ZOO HOLIDAY

The archway stood gaping under a mechanical clock, with red bricks and an animal drive that moved to a stop. At lunchtime and teatime, and right round the block, the clock’s gears and its track pieces whirred as they spun up on top.

The children all gathered for the fieldtrip that was pending. A trip to the zoo they remembered her saying. It was so long ago, way back, they forgot they were waiting. The clock now began. The chiming had started.

“Now, you two! Get back in line! I’m not going to be telling you this for the last time.”

“OK, Annie, proceed with me. We will follow the path of zebras. Do you all see them, marked clearly? Hurry along now. Children! Follow me!”

The path that they walked was just as was drawn on the map she had shown to the zoo goer’s companion. He stood at the back, eager to see, the start of the mini-break school holiday. The book was a zigzagging cartoon of a sketch that if held at arms length, in just the right light, even the youngest and smallest of the children could get.

She had a handbag and umbrella, clipboard and stopwatch, and was clutching quite hard to the little girl Annie. Her knee high black socks and firm leather shoes moved like pistons as she hurriedly walked.

“First stop! Now gather round. You in the front! Will you please sit down! Stop eating. Stop…