and bits of wood. A delicate silver web had been spun between two branches, and a small black spider sat right in the middle of it. “This is an orb weaver spider,” said Lucy. “Can anyone tell me what family spiders belong to?”