As the children tumbled onto the coach chattering to each other, boys headed to the rear, jostling each other for the best seats. Off on a school trip to a zoo, most had never been before, each wanting to see the large animals they had only seen in books.
Singing all the way hymns and nursery rhymes, what a day it turned out to be. Billy and the boys had to stay with Mr. Jenkins, the headmaster, mouths agog at the size of the bears, and the temple monkeys racing around. Riding on the elephant, pretending to be hunting lions, what great fun; so too taking rides on the camels, for the younger children.
Lunch was on the lawn at the centre of the zoo, then off again to see the lions
and tigers. The penguins were so funny honking and diving. Then there were the birds in a large building, parrots and all types of exotic coloured birds. Owen Parry was enthralled; he loved birds. Mr. Jenkins had to stop him trying to stroke them. Time arrived to leave, but all were allowed to visit the shop to buy trinkets to take home.
When rounding up occurred, Owen Parry hurried around the corner explaining he
had a call of nature. Herding the boys onto the bus, Mr Jenkins walked down the vehicle counting as he went. His foot banged into a bag on the floor, and an indignant honk emitted from it. The bag then proceeded to wriggle. The girls screamed and the boys were amazed except for Owen Parry. As he grasped the bag to quieten the bird, the bag opened and a penguin’s head popped out.
Mr. Jenkins stunned and speechless spluttered, grabbing Owen by the scruff of his neck. He marched him off the bus. The keepers at the zoo were very intrigued as to how Owen had managed to catch the bird. He stated he had given it some of his fish paste sandwich. How was he planning to keep it? Owen explained he had chickens and a turkey. He intended to put an old tin bath in there for the penguin, and feed it fish paste or fish heads when they had them. Keepers explained that would make the penguin very unwell. Head down, close to tears, Owen climbed aboard the coach. He hadn’t
meant to harm the penguin.
Mr. Jenkins had calmed down by now and the return journey was quiet. Owen Parry thought to himself he would never give up hope of someday having an exotic bird of his own.
At last it was time to go home ,we were allowed to go to the shop to pick trinkets to take home.Gathering us all up Owen Parry came running up ,had to visit the toilets he said .
