The Sibling Showdown

Barnaby didn’t sit on him, though. Instead, he reached down, grabbed Pip by his scruff, and hoisted him up like a fuzzy sack of potatoes.

“Hey! Put the kid down!” Marcus yelled, tapping his wedding ring against the glass to create a sharp clicking sound.

Barnaby ignored the human entirely. He brought Pip close to his massive face, sniffing the baby’s breath. He was checking to see if Pip had managed to steal a bite of the flaky crust before he arrived. Finding no trace of Swiss yeast on the toddler, Barnaby set him down with a heavy thud, patted him roughly on the head, and walked away toward the climbing ropes. 🧗‍♂️

Pip blinked, rubbing his head. He looked down at his own hands, then up at Marcus. The panic was gone, replaced by a sudden, brilliant flash of mischievous inspiration.

If Barnaby wasn’t going to share the pastry, and the Director was already furious, Pip realized he could leverage this situation to get what he actually wanted: the premium dried figs hidden in the top drawer of Marcus’s desk.

The Art of the Deal

Pip began to act. He didn’t just tap the glass; he performed a masterclass in physical theater. He pointed at the door of the enclosure, then pointed to his own stomach, and then made a motion like he was peeling a very expensive, very rare fruit.

Marcus watched the performance, his brow furrowing as he tried to decode the message.

“He wants… an orange?” Marcus guessed. 🍊

Pip shook his head violently, rolling his eyes so hard he nearly lost his balance. He repeated the motion, this time adding a dramatic shimmy to emphasize the luxury of the item.